Waiting for the breaking of the day, Racha Island in the province of Phuket, Thailand.
Archive for the ‘Christmas’ Category
Break of the Day
Saturday, January 24th, 2009Re-Discovery
Saturday, January 24th, 2009I took an offer to facilitate a course called the Kairos course in the Cross-Cultural training that my hubby is directing. I was nervous and I almost cancelled it. Good thing my hubby encouraged me so much. I did the Cultural Considerations… which can be found in Chapter 7 of the Kairos Course material. I am glad I pursued it… I re-discovered my love for teaching. It wasn’t supposed to be a teaching session… just facilitating. But I stood there and I felt like I was teaching. Since I could relate so much with the topic, it was an easy flow… had the students laughing all the way to the finish. I loved it. I was nervous at first when I stood in front but I got over it by sharing a joke. And I told the class I share a joke everytime I get nervous. They all laughed… and it basically broke the ice.
Well, why is it that I never considered teaching as my career? I really don’t know why. In the Philippines, teaching is not really a glamorous career, especially when the teachers don’t get their salaries on time. I thought being a teacher would make me hungry. LOL. Anyways… I know it’s a noble job because you are planting a seed. And you have a choice… to plant a good seed or to plant a bad seed. I have come across some teachers that planted a good seed in me… and some not so good. But I appreciate all of them, nevertheless.
So… I stood there… started opening my mouth… and started loving it. Now my hubby found a 2-day spot for me because a couple of teachers from Australia just moved their schedule to a different date… Hubby suggested I take the 2-day spot. And I said yes!
I actually have a lot of “passions.” I love writing too. That’s why I have blogs. I love doing IT jobs as well. But I took engineering. I am so-so with it. Why did I take that course then? Oh well… I was too immature to make a wise decision. I based my decision on how glamorous a job can be if I do engineering. Indeed, it was good to do it. In fact, I was able to get an engineering job in a government office. It was indeed glamorous. What I couldn’t take was the obvious corruption that took place.
I was once assigned to design a road project. It was in a very rural area. I did everything for that project alone: plotting of data, designing of the road, estimating of the cost of project. Once done, I submitted to my Chief of Planning and Design. The next day, I got 500Pesos. I was wondering why I got it. And there was no bidding that took place for that project. Then I realized it was a ghost project! The government actually paid for the project that never existed. And I was so naive to even realize it. And I was part of the scam! Well, I couldn’t take it. And I chose to move on to a better career. The one that God designed me for. I am glad I did. I am doing my best to give Him back the glory He deserves.
Now I am excited to take that 2-day spot of teaching. And speaking of teaching, I need to sign off now and prepare. I have a lot of things on my plate for this first half of the year. And I am glad. God is awesome!
De la Paz and Pangandaman – which side are you on
Thursday, January 8th, 2009A yahoo group member forwarded an email about Bambee’s blog entry about what happened to her family at the Valley Golf and Country Club in Antipolo. I read the story and I felt sorry for the family of de la Paz. I feel sorry. But it doesn’t mean I am taking their side. I am not taking the side of the Pangandamans either. And because I don’t take sides, I am not gonna give you any links. Oh well, you can google about it if you want.
The de la Paz and Pangandaman story was an issue between pride and power. Both parties probably would have learned their lessons by now. Pride and being overwhelmed with power could get you nowhere. Pride for the de la Paz and power for the Pangandamans. Both barked at a wrong tree, in a wrong way. Both sinned in the eyes of God. The choice now is on the lesser evil. And people take sides… and yes, on the lesser evil.
Yes, people are taking sides… Some even haven’t heard the complete story yet. They judge according to one’s own point of view… according to her incomplete story. And because the offending party was a politician, they make a noise out of it. Of course, it was wrong to hurt a defenseless 56-year old and a 14-year-old. But who instigated the matter, anyway? Of course, it was fatally wrong when a public leader hurt the common people… but who insisted on the fight?And because the offending party was a politician and a cabinet member (Mayor of Lanao del Sur and Secretary of Agrarian Reform who also sits in the panel of peace negotiating party – both father and son), it has create a big sensation over the tabloid.
I am, indeed, not taking sides… after hearing about the reputation of the elder de la Paz… no matter how appalled I was by the reaction of the Pangandamans.
Having said these, the Pangandamans should pay for what they did to the old man and to the minor. On the other hand, may this incident be a lesson for de la Paz… to be more humble next time.
I am not taking sides. Why am I blogging about this? Simply… to express my opinion. I am a blogger, after all… exercising my right as a responsible blogger. And above all, to create awareness so we all could pray for the situation. God is just and he sees to it that justice prevails.
Granting Wishes
Friday, December 12th, 2008I just wrote my Christmas wish list. Now it’s time for me to grant wishes, especially my family. My boy wants more Thomas and friends for his Thomas and Friends collection. I am buying that one for him. His cousin Joshua’s chair was broken. I am giving him a new chair from Ikea. My sister-in-law likes some kitchen stuff so I bought an onion cutter for her. I wannna send some stuff for my family in the Philippines too. I never sent them though. Everytime they want something, I just send money so they can buy it for themselves. Maybe this time, I’d send some stuff. But of course, I have to find out the cost of shipping boxes. Hubby said it’s not that much. So I’ll probably send some stuff over there for Christmas. Can you tell I am so in the mood for Christmas now?
Advent Series: 3 – Advent Wreath
Monday, December 8th, 2008My fondness of doing and observing Advent is growing by the day. So God-willing, next year… will start doing it. Too late to do it this year as Advent starts on the 4rth Sunday before Christmas. I would definitely love to do this tradition with my family and hopefully, invite Peter’s family for each Advent dinner that I am going to do.
The Advent wreath is a Christian tradition that symbolizes the passage of the four weeks of Advent. It is usually a horizontal evergreen wreath with four or five candles. Beginning with the First Sunday of Advent, the lighting of a candle can be accompanied by a Bible reading and prayers. An additional candle is lit during each subsequent week until, by the last week before Christmas, all four candles are lit. Some Advent wreaths include a fifth, “Christ” candle which can be lit at Christmas. The custom is observed both in family settings and at public church services. (source: wikipedia).
Meaning of Advent candle colors:
The most popular colors for the Advent candles are purple and rose. In the Western church, purple is the historic liturgical color for three of the four Sundays of Advent: once the color associated with royalty, it symbolizes Christ as the “Prince of Peace.” Rose is the color for the Third Sunday of Advent, known as Gaudete Sunday from the Latin word “rejoice.” Gaudete Sunday anticipates the joy of the Christmas celebration, so its color is a mixture of Advent purple and Christmas white. It may also symbolize the color of early dawn.
Other variations of the Advent wreath add a white candle in the center to symbolize Christmas, sometimes known as the “Christ candle.” It can be lit on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. White is the traditional festal color in the Western church.
Other traditions use only four purple candles because rose vestments and decorations are not commonly used in Protestant churches. Blue is also a popular alternative color both for Advent vestments and the Advent candles, especially in some Anglican and Lutheran churches. Blue is both the color associated with the Virgin Mary and the color of the night sky as it lightens towards dawn. White or red candles can also be used.
In some traditions the first candle is called the prophet’s candle and is meant to signify the hope of Jesus’ coming. The second is called the Bethlehem candle in honor of the city of Christ’s birth. The third candle is the shepherds’ candle. The final candle is the angels’ candle, symbolising the angelic proclamation of joy at Christ’s birth.
More commonly, the candles consecutively symbolize “hope,” “peace,” “joy” and “love.”
More on advent:
Advent Series: 1 – Advent Season