Think Good. Think God.

            Today, I thought I'll be having just the usual rainy day bum mode. However, an FB post and a text message reminded me to attend mass since it is the first Friday of the month. It will then be followed by the Alliance of Two Hearts. I don't even remember when the last time I attended the first Friday mass nor had I ever had a novena at the church. Oh well, I didn't bother much nor did I really commit myself to go because the usual temptation of not going together with all its possible reasons just keeps on knocking at my door telling me that it's still raining hard. Lol. But at the back of my mind, I thought I'll try and see if I can still make it since it is already 5:30 pm.

            True enough, I was late. I arrived during the priest's homily. And now while I try to recall what it was about, such a shame I can't seem to remember. Hmmm.. Bad Cheetah! So much for attending mass. After the mass, I saw some SFC friends most are my upper household sisters. We witnessed the priest exposing the Blessed Sacrament. Then after a while, we joined Ate Pops as she led the novena. Although we are always invited, it was my first time to attend the first Friday mass at St. Michael's Cathedral.

            Later on, I was made aware that there was also an ongoing confession that was simultaneously done. So I took it as an opportunity to ask forgiveness. The priest told me three things that I need to remember: 1) Think Good 2) Think God 3) Pray and the ask intercession of Mama Mary. Think good to drive out the negativity that makes me weak. The cross, as it is shaped, is a constant reminder that we should think positively. It is Jesus on the cross and we should think of Him. When we think of Him, we are guided so we will never neglect or put Him aside. And if we do, the evil one is just waiting and he will do everything in his power to tear us apart then we easily fall to his trap whatever it may be. Pray! But even as we pray, we can still sin. Therefore, we should ask for Mama Mary's intercession and follow her example how she lived her life. So, we too can be an example to others.

            Those and one thing more got stuck in my head during the novena and that is "Waiting is loving". Really? To wait is to love. Hmmm... I remember my print shirt that reads "Real love waits". Oh right! It is not easy to wait and just be patient. It is never easy at all. Nor is it easy to love because love entails hurt. They say "you have never loved if you were never hurt" - just like Christ suffering and hurting because He loved us so. It's like the buy 1 take 1 burger we see on the streets. Although, we could just wish it was just as easy as having a burger! But it doesn't work like that.

            I was really sad earlier which maybe the reason I am not able to remember the homily. I can't focus on listening because I just learned that my close friend and his long term boyfriend broke up. Somehow it kept on haunting my thoughts that moment. I thought of the years, all the memories, and everything else they had. It breaks my heart to hear what happened and it is a sad reality that some things really never work out. Whatever the differences we have or the circumstances we face, our life is a result of how we live it. It is shaped by our personality and the choices we make. It is important to discern well what we say, do and not do because we cannot turn back time. Time is too precious to waste. One cannot afford to dwell regretting on what happened in the past because before we know it our time might be up. Thus, it is essential to reflect on the purpose of this life because life only happens once.

"I pray that you may be blessed more than you deserve, be strengthened in your weakest moments and protected from evil at all times. May you live in the light and love of God our Father that in his mercy and grace, grant the desires of your heart according to His will in his perfect time. May you please Him in all you say, think and do, that you may love Him with all of your heart, mind, and soul, every bit of your being. In Jesus name. Amen."

It was all worth it. I am glad to be reminded as often as I needed to be. God never fails to remind me. He never fails to show His undying, unconditional love every day of my life.

Praise be to God forever!!! ;p

P.S. 
Thank you for the wonderful fellowship over dinner my dear sisters, Ate Pops, sis Jinky, Lalaine,  Abby, Grace and brothers Junjie, Maxi. Abby, we continue to pray for you. Smile God is Great!

SFC Regional Conference 2013 Details

As we take on the second half of this year, we anticipate the SFC Regional Conference 2013. Here are a few details for the event. Please pay to your respective PCCs or provincial secretariat in-charge.

North Central Mindanao (Thanks Sis Tet Salarza for the info)

When: September 20-22, 2013

Where: Pagadian City, Zamboanga Del Sur.

