On your birthday

When we were still very, very young, my mother once asked each and every one of us what we wanted to be when we grow up.  Most of us girls, except for one,  said we wanted to become teachers someday .  The exception said, she wanted to become a " katulong " in the future.  We all laughed at it , including  my mom, and at the same time we were all in "awe" and said, "HUH???  Why??? "

Well, God gives the desires of our heart.  And as she wishes, God granted Evelyn Soriano Baladjay y Arciaga ( a.k.a. Bengga ) what she wanted to be in life.  For me, Bengga really ended up as a " katulong " to the family and to so many others including her neighbors and friends.

Of course, by the word "katulong", I do not mean that Bengga ended up as a domestic helper or a housemaid.  Totoo, napakasipag niyang maglinis at mag-ayos ng bahay.  Kung minsan nga, kahit hindi niya bahay ay nililinis niya.  Not only in the Philippines, hanggang sa London, naglilinis siya ng bahay kahit alas kwatro pa lang ng madaling araw  (to the ire of  the british students, including my son-in-law,  in the boarding house )  LOL.  

On a serious note,  Bengga  finished an Accounting course from Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila and spent the best years of her life at San Miguel Corporation until she retired from the private service a few years ago.  She's happily married to  Anthony ( also an executive at the UNILAB ) and an accomplished  mother to three young professionals in their respective fields.  At the moment, she's just playing ( with stocks) and traveling (all around the world).  I guess, at this time she is still out of the country for a birthday trip to Singapore and Indonesia.    On the sideline, she's a " katulong" to so many of us who needs help.  She's always ready to lend a helping hand to ANYBODY.  She's very sensitive to the needs of others and she can do and will do anything for you if  she thinks the situation warrants.  That's where she finds true happiness.

She's not only a " katulong sa lahat ng oras " but she's also very, very  thoughtful.  She never fails to greet you or buy something for you on your birthday or even for no occasion at all.  When she comes back from her travels, well, may kasalanan ka kung sakaling wala kang pasalubong buhat sa kanya ... hehe.

As a church worker, she's superb! I am a witness to her sincerity in giving her best service to the Lord.  And as her sister, I couldn't ask for anything more.

Bengga, on your birthday, I just wanted to thank you.  My family and I are so blessed with you. As I have said before,  ikaw ay  tunay na  MAKADIOS AT MAKATAO.   

On your birthday today and all throughout your life, we will be praying for your continued happiness!

We cleaned one of these houses in Fairbridge, London as early as 4 a.m. . . . lol

And this was  the result . . .

And so with this...

Bengga spearheaded the preparation of these give-aways for Rein's Bridal shower in Fairbridge, London

Bengga was so excited to be the most beautiful amidst the lovely flowers  at the Botanical Garden in Northern Ireland

  

This is the first thing that Bengga looks for  in a new country she visits . . . STARBUCKS and the mug  ( Belfast )
and now , pag hindi ako kasama,    pati tindahan ng souvenirs for my THIMBLE...LOL

When she arrives at the hotel . . .   picture .... picture

At the Rose Garden in Belfast, Northern Ireland

Mga " Israelitas "  on their way to Holiday Inn,  Belfast at about 7 a.m. UK time ( 12 mn Phil. Time)

 At the Riverside Museum  in  Glasgow,  as if waiting for the Glasgow River Bus ( a cruise ferry boat )

Inside the Riverside Museum - a transport museum in Glasgow

On our way to Marriott Dalmahoy Hotel and Country  Club, Edinburg, Scotland

Bengga, the jetsetter, on her way to Northern Ireland

At the Botanical Garden in Belfast with the Black English retirees on the background

The True Golden Girl

I had a lunch date earlier today, February 23, 2013.    I left  Bacoor, Cavite at around 10 a.m. and arrived  in Quezon City at about 12 noon.

As I entered the function room,  it was like a reunion of  VMHS Batch '72 at Luck Seafood   Garden Restaurant and Tea House, a  Chinese restaurant along Quezon Avenue corner Kanlaon St. in Quezon City.  But actually, it was not.  It was Daisy Rosal-Ng's  nth birthday blow-out to all her classmates, schoolmates and friends from V. Mapa HIgh School.  To stop all the mental calculations and the counting ,  she said she turned 58 last February 16, 2013.

The function room was very cozy and the gathering was very intimate.  The celebrator posed here, there and everywhere and was so busy attending to all the needs of her guest friends.    All you can hear were laughter and the clicking and flashing of  different kinds of camera  from all angles.  Not to be forgotten of course was the dj-like voice of our newly-elected Vice-President of the VMHS Alumni Association, Perry Dimarucut,  who led the grace for the group before we had the sumptuous lunch.  The party started with the birthday candle blowing by Daisy with matching "hip-hop"  dance and the community singing of the Happy Birthday Song. It was followed by food, good food, best food, and excellent food. Before we knew it, we were all full to the brim that we could not even eat the chocolate cake anymore.  After lunch, some announcements were made regarding the forthcoming General Alumni Homecoming tomorrow at the Manila Hotel,  the next birthday celebration ( Eyie Ocbena's birthday at her mansion on Feb. 28 ) and the invitation for an overnight stay at Fontana in Pampanga.  After posing for the "class pictures " ,  Rosette and I apologized and left the party for our  next commitments for the day.

