Christmas away from Home

"Christmas... is not an external event at all, but a piece of one's home that one carreid in one's heart." 

Freya Stark

"The best of all gifts around Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other." Burton Hillis

This is my third time to spend Christmas overseas and first time in Dubai. I miss my loved-ones including my Parents, Grandma, our relatives, and my close friends in Philippines especially on this holiday season. I can’t stop my tears flowing down my cheeks as I tap my keyboard and memories keep flashing back. There’s no place like home, as what others mostly said.  Christmas in Dubai is far behind as what we Filipinos usually celebrate in our own country.  I miss the food on our dinner table, the Videoke, the noise, the laughter, the Simbang Gabi in Philippines.

The distance doesn't mean to be sad this holiday.  It’s time to be jolly and thank God every blessing I received for this whole year.  Work doesn't hinder me to attend Tagalog Mass or our Simbang Gabi.  I really prayed for it. I am very grateful, even though how busy my schedule was, I still manage to attend the said Holy Mass for nine evenings.

As 2013 near to our doorstep, let’s hope and pray for the betterment. Every resolution during New Year we tend to promise to ourselves, let’s just keep and look forward to those changes.

MyMemoirs: Follow Your Dreams

MyMemoirs: Follow Your Dreams: "Success is not measured by whether you win or whether you fail. There's always a little bit of success, even if things don't go your way. W...

Follow Your Dreams

"Success is not measured by whether you win or whether you fail. There's always a little bit of success, even if things don't go your way. What's important is that you'll feel better about yourself, for the simple reason that you tried" by Amanda Pierce

I

 

First time in Dubai, is just like a baby learning to walk and stand. But somehow, I started adjusting myself to the climate, people around, and at my new work.

I arrived in Dubai, September 10. I had the feeling of deja vu. Past memories keep playing on my mind the time I stepped my feet on the ground.

Guangzhou Airport (connecting flight)

 

My new career here in Dubai is  in line with my second course as AB Mass Communication student graduate. (Sort of in other fields)

As newly hired in this company, you can feel inferiority versus superiority towards your colleagues. You will encounter comparison among others regarding performance and attitude. You will meet true and false people as time goes by.

In this world full of pretensions, full of hypocrites and of course real people are still there to really guide you.

I have questions but don’t know the answers as I continue typing this article. What future awaits me? Where will I be after two years?  Five years? After 20 years?

Two days ago, I received text message from a close friend, informing me, that one of our batch mates is already an Attorney.


                                

As I read the message, I remembered my classmate as a happy-go-lucky guy during our college days. I was really surprised about the good news. Other batch mates have their own families now, others are successful in their chosen careers, and the others well I don’t know where are they now. 

I just hope and pray for my own success where ever I may be in the future. At present, I must love and accept what God gave to me.  As what my friend once told me that I cannot move forward unless I must love and truly accept what has given to me.  He told me, I must learn to appreciate things at its simplest ways.

Now, I spread my wings to fly to the farthest distance, I hold my grip tight and let the Almighty God light my path to that direction.

Video Collections (Dubai)

Video collections from NAIA-China-Dubai Itinerary

My Diary Part 3 (journey bound to Dubai)

China Southern Airlines

My Diary Part 2 (journey bound to Dubai)

with my group mates @NAIA Terminal 1, September 9, 2012

My Diary Part 1 (journey bound to Dubai)

with my group mates at NAIA TERMINAL 1, September 9, 2012

with my group mates at NAIA terminal, September 9, 2012

MyMemoirs: Visita Iglesia in Tagaytay City

MyMemoirs: Visita Iglesia in Tagaytay City: I am dreaming of impossible As I hitch my wagon to a star. I keep on paddling my own canoe, Following the strong current, h...

Visita Iglesia in Tagaytay City

I am dreaming of impossible

As I hitch my wagon to a star.

I keep on paddling my own canoe,

Following the strong current, here I go.

Lord, help me through with this,

And guide me the right way.

There are lots of twist and turn,

Waves and high tides in my direction.

Please don’t feel tired listening,

Please don’t leave me at the middle.

YOU  alone whom I trusted and believed

Without YOU, where am I right now?

Graduation march....Que Sera, Sera

Few more weeks and it will be commencement exercise in most universities and other schools. Thousands are graduating from different courses such as Political Science, BS Education,  different fields in Engineering, Commerce, Accountancy and the likes.

Some students will be marching with flying colors, some are being contented finally after four long years of waiting they will at last receive diplomas.

Surely parents will be proud of that their daughter/son is summa cum laude, magna cum laude or cum laude. Behind those awards and satisfactory grades, these graduates worry where are they going through and what future awaits them.

 This was how I felt during our graduation day. As I am writing this article, I try to recall our graduation song that serves as inspiration and a drive to pursue my dreams. As what I only remember are the songs we sang during High School days and College (The Journey, Do You Know Where You’re Going Through, and Power of Your Love).

