LIFE GOES BY QUICKLY

LIFE GOES BY QUICKLY
(July 2013)

It’s been a year and four months now since I open this blog.  I was caught unaware of the passing days that I haven’t updated my blog for 7 months now. Time flies so quickly when enjoying life.  I tried to look back then of how and where all those days went.  Instead, I looked at the mirror and saw that age is beginning to show.  How did I get here so fast? All I know is, there are things I wish I hadn't done, things I should have done, and many things I was happy that I had done.

Now, I have glimpses on how to welcome the new chapter of my life. And I have to move quickly, as there are so many better things to do that I have been putting them off; so many good things to share until there will be no more hurts but only more love; and so many hopes that go far beyond anything I could imagine.  The best is yet  to come in this world and in the other world to come.  To start with, I look around.  The first thing I saw is God's beautiful and different creations.  God really likes variety, each one is unique, each one has a beautiful purpose—like you and me, the plants, flowers, trees, dogs, birds, fish, insects …

Enjoy some of the shots I took recently in my garden house. Have you noticed the varieties?

 

It's Not What You Gather, but What You Scatter, that tells what kind of life you have lived.
"Three things in human life are important: The first is to be kind; The second is to be kind and the third is to be kind.  -Mother Theresa"

Thanks to Florence Palacio for the beautiful photos taken by her during her visit in my gardenhouse.

Florence cousin.  Very nice person.

My children gave me a camera as birthday gift. Below are photos i just took. In spite of being  self supporting plants, still they gave me beautiful products.

Captured Memories

Captured Memories - CNHS Batch '72 Christmas Party

written by Ms. Glenda Manlapaz

Braving the weekend traffic, we managed to reach on call time zimar's place located at the elite and exclusive village in Tagaytay.  A beautifully made up to stand  witness to another unforgettable kitakits of barangay72 seniors as we celebrate the yuletide season with endless moments worth keeping. These memories would keep us breaking into smiles again when remembered.  Zimar's place is simply awesome to the max that you will find endless antique items all over the place. The feeling as if we were in the house of Maruja--remember that Mars Ravelo classic in the 60s?  The crocheted curtains, crocheted like lace-covered beds and all the old things around seemed to bring us back to another place and  time.  I heard Doris talking to herself--that was like our charcoal-flat iron, should I had kept it, it should have been antique by now. There is also a mini garden with fountain in the bathroom which I found amusing and almost forgot some one was  waiting.  A gazebo built on top of a big like aquarium full of fishes exhibiting to us their bright colors as they playfully swam right before our very eyes.  While enjoying this aquarium and  trying to identify every plant in the garden, since  lunch was not yet ready anyways, we feasted on boiled mais, boiled peanuts which I asked Doris to cook for me, the boiled eggs from the poultry of Mansueto,  puto brought by norly.  We had lots of debate over the correct names of fruit bearing trees on the sides and endless plants.  We also spent a lot of time remembering hi-school days as usual.

At lunch time I was trying to recall if cabalen or barrio fiesta set up  was infront of me, with all native food arranged in kawali (pan). We had ginataang kuhol, inihaw na bangus, ginataang paku with shrimps, lechon manok, fried tawilis from the lake of Taal,  Of course the center of attraction on the table was what tagaytay is famous for, the super tender and hot beef bulalo (soup base).  The kundol (winter melon) desert, buko from Elmers farm and the rice cake brought by Ed Obusan were blockbusters. 

The ever outspoken Lilia told as that it was a dream come true for her to be in Zimar's place in tagaytay.  The very prim and proper husbands of  zimar and Loida, threw all cares to the wind, when  the very game lilia danced the gangnam around them and both very gamely did the steps to our applause.  The boys of batch72 were feeling what would be the reaction of there wives if they would dance with Lilia. And the moment they saw them enjoying the antics of lilia, everyone gamely showed their dancing prowess.  But allan and elmer had a few drinks first before proceeding to the dance floor.  The revelation that day were girlie and amy, the wives of elmer and Monching, respectively, showed there moves too, also in the beat of gangnam.   Of course our very own ed, norly and Nitz too.   After the singing and dancing, we left at 4pm because Sally had to pack her things for their  family U.S. trip.  Elmer packed and gave each one a loot bag of the delicious macaroni he and Girlie baked.  

Very sorry to those who did not make it due to transportation arrangement problem.  Sally harassed Alan  to make his car available as our service to the place, and he in turn harassed his son to act as our driver.  Many thanks to you Ms Zimar and to your  family for playing hosts to another memorable batch72 event.  Thank you and Merry Christmas to all. LOVE -GULAY (more detailed story is available at the CNHSBatch70 Yahoo Group).

  

Wife of Mansueto. A  very good singer.

Daughter of Ed O.

Girlie, wife of Elmer

Father and son, Allan Cabrera

Wife of Ed Obusan

Ed O.

Thanks Giving – Part II.  A tour to my gardenhouse

Three years ago, when I had my weekend house constructed, I just woke up one morning that I didn’t have enough money to finance the construction.  Contractors, after advancing money, work a little then just disappeared.  I had drained my savings, business was down, thus, salary increases and bonuses that I had expected did not come.  Along the way, my husband was diagnosed with diabetes and hypertension which early stage medications were quite expensive.  My daughter Dana was in her final year in law school and my daughter Mariz was getting married.  The bulked of my financial downfall was the big sum of money borrowed by several friends who I trusted so much but turned out the other way around.

Also that morning, I prayed to God, I prayed very hard.  I talked to Him to come into my life and take charge as I feared the financial pressures.  I stopped the construction.  I borrowed money from my sisters/friends and loaned in the office to pay off the hardware for the construction materials.

As days passed, God was at work.  He is my great Engineer and best Financier.  The house is articulately done, I had paid off all my debts, Danny’s diabetes/hypertension is under controlled, Dana passed the Bar exam, with a bonus—my son, Dan passed the ECE board exam.  Chris & Mariz gave us a wonderful grandson, Mateo, and have a comfortable life.  My salary increases and bonuses are back.  Well, my friends did not pay me back yet, sad, but still they are in my prayers.

My special thanks to my husband, children, my sisters, real friends, my employer for the support and VianChris Hardware for the patience.

Now, I see blessings from God. Tour with me in my garden house.

“Don’t run up debts, except for the huge debt of love you owe each other.  Roman 13.8a”

Trust God.  Give thanks for God  does wonders.