Arroyo Paskong Palaro ng Lahi 2015

Organized the 3rd high school classmates event this weekend. I'm so so happy to watch them laughing and enjoying each other's company again!!! What-a-joy!!!

Team Mothy Lazaro!!!

Team Winner!!!

Best in 10 - 20 --- Jaberon!!!

It's really GRACE na ang daming pumunta!!! 'til next year 4-A!!!

Sitting beside Inang

I watched the movie "Coco" and Mama Coco reminds me of my Inang. (March 15, 2018)

         I'm really fighting the tears as I sit here beside my Inang. Her name is Felisa and people call her Iling. She is my almost 99 year-old great grandmother.She looks skinny, she can't walk now and most of the time, she's asleep. Just like now... 

I just really miss her. This is so not her. This is so not us.

          I miss her shouting my name " Mayyyyyy!!!" and I just know that she will command me to do something. I dread it because I know it' ll seem to be endless. Hindi pa tapos isang utos, meron na naman ulit! She's just like that. Hangga't may ma isasabay, ipapasabay. For her, that's being wise. Pero for me, honestly it's frustrating.

           But as I sit here, guess what? I miss doing the things she asked me to do - cleaning our house, cooking (helping her in making her specialties like atsara, minatamis na kundol, relyenong bangus..) washing her towel, mag almirol ng damit nya, ipagplantsa sya (while watching me), ipitas sya ng ikmo, ibili sya ng bunga, ipagsipilyo sya ng pustiso and all that. I miss her shouting "mauubos ang kuryenteee" when she wants us to stop watching TV. I miss her waking up so early kapag magsisimba sya. I miss seeing her sitting in front of her mirror (applying lotion, putting a lot of powder in her face and body, fixing her hair or even counting her money). I.miss her working on her garden (even in her 90s, dinadamuhan pa nya ang bakuran namin), I.miss her asking me to help.... Wala na. Naiyak na talaga ako remembering these things. She's still here but I'm missing her badly.

           She's the one na hindi ako natiis when I was crying to her na gusto ko talaga mag-aral.

The one who taught me a lot of things. The one who listens to my declarations. The one who always tell me na tipiin ang bibig ko para gumanda ako (hahaha) pero pag binigyan ko naman sya ng pera, sinasabi nya gumaganda daw ako.

           Okay let' s take note of the learnings from her life and some advice from her now para hindi ko makalimutan!

           Magpundar.Magdasal palagi. Ang piliin na lalaki yung mabait at mahal ang Diyos (yes, she always tell me this), makipag kapwa tao, linisin agad ang mga gamit pagkatapos gamitin, isoli ang gamit kung saan kinuha, isangkutsa ng mabuti ang mga ulam, no to MSG, kapag may nakita nang dapat gawin, gawin na!, be presentable and modest!

I learned things in her life na mga dapat at hindi dapat gawin...

Medyo hindi na nya ako maalala these days. Hindi na sya.makasigaw ng "Mayyyyyyy!!!!". When I ask her who I am, she just say "si taga Maynila". Sometimes I could still make her smile but it's becoming more rare. We rarely talk and I rarely hear her voice..

Minutes passed.. I tried to shout and call her in my usual way ... "Inaaangggg!!! Inangggg!!!" but still, she's still. I could just watch her breathing...and I'm somehow thankful for that.

P.S.

Regarding her salvation, I shared the gospel to her one time. I remember praying with her too. I really really really pray that she trusted Jesus alone for salvation. Amen? Amen!!

Goodbye David v. 2. 0

Appa,

tears are about to say hello

Because he's here or because I'm alone

Yeah right Dad I'm not

yeah right Dad forget the past

Wait. That's what You said

You're doing something

Something beyond what's in my head

Something better than the dream

Someone better than the man there

Some years ago, Acel said goodbye to Danny

Now I should have the courage to let go and still be merry

Not him or my feelings is to be elevated

My heart be secured to our Lord and be guarded

Goodbye David

He'll never know how much he meant to me

Goodbye

He'll never know how much he hurt me

May these feelings be gone..