Payment deadlines:

Php 700.00 - August 8 - Early Bird

Php 800.00 - September 3 - Regular

Php 900.00 - Sept 4-20 - Walk-in

Note: No dinner on Friday night. Kits are first come, first serve, until supplies last only.

Central Visayas (Thanks Ate Jo Retuntar for the info)

When: August 30 - September 1, 2013

Where: JAD Cultural Center, Loboc, Bohol

Payment deadlines:

Php 700.00 - Today until July 15, 2013
Php 750.00 - July 16 until the end of July
Php 850.00 - August 1 until August 15, 2013
Php 1200.00 - August 16 until August 28, 12NN ONLY!!! (Complete ID, Kits and meals)
Php 1200.00 - Onsite Registrants (ID and Kits not assured-until supply lasts only, NO first meal)

Runaway Bride

I woke up from a weird dream. #runawaybride ang show! The wedding venue was on the building's rooftop. The 1st turn of event, it was Sarah Jessica Parker on the stage with the bridal dress singing something and when she was about to say "I do" she was taken away by her true love up in the air with a chopper. 

Then it replayed. I was singing on the stage with the same bridal dress on. What made it more annoying is that no one in the crowd knew the song. No one in the crowd was any of my family or friends. I then realized that this time, I was the bride and about to get married to a stranger. He was tall, with a dark complexion and his eyes were big. He looked to me like a foreigner, not my type, though. The guy was just forced by his father to get married. He almost cried there on the spot because of disagreement. I, on the other hand, felt the same about him. I thought "No! This cannot be. I'd rather die!!". His father spoke to me pressuring me to go on with the ceremony. 

I was staring at the awful looking wedding ring on my palm with my school ID! Haha! The ring suddenly got broken into pieces I don't know why. I told his father "No" then he got my ID and also tore it to pieces. Then I ran away as fast as I could. Then suddenly some of my family was running with me. When I got to the ground (haha) I jump into a "motorsikad" and told the driver to go very fast so they couldn't catch up. The whole crowd was chasing us. Some were running and others were riding their big bikes. Meanwhile, the motorsikad driver pursued a path that  was seldom used, a path with no vehicles nor people. But it was a dead end. So I had to get off. I got two pieces of five peso coin and paid it to the driver. There were two of us on the motorsikad that person seemed to be one of my relatives. I just cannot identify who it was. But I saw some family members who ran with me that I can name like Auntie Inday Varquez Go, @sonny boy, and kuya Prettyboy Go. 

Anyway, so we had to run, I was no longer in a gown. We passed through a swamp-like place. Good thing that there was a pathway so we didn't have to plunge our feet to the sticky greenish swamp. Finally, we reached the highway! I saw a parked red #Toyota #Innova. Waaahh! I saw Monching Go Y-Paler on the passenger seat at the back!! Yes! Yes! I woke him up from sleep. I gladly got into the car and we drove away! huh! That was close! My heart was leaping for joy. I could hear it pounding. I woke up, glad it was only a dream or more like a nightmare in that case. I was totally relieved! That was scary as hell! ;p

One with You!

This second song composition was again inspired by the spirit. After Luis and I were done recording the first song My One and Only, we had this desire to write more songs. This was supposed to be an entry for a song writing competition with the theme "One Heart" way back 2010 during the regional conference if I remember correctly. But unfortunately we weren't able to submit it on time. Still we were glad to be able to make it.

Verse 1
Looking at the stars in the sky
Wondering what lies ahead
Wondering what words to say
Wishing to know it all
But I guess I never will
Realizing now You're all I need

Chorus
One heart, one desire
To be with you my God
One life, One dream
To spend eternity with You

Verse 2

Running but don't know where to go

Blinded with no direction

But you showed your love unfailing 

Reminds me of your great mercy

But I guess I never knew

Realizing now You're all I want

Chorus (2 times)
One heart, one desire
To be with you my God
One life, One dream
To spend eternity with You

You... my God

You... my Love

You... my Lord

And my heart belongs to You

Chorus (2 times)
One heart, one desire
To be with you my God
One life, One dream
To spend eternity with You

with You, with You, my God!

