old pants, new pants!

Almost a year ago I just gave birth to my beautiful baby. As you all know, most mothers gained at least 25 kg over their original weight during the pregnancy. After a few months I tried on my old clothes but my pants and shirts could not fit anymore. I was saddened by the fact that I might need to overhaul my whole wardrobe.

Until a month ago, while I was cleaning out the "aparador" I decided to try on my old pants. Guess what?!!!! IT FITS!!!! I was sooo happy to be able to fit to my old clothes again. I tried on all my other pre-pregnancy pants and they ALL fit now!!! I am so happy I wore my trusty old blue jeans to the grocery. It felt really good. I did not know that this simple event can truly make my day and weeks to come.

I did not blog about it immediately because I thought this might just be for this week I might gain it back. But they still fit. Yehey! I dont have to buy new ones. I love my old clothes. I love my old pants!

Trace Trajano

When the student is ready the teacher arrives yet again. Today was a very good day to discover a possible mentor! I discovered the blog of Trace Trajano.

"...Not only are these millionaires “just millionaires”. I want these millionaires to be enlightened millionaires or millionaires who give back to the poor and millionaires who teach other people how to become millionaires.

This is the reason why Larry and I, together with a real estate billionaire and a preacher set a BIG, HAIRY, AUDACIOUS GOAL: One Million Pinoy Millionaires by 2020! We’ll start with peso-millionaires, yes but a million of them helping the country, a million of them helping the poor, a million Pinoys teaching our youth the basics of money…this is big, or I would say BHAG – for Big Hairy Audacious Goal!..."

As in sobra akong natuwa sa pag share nya ng maraming information sa kanyang blog. If you have time please see the complete entry of Trace Trajano. I have yet to email him of how he inspires me.

I've attended the seminar of Bo Sanchez "How to be Truly Rich" last February 2nd. This was after I read the book of Jamie McIntyre. I also just finished the free on-line program of Bob Doyle. It is amazing that I am now finding Filipinos who are actually using the same principles of Robert Kiyosaki and Napoleon Hill.

celebrate life

It is always good to celebrate as a way of thanking God for all the blessings that I received. A few years back, I have a different perspective in celebrating birthdays. Before, I always thought that it is best to be unconventional and un-commercial and just have quiet personal celebration. But through time, I realized that it is important to celebrate the joys in our lives. Indeed it is these moments that will remind you that you have lived a full life.

Yesterday, we had a great shared meal with family. I can't remember the last time when I cooked a huge meal for family to celebrate this day. Last year, we just ate at a restaurant and it was good. But this year I realized that it is indeed so much better to celebrate at home. Albeit a bit crazy marketing, cooking and preparing the meal but still, it was a joy to prepare. We ate so much I can't remember how many servings of vegeroni pasta in white tuna asparagus sauce, pita pizza with basil and pineapple, blue crabs and fried chicken. For dessert, we had home made chocolate fondue with sliced apples. All these, at a fraction of the cost if we ate out. All this time I am reminded by Susan's words that our home will be blessed as we open up our home for celebrations. It was good spending time with family indeed.

An un-expected valentine

I was really really happily surprised with the bunch of roses and the card that I received from my hubby. Thank you so much! I love them when I found them smiling at me on the dining table in the wee hours of the morning on my way to the bathroom! hehehe :)

I did not expect anything because usually we do not really celebrate hearts day. We do not have a tradition of going out either on this day. Also, we were on a very tight budget the past month and anything out of the usual expense is a luxury. But always always we find ways to express and renew our love to each other.

Tatay I thank God for you! love you!

learning gratitude everyday

Every new experience brings learning. I recently learned that is really hard to convince a one year old to brush her teeth. I never thought before that it would be difficult to brush the teeth of your toddler. And Yes! it is very difficult. We have tried many different ways to get her to brush teeth. Like showing her how it is done. Then letting her brush our teeth. Then sometimes make her hold a toy to distract her attention so that we can sneak in the toothbrush into her small mouth.She knows it and keeps it shut haay. We bought special baby toothpaste for her haaaay. Still it is a struggle. We dont want to make it a sad exercise everytime we need to brush her teeth. We sometimes let her play with her baby toothbrush which is like a small bell when wiggled up and down. I never ever expected that small things can be both difficult and challenging and yet very rewarding because I am learning to be a Nanay. Now I know how difficult it was for my caregivers when I was young.