These are meant for His man.

These are meant for MOG.

A Line a day 2016 Journal

I would really really, really  love to have this journal!!! This is a journal project of my girl crush Ms. Rica Peralejo - Bonifacio.

Here are some important things to know about it:

• 62 leaves
• 3.5 x 8″
• 115 GSM (it works with fountain and calligraphy inks and pens!)
• hardcover
• black spring bound
• back to back, dated pages for 2016
• layout and lettering by Elle Battung
• 21 quotes are actually lines are examples of how a single string of words can catch the spirit of an entire story
• 21 lines come from a variety of literary sources like a book on French parenting, one on English lessons, verses from the Bible and from Homerian classics, Milton and Shakespeare!

 Awesome right? That is why this morning,   I brave myself to join her give away contest. :)

Here are the mechanics:


Tell me why A LINE A DAY 2016 is a great gift idea.
Post answer on your social media timelines, with a photo of journal. (You may grab one of those you see here.)
Add this link: http://www.ricaperalejo.ph/2015/a-line-a-day-2016-price-and-preordering-process/ so people who would like to order can be informed about the process.
Make sure you use official hashtag #linesanddays so I can monitor your entries!


Ta-daaahh! And I posted this on my instagram and facebook accounts:


Dear Christmas giver,

Don't be so confused anymore what to give your dear friend here.

Love of journaling is evident. Hear, hear!
Capturing little moments?
What more capturing little witty thoughts?
No pressure at all.
A line a day would do.

My 2016 would be so much awesome with this A LINE A DAY 2016 .
Life is worth documenting in this cute and easy way  dear!

What are you waiting for? Click the link over here: http://www.ricaperalejo.ph/2015/a-line-a-day-2016-price-and-preordering-process/

It's so easy you see?
Thanks in advance for your generosity!

Love,
Ycah.

  #linesanddays

Even if I win or not, it's still great to help her (somehow) to promote this wonderful project! :)

"Girl Crush"

Okay so. Not that I like girls in a romantic way. I just really really love to see them and to learn from them.

I first heard "girl crush" from one of my girl crushes (whut?), Ate Phoebe dela Cruz. She calls the women that  she admires "girl crush" .

You know ... "crush", it's admiring someone right? I just want to write about the girls/ women that I really admire and look up to. Here they go (please click their names to visit their instagram/blog sites):


1. Rica Peralejo - Bonifacio


The famous wife of Pastor Joseph Bonifacio and Mom to the super cute Philip. I love her love for adventure, how she embrace new seasons, her heart for other mothers and above all her love for Jesus. :)


2. Acel Bisa - Vanommen

Moonstar 88's former vocalist. Yeng and Maricar Reyes - Poon's leader. I really really admire her leadership and love for the lost people and street children. Most especially, her passion in obeying and honoring God.  I learned a lot from her book "Who would have thought?" (grab a copy!). I remember crying in a bus too while reading God's wonderful love story for her. Amazing woman! Isang pambihirang pagkakataon ang makilala sya though not yet  in person but I know it'll come. Teehee! I'll be so kilig when that happen!


3. Patty Laurel - Filiart

The woman I just love staring at (her pictures). I just love her smile, her hair and all (crush kung crush).  I can relate to her somehow because she said that she's the world's corniest jokester. And indeed I know it's true  just by reading her blog posts. She makes me smile with her little "hirit" here and there. I'm so happy that her faith is building up and I'm more happy that her husband is someone who loves Jesus so much and constantly leading her to Him. What-a-wonderful life she has and what-a-wonderful woman she is!

4.  Joei Gayares - Revilleza

I knew about her after watching their (she's the wife of Ptr. Noel Revilleza)  love story in MMK. That's the best MMK episode for me and I think the title was "Journal". Their lives were played by Jessy Mendiola and Sam Milby. She inspired me a lot to write for my future husband (hi MOG!). I even  send her a messsage on facebook to ask questions about how she did it and why. I love reading her blog posts too and inspired me to love Him more and more!