Let's help baby Gab!

This is baby Gabryll Go Magallanes known as baby Gab. He is one of my nephew. The first born son of my cousin Gladys Go Magallanes and her husband Christopher Magallanes. He was born on November 4, 2012. He just turned 7 months last Tuesday. The photos below shows Gab with his parents and Gab and I during his Christening last December.

On my last visit at their place he seemed the same. I mean he didn't grow much compared to other babies his age. He weighs only a few pounds because of his slow growth. When I carried him, I felt his heart beat so fast as if he is palpitating all the time. His heart works double time just to circulate enough oxygen through his tiny body. It is disheartening to learn that this little angel is suffering from Congenital Heart Disease Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD) Perimembranous, Large. I don't know much about the sickness. So I googled it and found out that 

"For patients with large muscular VSDs, surgical repair is indicated at any time during the first year of life if the infant fails to grow appropriately despite optimal medical management. Surgical risk and mortality for patients with large VSDs is higher in the first 2 months of life (10-20%) than after age 6 months (1-2%), although these figures have been decreasing. Elective surgical closure of large VSDs should be planned within the first year of life to prevent development of irreversible pulmonary vascular obstructive disease." Source: http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/899873-overview

According to the doctor to fix his condition, he needs a heart surgery before he turns a year old which is the reason I am writing in the hope of raising funds for his operation in about four months. They were advised that the heart surgery would cost around five hundred thousand pesos (P500,000). Now that is quite a lot in just a few months. Although, they have asked for help for the surgery through the government agencies or sponsorship that it might be a long shot. They were told to have their names listed and wait for further announcement but nothing is for sure yet. For this reason, I am knocking at the door of your kind hearts to help us pray for his healing alongside your financial support to pay for the medical expenses. May you share this to your families and friends to include him in your daily prayers and any amount heartily and willingly offered is greatly appreciated. We cannot do this alone but together we can accomplish what may seem impossible.

Here is a link to pledge a donation: I want to help baby Gab!

For more details, you may simply feel free to contact us anytime Gladys Go, Mary Grace Paler Go, or Vanz Go in Facebook.

Thank you for your prayers and support. God bless you more!

SFC Provincial Conference 2013

Inviting everyone once again to join the

SFC Provincial Conference

Kapatagan National High School

June 15-16, 2013

Reg. Fee: P300

"Do whatever He tells you!"

John 2:5

Register now!!!

The registration fee will include:

• conference kit
• 3 meals 
• accommodation
• other expenses

Photo credit: Bro Keith Salise

++ bum bum bum ++

It's back to school season again. I didn't even realize I haven't been able to post any blog lately. Oh well, there wasn't really much that happened this summer. It was the feast of Sacred Heart of Jesus  at my Lola's house last third Sunday of May. And of course, my cousin April's wedding was the event that I was excitedly and anxiously looking forward to since last year which, unfortunately, I wasn't able to attend. This was the tickets were already sold out whether it be float or flight. I wasn't able to book ahead of time and somehow overlooked that its summer time. So naturally, most of the tickets were already pre-booked. Too bad! I have noticed that most of the time when I get excited about something it doesn't happen. It is one of the reasons why I stop myself from getting too excited.

Anyway, I have finally been able to enroll myself to Management of Financial Institutions yesterday. And I heard that I already have classmates who enrolled in the subject too. Oh! What a sigh of relief! Hmm.. Looking forward to a fruitful semester ahead. Hopefully be able to publish soon as well.

Meanwhile, this coming Sunday is already Talk 9 - The Baptism of the Holy Spirit. Indeed, time flies and I haven't been able to attend even just one of the Christian Life Program sessions since I just stayed home. But I would certainly want to join the SFC Provincial Conference in Kapatagan National High School, Lanao del Norte on June 15-16, 2013. I miss the community and my household sisters.