I thank God for all these experience. Every moment is a learning experience.

Now we are trying to potty train her. Really some of the most simple things we do each day is a huge learning for a small toddler. Imagine all the people who took care of you when you were young.

create abundance in your life

I need to get rid of many limiting concepts that "society" infused upon us. We need to know that we need to think that the Universe is infinitely abundant. That we need to always operate within this concept of abundance.

I work for environmental conservation and I truly believe in saving our resources. But I need to re-orient my way of thinking from scarcity to abundance. It doesn't mean that when you operate from the vantage point of abundance is that you are wasteful -- of course not! There is a difference between knowing that we are blessed and taking care of these blessings. We are always responsible for the blessings we receive.

What I am trying to say is that we should not fill our minds of negative thoughts. We need to fill our minds with positive energy. Thoughts are the ones that empower us thus we need to be careful of what we think about.

get your bearing

“Without goals, and plans to reach them, you are like a ship that has set sail with no destination.” --Og Mandino

I remember one movie that mentioned about finding your true North. I did learn orienteering and I love it so much that for a couple of semesters, I volunteered to be one of the trainers. I love the whole idea of setting up the control points and setting the various coordinates for the fellow new mountaineers to enjoy learning. Ok, going back to finding your true North. I always wondered why we always, always orient ourselves to the North. We learned that we should always find the North first before finding our coordinates. We also need to orient our map to the North before using the compass to try to find the paths and trails we need to take. it was so much fun. And even though I got married a few years ago, I still got a chance to join one of the training climbs that involved learning this concept.

I think I need to be grounded first. For me, I realized now more than ever that my true North is related finding my spirituality and knowing that my true North is God. Then and only then, I can now focus on the other "coordinates" that I am supposed to find.

It has been a while since I am able to write my thoughts. I am thankful that finally He has quenched my thirst and watered my dry spell.

goals

“The reason most people never reach their goals is that they don’t define them, or ever seriously consider them as believable or achievable. Winners can tell you where they are going, what they plan to do along the way, and who will be sharing the adventure with them.” --Denis Waitley

It has been almost a month now, that I have written my annual personal goals. I feel good that I finally took the time to really consider writing this goals. They say, when you dream of things, you are simply thinking wishfully that hopefully these things will come about. But to be truly responsible for order in one's life, one has to take action. One of the first step to action is knowing what you want. You need to decide what you want. Then write it. Writing your goals is one of the most powerful things that you can do. I've heard it from many sages, read from books and listened to speakers. But one thing you need to do is affirm your own goals. May authors recommend that I read and repeat these goals. And of course take action.

May kasabihan po tayo: " Nasa Diyos and awa, nasa tao ang gawa".

This is hard to translate because it seems different in English. It says that God has the mercy but we should take action. We should not expect God to do something that we should do for ourselves.

I guess I just want to share that I am happy that I am learning everyday. I am excited everyday because I am learning something that is not really thought in school. I am discovering things everyday. I can barely keep up and can not even blog about it everyday. But things are moving full speed ahead.

Life is indeed exciting!

Ready

"When the student is ready, the teacher arrives"

This is from one of my favorite authors Robert Fulghum and the context when he wrote it was about dogs. He used to hate dogs until a dog came to teach him how to love dogs. It sounds funny when I try to re-tell the story but that was something that remained etched in my memory.

I've been wanting to share more about how being a mother has totally changed my life. Constantly it reminds and teaches me about life more than any other experience. I've prayed for patience and now I realize that motherhood is one of the greatest teacher!

I thank God for my daughter!

More secrets

Because I am applying to be a member of God’s New Breed Of True Millionaires. I am praying to have this book real soon! 8 Secrets Of The Rich Who Believe That The Ultimate Purpose Of Wealth Is To Love.

Actually it is the long title of his new book according to author Bo Sanchez. To know more about why I am praying for this, please do take time to read this article from Bo's blog: Is it Possible to have the Wealth of a Millionaire And the Heart of a Monk?