To Daisy, from the bottom of my heart,  thank you.  You're  really blessed and a true golden girl in the real sense of the word.  Thank you for sharing your golden time with us and your golden money as well, for all the excellent food.  But most of  all,  you are very lucky to be blessed with so many   "golden friends"  to celebrate your special moments with you.

GOD BLESS YOU HEART, DAISY!

 

Happy birthday to you,  Happy birthday to you !

Daisy  blowing her birthday candle . . .

Ano po yon... Madame President??

fish with sauce 

beef with brocolli

the best pancit . . . for Daisy's long life

refreshing drinks...

Good food . . .good vibes.... good lives!

response from Daisy . . .  Please eat the chocolate cake and share the sweetness...

ang saya saya ng celebrator  . . .

another class picture

laughter among friends .

Class picture with the buddhas

Yes, Mr. Vice?

Classmates and friends . . . 

Daisy and Rosette  ~ The golden girl with  a golden friend

I am so happy to see you again in person, VICTORIA ACOSTA -Martinez ,  for the first time after more or less 40 years

Not Too Late

I was deeply moved by the sermon of our Church Pastor this morning.  It was all about FAMILY.  Actually, the topic  has been running for three weeks already and it will still be his topic until the end of the month of February.

He said, for the Church to be strong, the families that comprise the Church must be strong.  That's why, there is a need to strengthen the family if we aim to strengthen the Church.

Of all the many remarkable statements that he (Bro. Gerwin, our Church Pastor ) has made, the one that struck me the  most was about God's command to honor our parents.  He said that God's command to honor our parents is UNCONDITIONAL just like God's unconditional love for us.    There should be no IFs and BUTs if we are to obey it.  

As I reflected on these statements, I somehow felt guilty.  I knew that there were so many times in the past that I tried to set my own personal conditions to show my love and respect for my parents.  There were so many instances in the past that I tried to withhold the joy that they should have enjoyed because of my own personal whims and standards.  Sometimes, because of my own misgivings, I tried to look at their faults.  I tried to blame them for something that they should have done but they didn't do it.  I tried to look for their imperfections.

Now, I've come to my senses and I'm thankful that it has not been too late.  Though my mother has passed away already ( and  I am pretty sure that she died happily and peacefully ),  at least, my father is still alive and I could still make amends of all my shortcomings.  I may not be able to sustain all his needs materially but I know I can show my love and respect  for him by being there on his side at the time when  he needs it the most.  

Earlier this afternoon, I had a chance to have a lunch date with my Papa.  It was actually one of the cheapest lunch I have ever had with him.  We met at  Jollibee SM North, maybe that's the most convenient place for him and for me to meet, and he wanted to eat there too.  He enjoyed the 2-piece chicken joy and a glass of pineapple juice while I had my chicken spaghetti and pineapple drinks, too.  We had a short chat about his life ~ what he eats, how he spends his day and his week, his laundry activities and many more.  He tells the story with a smile but deep within me, I hope i won't have the kind of life he has at the moment.   It is lonesome.  He lives by himself  most of the time.  He enjoys his friends at the SM Nova Mall if his budget is enough.  At times, he meets his girlfriends, which all of us ( my sisters and I ) abhor.  hahaha .  But now, I've come to realized that he needs those girls to keep him going and add color to his grayish life.

After an hour and a half, we separated ways.  It was a very short meeting but I knew he was happy and I was happy, too.  

On my way home, I have decided to regularly meet with him every Sunday.  I would rather spend my money on having lunch date or even having an eat-all-you-can merienda with him rather than buying him flowers when he's 6 feet under the ground and he wouldn't know it.  

It is not too late, my dear brother and sisters.  What do you think?  I believe that  now is the time for all of us to enjoy each other's company ~ while we can still walk and appreciate life.

Can we do this during Sundays when the Church schedule is not hectic?

Teachers, We Love you!

While the world is celebrating  Valentine's Day today,  we had another reason to celebrate at Queensville School.

Earlier today, our students prepared a very simple program in honor of their teachers.  They prepared short messages, cards, songs and dances and gave their teachers simple souvenir items, too.  Some students were serious and a bit emotional as they thanked their teachers and asked for forgiveness for all their mischief.  There were chocolates and cakes, balloons and teddy bears,  hearts of all shapes made of  cloth and paper, and many, many more, but they only mean one thing:  THANK YOU, TEACHERS!  WE LOVE YOU!