Upon receiving my diploma, I thanked God and hold back my tears as I posed my sweetest smile in front of the camera.

Finding a job is like choosing fresh sweet apple in supermarkets. You won’t be able to know the taste and texture unless you will bite it.

I experienced rejection, dejection, and favoritism. If you apply with good referrals then you are “In”. If you graduated in those reputable and well-known universities such as UP, UE, Ateneo, Dela Salle, FEU, UST, Adamson then you are “In”. It was really a stiff competition for me that time.

I took Civil Service Examination that time for me to apply in Government offices. I failed three times in CS Exam. I felt being dumb by not passing the said examination. So, I just admitted, it was not really meant for me.

In 2005, I finally landed a job.  Actually my third job experience after I pursue my second course. It was not really in line with my course but I took it as a challenge and a learning ground for me.

I read biography of famous people who started below from rugs to riches, who have minimal educational attainment and handicaps but became famous and created their own names in the industry and became successful in their chosen career. 

Not all jobs are in line to our courses.  There are students who graduated summa cum laude but in the end suicidal victims. Others, after getting married at early age, they became plain housewives. Others work abroad and leave their profession in Philippines for greener pasture and higher compensation.   

For my final statement in this article, "As long as the offer is good and it is a decent job, then grab it. Who knows, that job will be a stepping stone for a brighter future."

MyMemoirs: The Story Untold

MyMemoirs: The Story Untold: My Endeavors......My fight..... I like this quote by William Shakespeare “The very substance of the ambitions is merely the shadow of a...

The Story Untold

My Endeavors......My fight.....

I like this quote by William Shakespeare “The very substance of the ambitions is merely the shadow of a dream.”

When I was young I dreamt to be a Supermodel, Flight Stewardess, an Actress, a Doctor and a News Anchor.

I was an ambitious child at the age of six. Every time I watch movies or any shows, I always imitate the person on that TV show. The way she acted and looked at the cam. 

Since young until now, I have this character of being too curious to know things and being inquisitive.

As I was growing up, my perspective in life changed. When I graduated in High School, I wanted to take Physical Therapy and be able to work abroad. Due to lack of money, I wasn’t able to pursue. Instead, I took up  two-year course in Computer System Design and Programming and graduated with flying colors.

After graduation, I had my first job at the age of 19 as  Computer Teacher handling elementary levels. It was really  tough and challenging task.  I worked with them for six months and being a Computer Teacher in my beloved Alma mater. I resigned not on the nature of my job but on the status of the company. It is a private company who hired me to teach in Cordon Central and provides Computer facilities. 

MyMemoirs: Long Waiting is Over..."Yes I do"

MyMemoirs: Long Waiting is Over..."Yes I do": In my past article in "My Points of View", I wrote a short intro about the love story of my friend. Now I'll be writing full details on...

Long Waiting is Over..."Yes I do"

In my past article in "My Points of View", I wrote a short intro about the love story of my friend. Now I'll be writing  full details on the special day of my friend.

On January 6 this year, my friend tied a knot with her longest and loving fiancé at Iglesia Ni Cristo in San Esteban, Ilocos Sur. 

I took a leave for two days to attend in her wedding day. As I wrapped my gift and card, I stared longer and read twice the nice quote written in front of the card. I added my own message and thanked them for the invitation as well.

As I aboard a passenger bus, I remember the dialogue from the Tagalog Romance Pocketbook:  

“To put it all in the list, I want to marry you ‘coz of many reasons. When you love someone, it’s not always expressed by saying “I love you”, but by showing your affection and sincerity because you can say it anytime to anyone. And I wanted to show you how much I love you for the rest of our lives if you will allow me to enter in your life for a lifetime and build a family.”

Exactly 10 o’clock in the morning, the organ starts to play. As I keep my eyes on the bride walking down the aisle, I can’t help myself not to cry. My tears keep on flowing down my cheeks as my friend slowly stares at her groom and husband to be as she approached the center. The choir members continuously sing alive and loud as the couple prepares themselves for the ceremony. All the people inside the chapel were emotionally touched as the Pastor read the passage from the bible while the couple silently listened to the sermon.

I keep on holding back my tears and telling  myself, “This is it….this is real…”

After the Pastor solemnized the wedding and announced it officially as husband and wife, now my friend is already Mrs. Maricel Umalla-Marquez.

It took how many minutes in picture taking as the relatives, principal and secondary sponsors posed their sweetest smile with the newly wed.

Afterwards, the reception follows at Magic5 Beach Resort in Ambukao. The caterers served delicious dishes and drinks. The live band and enthusiastic dancers entertained the guests with love songs.

The cozy place jibes as the newly wed made their final speech and thank all the visitors and relatives who made big influence to the success of their wedding day.

Congratulations to Architect Adriel and Maricel. God bless your marriage and counting more years as lovely and loving couple.