Save

One of the things that I learned recently is that if you earn 100K a month and then your expenses are costing you 100K a month, then you are not rich. You are definitely poor. All millionaires are great savers.

I read somewhere that to be able to do this, we must change our way of thinking from "cash in, cash out" to "cash in, force savings, cash out".

I also read this interesting article on the Sunlife website:

How To Become A Millionaire

Almost anyone can be a millionaire. All you need is to have the discipline to regularly set aside a portion of your disposable money and place it a high-yielding instrument.

Now, just how long would it take for you to have P1M? There are three factors to consider: a) how much are you willing to set aside in month or a year, b) how much interest is money earning in the instrument of your choice, and c) how long are you willing to save.

The table below shows the number of years you need to reach P1M.

	Number of Years
Savings/Month	5yrs	10yrs	15yrs	20yrs	25yrs	30yrs	35yrs
P 1,000/mo or P 12,000/annum	90%	35%	19%	13%	9%	6%	5%
P 2,000/mo or P 24,000/annum	71%	25%	13%	7%	4%	3%	1%
P 3,000/mo or P 36,000/annum	59%	19%	8%	4%	1%	0%	0%
P 4,000/mo or P 48,000/annum	50%	15%	5%	0.5%	0%	0%	0%
P 5,000/mo or P 60,000/annum	43%	10%	2%	0%	0%	0%	0%
P 10,000/mo or P 120,000/annum	20%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%
P 15,000/mo or P 180,000/annum	5%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%
P 20,000/mo or P 240,000/annum	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%	0%
RATE TO REACH P1M

At present, the most popular saving instrument is a time deposit account, which generates a gross interest of 8-9% p.a. or net interest of 6.4-7.2%p.a. However, if your timeframe is less than 15 years, you may want to look for an instrument where your money will have greater growth potential, such as stocks, bonds or mutual fund. However, before investing in any of these three instruments, one must first understand the risks involved in investing in equity, bond, and mutual fund, and accept that higher growth potential comes with greater risk.

Malot Oquendo

Source: http://www.sunlife.com.ph/mutualfunds/investmenttips2.asp

recalibrating

It has been a while since I shared my thoughts in this blog. Many things happened this past month and it seems that it is already Feb. and I haven't shared some of the most amazing things I learned.

January usually is the month when most people write resolutions. But as far back as I remember I think I only did that when I was in elementary. Usually, I just think of the possible things I can change for the better. But that was about it.

This month I read a couple of books that inspired me to "recalibrate" my life. I do not know why I am excited to do this because this kind of exercise is what we do annually at work. To have a plan and a goal. This is the very first time in a long while that I am wrote my goals. This is also the first time that I am more driven to be totally committed to action with the goals I've set out to achieve. It is amazing.

When I wrote a friend who is now for the meantime in the US, I told her my goal. And I was happily surprised by her response. I expected positive response but I received an affirmation:

I congratulate you sis for saying it, because "if you can't say it, you can't have it!"

There is so much power in that.

Ask and you shall receive! Matthew 21:22

a new year

small sparks of light are the brightest during the darkest nights!

Remembering Rizal, Dima-salang, Laong-laan

"I die without seeing the sun rise in my country.
You who are to see the dawn, welcome it,
and do not forget those who fell in the night."
-Jose Rizal from his book Noli Me Tangere

isang kasalan

Mabuhay kayo Aison at Ditsi!!!

Salamat sa pagbahagi ninyo sa amin ng inyong buhay! Pagpalain nawa ng Poon ang inyong bagong buhay!

Ditsi's gown!

When I saw Ditsi walk down the aisle on Dec 22 at the UP Chapel, I was enchanted indeed by her gown. Simple and Elegant. It is full of beads! Wonderful bead work indeed not the traditional wedding dress beads! I love it and just had to post it here! Thanks Maye for the photos!

The best thing is that Ditsi with the help of friends conceptualized, designed and made it themselves!

Ditsi Carolino independent documentary film maker and director of "Minsan Lang Sila Mga Bata", "Riles" and "Bunso".

All photos by Maye Padilla

Maligayang Pasko!!!

