Once upon a time...

Once upon a time, papa God gave me a chance to work in company that manufactures one of the most prestigious cars in the world. If you know Mercedes Benz, that’s it. Yes, I worked there. I myself couldn’t believe that once in my life I’ll be able to work in this kind of company…in a real corporate world and be a Personal Assistant of the Chief Financial Officer. O ha??? Bilib na kayo sa akin noh??? hahaha

Never did I imagine that I will be touching and seating those cars that I am seeing on TV or in the magazines. Oh guys don’t get jealous, I just touch and seat on those cars but I wasn’t able to drive them coz I don’t know how to drive! Boo me! Haha Just to appease your jealousy, for 2 years of working there…while everyone is arriving with their “modelong” car….I on the other hand always arrived with my service everyday, a school type bus! Imagine a PA arriving in a yellow bus??? Well, that's me! hahaha! And by the way, I was also deprived from joining the AMG event! AMG event is one of the most awaited events every year because the employees will have the chance to drive Mercedes Benz AMG cars in a real circuit! Yes, it’s at Yas Marina Circuit where the F1 is being held. So kung marunong sana ako magdrive, I've got the chance to drive like a mad woman on that circuit! Chos! 

Enough of my bitterness...and let's get serious...

Personally, I'm really glad that I was given a chance to meet lots of people with different nationality and personality coz I developed one of the greatest skills that is really difficult to practice, and that is to be "humble".  Kaya kung meron lang award and bonus every month for Ms. Congeniality and Ms. Pasensyosa, for sure I will always bag the price at milyonarya na ako ngaun. :) I'm not bragging but for 2 years of working there, I realized that I always says "hi" or "hello" to every colleagues that I am seeing along the way. I know it sounds odd, but I love doing that. I love greeting and smiling to them even if my health is tumbling up & down. And since my work is not only assisting my boss, my other responsibility is to do most of the office administration job too. So here comes my pasensyosa's side came upon the limelight. It's not easy to administer the whole company with more than 130 employees for all their daily queries, requests & complaints etc. plus managing more than 70 company car fleet for all the managers and staffs - ang pinaka-madugo kong trabaho! haha - but i really did enjoy company car administration though. Madugo xa at nakakapagod at nakaka-stress but it's a joy whenever I see that my colleagues are pleased with their new cars every 6 months. :)

Despite of having an "overwhelming" job, I was able to do and enjoy it because I know that God had given me the grace to cope with all the "hiccups" in the office everyday. Knowing the battle that I'll be facing, I also lived with this mantra when I started working in that company "Work as if you are working with God".

Working in this company is such a great blessing for me and so as for my family coz I was able cope with my financial responsibilities consistently and got some of my dreams came true too. But time had come that papa God reminded me that there’s more to life than the financial blessings and the luxuries of life that I am receiving. There are more important things than those dreams that I wanted to achieve. There is my HEALTH that I have to pay attention to. So from that wisdom, I decided to resign and leave the company that gives me wealth (naks parang totoo haha) coz I wanted to RESTORE my health before it's too late. Sabi nga Health is Wealth. I want to restore the same Azee na masigla, malikot at lagnat lang ang nagiging sakit...My earnings couldn't buy the joy of doing stuff that I love without worrying that I might get sick afterwards. I want to enjoy the life that God once lend to me. :)

Now, enough of the drama naman...

As I was saying, I was able to touch and seat in different models of MB cars so let me brag about it just for once. Pagbigyan nyo na ako...wooot! nakisakay at naki-touch lang talaga ako dito! ahahaha 

this photo was taken during the exhibit for the 125th years celebration of MB in 2011

gala...gala...gala

Since my parents are here in Dubai to spend their holiday, allow me to share their Dubai experience with you all. :) I’m really happy that my folks were able to experience and see what Dubai has to offer. So far 3 malls pa lang ang napupuntahan nila. 

Trying to make this visit a memorable for my parents in a simple and not so magastos as possible. I'm a simple OFW and don't have much of money to lavish them in different luxurious hotels / restaurants here in Dubai but I'll try my best to let my parents experience the best of UAE in my own simple way.

#1

iFly is one of the attractions @ Mirdif City Center and it's always been a dream for me to try this out. But unfortunately I don't think that the cost of this experience is reasonable coz it almost cost my monthly mobile plan so I'd rather try their photo booth instead! Sabi ko nga...Safe na toh! Libre pa! My parents trying the photo booth...and look at the amazing ceiling of this mall...they put a lot of effort for this...my folks are impressed.

@Mirdif City Center

#2

 Met my parents and friends for a dinner @ Deira. We went to Shabu-shabu and the place is overseeing the Dubai Creek where most of the Dhow cruise are passing. The weather is so nice that you'll enjoy sipping the hot soup of shabu-shabu. They like it both and i'm thinking of having another stop before my parents went back to Philippines.

@Twin Tower

#3

Dubai Festival City is one of my favorite mall here because it's not crowded and they have IKEA! Had our dinner at Toni Roma's and let my parents taste the French macaroons! I realized na adik din pala sa picture ang parents ko...kala ko ako lang..ung pala e nagmana ako sa kanila hihi

@Dubai Festival City

New Pope to Rule the Catholic Church

Waiting for the name of the new Pope to be announce!