Souvenir items from the students . . . Thank you!

Try this dessert . . .  TIRAMISU  from MARY  GRACE  . . . so yummy !   Thank you po!

Another yummy choco . . .  thanks a lot!

To all the teachers of Queensville School, I salute you!  I, being a teacher myself, know the pain it takes to master the craft and take teaching as a vocation.  

L-R  (Standing)    T. Beth,  Sir Franklin,  T. Lei,   T. Aimee,  T. Lorna
L-R ( Seated )  T. Ruth,   T. Banjie,  T. Vanessa,  T. Irene
Not in picture   Sir, IE,   Sir Matthew,  T.  Janelle 

In one of my readings, I came across a  poem about the teacher and I would like to dedicate it to all of you.  It has touched me and encouraged me to go on in spite of all the difficulties that came along the way.  I hope it will do the same to all of you as you continue with your noblest task  ~ TEACHING!

The  Teacher 

A teacher built a temple

With loving and infinite care

Planning each arch with patience

Laying each stone with prayer.

None praised her unceasing efforts

None knew her wondrous plans

For the temple built by the teacher

Was unseen by the eyes of man.

Gone is the temple's builder

Crumbled into dust

Low lies the stately pillar

Food for consuming dust.

But the temple the teacher built

Will last while the ages roll

For that beautiful unseen temple

Is a child's immortal soul.

                         - Anonymous-

TEACHERS, WE LOVE YOU!

SINTAS, T. Aimee!

Ang galing... big enough to cover the watermelon...haha

Sa ilalim ng punong mangga . . . ngumiti at UMILAG !

Galit ka  pa Sir?   Sinusuyo ka na . . .

For more pictures,  please visit the site of Queensville School of Cavite, Inc.

Happy birthday, MFI

Dearest MFI,

I'm happy and I would like to let you know that I have created my own blog spot now.  I hope you have visited my site already with the several blogs i have written and have shared with my friends before.  Now on your special day, I simply cannot allow it to pass without writing something about you in my site.  You are one person who has somehow influenced me a lot to become who I am now.

It has been ages when I first met you.  It has been ages when you first taught me how to prepare an appointment paper.  It has been ages since we stayed overnight in the office due to some urgent matters and one time, because we were stranded due to heavy rains.  It has been ages since we traveled together all over the Philippines during our "recruitment and selection" days.  It has been ages since we had our first Assessment Centers.  It has been ages since we shared each other's " baon " during break times.  It has been ages since  we argued over official matters.  It has been ages since we cried together due to depression for unknown reasons.  It has been ages since we both left the GSIS cubicles.  It  has been ages since we saw each other personally and had our lunch together in Tagaytay.  Truly,  it has been ages . . . since we started our friendship.

We were together for almost twenty long years in the GSIS but  i have never mentioned to you how much you have influenced my lifestyle.  Now, I have found the right time to let you know  how much you did. 

First, you taught me how to value money and to spend it wisely.  While I have read it and have heard it from others, YOU ARE  the person who lived with it and showed me how to do it.  I know I have not perfected it even up to now but just the same, I owe you so much for being my role model.

Second, you taught me what self-discipline is all about.  When you were my boss,  I admired you for coming to office everyday and on time.  You have provided good examples to follow and have challenged me enough to do the same.  With you, I have learned to plan my work and to work out my plans and eventually, somehow,  I know I have achieved a balance in my life.  

Third, you also helped me develop a good vision.  You are the  person who always look ahead so that you have the insight to make good decisions.  I don't say that I am a very good decision maker now because I am fully aware that I have made some not-so-good decisions also in my life. But for whatever accomplishments I have achieved by now,  you have been a strong force within me.

I was only twenty-one then when I entered the GSIS.  As a developing individual, I needed someone to look up to during those days upon whom I can pattern my lifestyle. I am very happy to let you know that you were the one I have chosen and you did not fail me.  You have inspired me and touched my life with the way you have lived your life.   

. 

Myrna Lou Filart Isip - a true friend  indeed!  You're my best friend according to Reina.  Remember? LOL

Happy, happy birthday, Myrns!  May the good Lord bless you with many, many more !

Love and miss you,

Fler

Myrna and I  in Tagaytay sometime in 2009

Our latest picture together in Tagaytay, 2009

Myrna with the "original" MPSD staff  that I've known

La Union Country Club 

                                              In one of our travels with Lita Irlandez
                                                         and Bobby Victorio
   

How I wish I could be with all these people again. !  Is it still possible?

At the GSIS hostel with  Myrna, Mrs. Lim, Baby Angala, Neneng (RIP) and Yvette Abaya

Myrna's  Beantiful Angels
(L-R  Myrna, Neneng, Cely , Fler, Raquel, Josie, Cionnie and Mei