I bring you good news of great joy...
a Savior has been born!
Luke 2:10, 11 NIV

Christmas is about giving

Are you thinking of ways to make your Christmas more meaningful and selfless? There are many ways you can give to those who really need your help. You can volunteer your time. You can also sponsor a child for $1 a day.

He Cares Foundation is one of the charities that need your help. Below is a letter from Kuya Joe Dean which can be found in their website. If you know of any company or organization looking for a charity to give to please kindly mention He Cares.

Dear Friend,

The He Cares Foundation invites you to be a channel of God’s blessing to the poor. For many years now, the He Cares Foundation has been providing for the physical and spiritual needs of local street children. At present, an average of 40 to 50 children benefit from the once-a-day feeding accompanied by daily prayer and bible sharing. The drop-in center also gives these children a place to go in case of emergencies, such as illness. In addition, the foundation is currently working with the Red Cross to educate these children and their families on health and nutrition and is in negotiations with DECS to allow the center to provide credited non-formal education.

But there is still so much to be done.The ultimate vision of the foundation is, of course, to get children off the streets and enable them to live healthy, safe, normal lives and become happy and productive individuals of our society. Among other things, we would like to increase feeding to three times a day, provide a permanent shelter, and increase educational and livelihood programs. But we can’t do it alone. We need your help.

You can make a difference in the lives of these needy children. In their name, we ask that you share whatever you can with them. There are many ways you can help. Join us in our mission and let us all be channels of God’s blessings.

In Christ,

Bro. Joe Dean Sola
Missionary/Founder
He Cares Foundation, Inc.

To donate visit the website of He Cares Foundation. How to donate click here.

Contact details:
#11 Acuña Drive, Philvirra Homes, Project 8, Quezon City
Tel. No. (632) 928-8910 (call 1:00 - 5:00 pm)
Cel. No. 0927+9755399

Uulan ng mga parol sa langit

Hindi na ako mapalagay sa paghihintay. Dahil uulan ng mga parol sa langit sa mga susunod na gabi sa Dec 14 at 15 ay dadaan ang maraming mga parol na guguhit sa langit.

ito ang tinatawag na Geminids meteor shower. Marami pang impormasyon dito at dito.

Nativity

Upon some pondering the past days, I realized that I want to revisit what Christmas means, how it is celebrated. I guess that is why I am collecting some thoughts about this season. I wanted to explore more about how this seasonal celebration came to be. I know that this season is defined differently by each person. At the very basic of it is a celebration of life, an expectant season, a time to celebrate a birthday. But it is not just any ordinary birthday.

For starters I looked for the basic definition of nativity from the American Heritage Dictionary. Nativity is 1. Birth, especially the place, conditions, or circumstances of being born. 2.Nativity a. The birth of Jesus. b. A representation, such as a painting, of Jesus just after birth. c. Christmas. 3. A horoscope for the time of one's birth.

I was surprised by the 3rd one. I asked Amats why do you think that it was defined like that? I didn't expect that one. Amats said that maybe because during the birth of Christ it was associated with the appearance of a great star in the sky. So maybe that is the why the 3rd definition was associated with nativity. We all know the story that a great star guided that three wise men to Bethlehem. They are called by many names the three kings, the three magi and some say they are actually astrologers from the East. These wise men noted the prophecy that a King will arrive marked by the appearance of this great star. Some believe that that great star might have been a comet.

By the way in a couple of days on Dec 13 and 14 there will be the Geminids meteor shower. Meteor showers are caused by the debris left in the orbits of comets. When the earth passes the debris-laden orbit, the particles are heated to incandescence by the Earth's atmosphere and once a year we have a meteor shower more info here.

Meteor showers is one of my most favorite events to watch ever! Not the quick "oh there it goes and its gone". It is really really different I've watched a meteor shower where the "shooting stars" carve a huge bright line not once or twice but almost every minute for more than 4 hours until my neck and back hurt and they continue to fall all over the sky until dawn. Incredible! This was in the year 2002.

Well a thought passed through my mind that maybe two thousand years ago there was a comet in the sky. And now many many years later we might be looking at the trail of that same "star". Wow! Imagine?

Hmmm.