Claiming for the bestest year ever! After all, there is so much to be excited for! Opps.. Did I say excited?? Oh... As I mentioned above, now I shouldn't get too excited and get ahead of myself. Should I? (Fingers crossed)
 ;p

To Live To Love

Moments like this remind me that life is fleeting. We are born in this world without any idea how it's going to be. None of us were able to choose who our parents or siblings are. I'm sure all of us would agree when I say life itself is a blessing. It is given to us by God not for our own personal interest or gain but for His purposes. It is for His greater glory that all things are made. 

Most of the time we fail to realize that life is all about love. We are easily caught up with the happenings or events in our lives, school, career, or simply just by growing up. We often take the fast track. We seem to always be in a hurry. We fail to get to know better the people we are surrounded with - how they are, how they feel, what they think, what they want to do, their dreams and ambitions.  We fail to take some time to really share our lives with the people we love.  And even if we do, we suddenly find ourselves waking up realizing that the another person has left us. At this very moment, it is our beloved Ate Gang. In one way or another, our lives have been touch by this angel. She is an angel not just taking it from her name but by the genuineness of her heart. I may not know her so much with the nitty-gritty details but I always see her as a cheerful, loving and thoughtful person who loves her family so much. 

When I think about Ate Gang, her struggles and how she suffered her sickness to the very last breath, I somehow feel pity her, on how much she had missed in life, on how much she could have experienced so much more. But then again, I realized that all of us are unique. We have been given different missions by our Father and that no matter how difficult it becomes He will always love us and be with us. 

So I believe that she did not die in vain. She was a fighter, faithful, and true. She was commissioned to live the life that she lived because it was part of a greater plan. God loves her. God never failed to show His mercy and grace in her most difficult moments. God performed a miracle in her life and we now stand as witnesses to that. She was blessed. We may not realize it now but our lives have been all the more blessed just by knowing and sharing her life. All the memories that we have of her, we will always treasure in our hearts.

I would like to honor at this point, her family - Auntie Bhobie, Uncle Dodo, her sisters Meakoy, Tetel, Luving who have always been there from beginning. You who have lived with her. You who shared every joy and sorrow. The tears that we are trying to fight from falling right now is a mixture of grief and peace. Grief because we know that we will not see her again and we will surely miss her. Peace because we know that she is reunited with our Father in heaven. She is smiling right now, happily looking at us.

At this moment, let us be reminded that we are not of this world. This right here is only temporal. And one day, our time will come too because death is inevitable. We should not be afraid of death, but we must prepare and make sure that we live our lives well. What we consider important now may not even matter at all. The purpose of this life is to love. We must learn to forgive and love one another. It is not a figment of imagination or a fallacy. This is the truth. So before its too late, before our time is up, let us love just like Ate Gang and Christ Himself loved. 

Let me leave you with 1 Corinthians 13 

13Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.

Ate Gang lived a life full of purpose - a life worth living. She was blessed. And for this may God be praised.

Surely...

Sometimes the most unexpected things happen to us in the most unexpected times.
Moments where we never thought would come so soon.
That certain experience that will keep you wondering.
It will change you in the most unexpected way.
You just know deep inside you will never be the same again.
Changed.
Hoping.
Wondering.
Dreaming.
Wanting.
Needing.
Changing.
Knowing that one day it will be.
May not be now, but it will surely be!

My One and Only

Verse 1
Lord you melt my heart with your divine love
You showed me mercy, Your ultimate existence
Showed nothing but love, So to you I humbly bow
No depth can define the pureness of your love
Nothing in this world could ever measure up
Your power and majesty

Chorus
For you are my one and only
Faithful and loving God
You are my one and only
Faithful and loving God

Verse 2
Lord you gave up your life for me
To save me from my sins
You set me free
Now I'm bound to love you more
With all that I am
I'll be lost without you

Bridge
Lead me the way Lord
For I'll be yours forever
Use me for your glory
There's no turning back now
For you are my strength
No more doubts, no more fear
I'll give my all

Chorus
For you are my one and only
Faithful and loving God
You are my one and only
Faithful and loving God (x2)

Faithful and loving God (x2)

Lyrics by: Vanz Go & Luis Yu
Music by: Luis Yu
Photo Credits: Larry Pitoc, Vanz Go
Video by: Ralp Victor Varon, Vanz Go