I'm so amaze to see the crowd outside St. Peter's Basilica patiently waiting for this historical announcement of the next leader of the Catholic church - Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio from Argentina will be known as Pope Francis.  

Praise God for giving us a new leader to lead our Christian Faith!

Marhaba! Welcome to Dubey Mama & Papa!

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing (Ecclesiastes 3:1-22)

For the 3rd attempts my parents finally made it to Dubai! Yey!

It was in 2008 when we had our 1st attempt for my parents to visit us here (kompleto pa kami ng mga kapatid ko dito non) but my mom had her mild stroke so I had to cancel their tickets since her doctor didn't allow her to travel. 

Then 2nd attempt was on January 24, 2013. Everything was settled, I got their visas and tickets but this time my father had the mild stroke naman so I had to rebook their tickets for March 3, 2013. 

And March 3, 2013, God's perfect time. My parents finally arrived in Dubai!

It's my parents first time to ride in a plane and go out of Philippines so me and my siblings were worried  that they will travel by themselves but in God's grace everything went well. They arrived here in Dubai - Safe & Sound without any hassle from the immigration or during the flight.

To God be the glory!

My Angels without Wings

 Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety 

 Proverbs 11:14

I’m an OFW and living far away from my family is one the struggle that I am facing everyday. Especially those times when my parents got hospitalized and I wasn’t physically there to take care of them. I’m just thankful that my siblings are in Philippines to look after our folks when such circumstance happens.

But what happened if an OFW got sick and she doesn’t have any relatives to take care of her?

I am alone here in Dubai and am living together with a community friend. For the last couple of months my health has been suffering and was rushed back & forth to the hospital. Since my family is away, I have to deal with my situation together with my friends – my angels without wings.

I’m so grateful to God that He has given me people to be an instrument of His love while I am away from my family. People that would take care of me, accompany me to the hospital when I needed to, comfort me whenever I’m afraid, strengthen me when I feel discouraged, laugh with me to loosen my anxieties, spare their precious time just to entertain me and pray for me when I needed it the most. And for that, I want to honor them for the love that they have shown upon me all through out our friendship. These people are my sisters in the Single for Christ community and I’m so blessed and really grateful that I’ve found genuine friendship with them. In a place like Dubai, true friends are treasures that you have to cherish and be grateful everyday.

BTW, I just realized while typing their names that they’re all started with letter M! Weird!

Maricar

      my caretaker, confidant & shopping buddy! she's my roomy andwas one of my Household members for almost 2 years. She’s the person who always accompanies me to the hospital even in the wee hours of the night and even took a day off for me just to take care of me during my endoscopy. I can’t thank her enough for the time that she has given to me. She’s one of those people who never cease to listen to all my complaints and encourage me during those low moments of my life.

Mai

a person with a very generous heart. Together with Maricar,     we developed our friendship when we were on the same household prayer 2 years ago. I remember her rushing to the hospital and slept at my place; embrace me while we I’m sleeping as if I’m her younger sister. She’s always there ready to go extra miles for    all of her friends. Whenever she knows that I need someone to be with, she will offer me her place for a sleepover. She’s the person who encouraged me to pray the Rosary  once again.

Maru

       my mentor, my prayer warrior, my sister, my gorgeous friend. A wonderful person inside and out. The ever generous when it comes to her time, material things, lending her ears to listen, spend extra effort just to reach out with someone. She never fails to inspire me with her wisdom. A true encourager of life. I can’t thank her enough for the encouragement and inspiration that she has given to me especially when those times that I’m troubled to make a decision whether to stay here or go back home. I am who I am because papa God used her as an instrument to be an inspiration to me when it comes to serving HIM.

Mench

the epitome of simplicity. She inspired me of her simplicity. Awoman of few words.  I am thankful that God showered all the desires of her heart even without asking HIM. She’s in Cambodia but we maybe away but she always made a point to check on me whenever she’s online. I thank her for all the encouragement whenever we talk and I admire her for being so strong enough give up what she started here in Dubai just for the man she loves.

my song...

it's a personal prayer whenever I sing this song...i'll never cease to worship you papa God :)

Fear NOT

The above photo is the exact estate of my being. Due to some health issues, I've been thinking a lot of things lately and mostly it’s about worrying my future. Yes, satan is using my weakness against me because musing about my future really demoralize my being but despite of my weakness I know that God will not forsake me for whatever bewilderment I am going through right now. 

The very reason of feeling confused is because of FEAR. And during this fearful moment, this is the bible verse that I kept reminding myself to defeat my feelings..true enough, somehow, day by day I'm able to surpass that fear that satan is infusing in my mind about my future. 

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ¹² Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. - 

Jeremiah 29:11-13

I pray that may God send me the Holy Spirit to empower me once again and may He open my heart and mind to see all HIS possibilities. I’m so aware that in His perfect time everything will be fine…He maybe let things to happen in my life or taken things away from me but I know He has a better plan. I may not know His reasons and don’t understand His ways but His will be done.