5. Yeng Constantino


Her passion for God is really evident. She's using her influence well! She's so true to herself and in her SNS! I just really love how she express her love for God and telling others about His love for them too!

6. Thammie Sy

I grew up as a woman of faith listening to her Podcast. I was always reminded that beauty is fleeting but the woman who fears the Lord is to be praised! Na yung mundo ko, yung buhay ko, hindi nakasalalay sa crush ko, kundi kay God. (Yes, that's very important to know for the younger me.) I love her voice too! It's just so sweet.

7.  Nikki Gil


The woman who can stand up in her convictions. Saludo. I'm so happy for her to finally meet  THE ONE. I feel inspired by just looking  at  her life. Indeed, may tamang panahon!

8. Jenn Punzalan

She's Pastor Paolo Punzalan's wife. She's also one of the leader's of Ms. Rica in the church before. A mother of four. Amazing leader. I learned from her  to confirm the relationship in my heart already and stop assuming things. Until he lays down his intention, walang nangyayari. Friends lang kami.  Her message helped me alot too.

9.  Marie Bonifacio

I love it that Mrs. Marie Bonifacio was also a broadcast communication major. I just knew her better while following her blog posts (over at joeybonifacio.com) every Thursday. It is called "Secrets my Father told me".  She's got the wit and the humility in her posts. I'm really learning a lot from her!


10. Phoebe dela Cruz - Cabral

Kahit na mas close sila ni Dyna (isa sa aking mga kaibigan), I also admire this woman even from afar. Naks. She's now an executive producer/ anchor/reporter  in  Light TV (where I had  my OJT). She's married and she's about to be a Mom. I love her being a writer and because she loves climbing mountains too. Not just climbing but they're making a difference in the lives of the people/tribes  there.
She got her dream wedding, went to Batanes for honeymoon and... pinaglilihian nyang kanta ang "Rise Heart' na favorite ko din!


Ten women who inspires me through their lives.
One thing in common: an awesome relationship with Jesus!

The One na nagpapakilig sa aming lahat.  #teehee

Christmas then and now

         When I was a young girl, Christmas was just a season or day of simbang gabi, aguinaldo, food, new clothes for Christmas party etc. In our family, we're not used to have Noche Buena (waiting for the 12 midnight to eat dinner and exchange gifts) because the elders need to sleep early so that they can wake early to cook more for the Christmas day. :( But one day, I hope we'll have one. :) We don't have Christmas tree too or socks.  Yeah, I just grew up that way.

         Honestly, I was more fond of new year. I love the fireworks, waiting for the 12 midnight,  jumping (so that I can get taller), the coins in my pocket (so that I can have more money for the new year) and all. I mean, it's more fun right?

        But then, Christmas became so special to me since I realized it's true meaning.
Yes, I've heard the story so many times before -  a virgin giving birth to Baby Jesus. But for some reason though, it's pretty much "normal", "so so" "okay"  to me.

         I remember my first Christmas after my Victory weekend. I am just so joyful and so thankful that Christmas happened. I was so amazed that the birthday celebrant is the Gift Himself  to us all. Instead na tayo yung magbibigay sa Kanya, Sya ang nagbigay. Binigay Nya ang sarili Nya.  I'm so in awe and I still am. I think  that's  the start that I buy cakes on Christmas with my greetings to the One who gave His all to me (Happy Birthday Jesus!)

         These days also, I am learning from Mrs. Bo (Rica Peralejo - Bonifacio) the meaning of the different Christmas decors. I really want to display them soon at home. I declare that for the coming years. I pray to prepare more for this season, but above all, a prepared heart for more of Him.

         Now, with all my heart. I agree that Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. There is indeed joy to the world since the day Jesus was born.

       Truly, Jesus is the only gift who does not disappoint!

Merry Christmas!