Time to Brighten up Your Day with a Smile because the Filipino Spirit is Water Proof

Image

(A young Filipino girl smiles as she and her brother receive their first bag of food aid at a center in Tacloban.)

 (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

Image

Image

(#Tacloban smiles. So good to see! #Leyte #Philippines)

Image

(So great seeing all their smiles despite what they're going through :) gotta love the Filipino spirit!)

Image

Image

Image

(If you've donated to our operation in the Philippines, here's where it went. #ThankYou)

Image

(Smiles in the #Philippines. Amazing, considering the smashed home in the back belongs to that girl)

Image

(stopped in the middle of the road. children had a sign "help us!!!" 

gave them biscuits and they were so happy!!! #operationsmileFollow)

Image

(No one can ever take away a child's smile, even a super typhoon can't!)

***

The Filipino Spirit! This is how I know it is going to be okay. All pictures and the corresponding quotes are taken from the internet, mostly from twitter and instagram. Thank you. Smile :)

Anderson Cooper 360 - Mabuhay Philippines!

My Heart's Thanksgiving

Light of the world. My rooftop view.

Thank you for the morning dew on a mango leaf. It looks like mercury from a broken thermometer.

Thank you for the great peace the mountains have, unmoved and never undone- just like you.

Thank you for the little birds. I wonder where they go when it rains.

Thank you for the trees. Have they ever been this green?

Thank you for the sunrise, for a new day, another chance. Your hope for us is endless.

Thank you for my dad and for his soft, soft heart. He is getting old.

Thank you for my mom; truly i love how mischievous she is. There is no telling what she's up to next.

Thank you for times like this - for quiet mornings on the rooftop with you.

I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed.

Thank you for my siblings. Each one brings endless lessons yet to be learned. They know exactly where to push my buttons.

Thank you for the cold morning breeze on my face. It soothes my soul.

Thank you for mothers who prepare breakfast .White smokes above little houses- aroma of love rising up to the sky.

Thank you for little birds on sky cables and TV antennas.

Thank you for this peace. Let me have this kind of peace when I die, but not yet.

The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens;

by his knowledge the depths were broken up, and clouds drop down dew.

I am not worthy of you, but you stoop down so low I can hold you in the palm of my hands just like how you are holding me. 

Thank you, thank you, and thank you.

Loving the Blog Awards

Ain't it flattering to receive an award? I just received one from Jessica of Pagguhit ng mga Salita! :)) yay! I love awards but I know i have been slacking. I received similar award from Theblackswampcornucopia  but haven't had the time to do it. So i guess it's time to do it all while I have so much time in my hands. haha. Thank you for the award Jess.

So here it is:

She said what i have to do is answer the 11 questions she had for me and give the awards to 11 bloggers and make my own 11 questions for them to answer. Easy right?

1. What is your name? (full name)

 My name is Sheena Señara(I actually have two names but i go by just Sheena.) I know some of you are curious why my blog's name is tabulyogang. haha. That's sort of my nickname that my mom and dad use to call me.

2. What inspires you to blog?

I don't know. I was just sort of bored while I was working so I figured why not have my own blog? A lot of my workmates have their own blogs too so I was kind of thinking why not? And also I have a very very short memory and I've read somewhere that Gratitude is the heart of the memory, and so my plan was to use my blog to list down things I'm grateful for everyday. Trying to remember things I'm grateful for did me a lot of good! If you can go back to my archive you can see how I do it back then. haha. My blog kind of evolved as time went by. But I still do gratitude from time to time.

3. What is your happiest moment in life?

My happiest moment? I don't know, haha. I have a lot! But maybe moments where I just sleep beside my mom and the two of us cuddling and me thinking: I'm so at peace I could die right then and there and not regret anything. It feels like I'm sleeping in the bosom of God. I love my mom!

4. What is your greatest challenge in life, how did you overcome problems?

Maybe back in College when I just can't understand a thing about our Engineering and Programming subjects. It drives me crazy now thinking how I survived! Haha! I pray every time and ask God for help when I have problems. I am dependent on God's grace. I cant do it on my own. I really cant. 

5. Do you find my blog interesting?

Why! Yes, of course! I love reading your thoughts and I love your honesty and not to mention your paintings! 

6. Movie marathon or sound trip?

Movie marathon! 

7. When was the last time you cry, what was the reason?

Last week Friday :) The reason was that I'm so indecisive. I can't decide, and the thought that I have to decide as soon as possible drives me crazy! I take my time when making decisions and it is such a pressure if you are forced to do it quick.

8. What is you motto/ philosophy in life?

In everything give thanks! I love to live knowing that I am guided and that I am loved and that no matter what life hands me; it is for my best. And that everything will work out for my good because God loves me and He simply cannot leave me alone to suffer. 

9. What is your favorite hobby?

Reading and writing and thinking. I love to be alone often just to sort out my thoughts. 

10. Who is your favorite blogger, why?

Karenika, Natalie and Miracle Because they are artists! And it seems to me that they are living a very good life. 

11. What can you say to me? (anything)

Just stay true to yourself  because you are doing really good as far as I can tell, and that no matter what happens, remember that God loves you. :) 

*** 

And this one is from Theblackswampcornucopia  Thank you so much!

This award has its rules; if you receive it you have to:

- thank the blogger(s) who sends you the award and add a link to her/his blog

- write 7 random things about yourself

- give the award to other 15 bloggers you love and tell them.

7 Random Things About Me

1. I am constantly seeking ideas on how to improve myself and life in general. I love experimenting with my thoughts. Like for example there was this one day where I tried really hard to give out thoughts of love. Like when I see people I say in my thought "I love you, thank you" haha. I know it's a little bit crazy but I do weird things like that and think really really weird thoughts. 

2. I'm a book hoarder. I collect books. Im not much of a reader but I do read occasionally. I just love watching books piled up on my shelves. When I have money I'd rather buy books than clothes. 

3. I talk to God like he is just around or just beside me like a friend.

4. Im the eldest among 4 siblings.

5. I cant get my hands off my nose! Seriously I have this very bad habit of picking my white and black heads out my nose. It's terrible. I try really hard to stop it! Ive been doing it since High School. It started the day I saw my cousin picked her white heads out. It's like a small plant being uprooted from the ground. Like a small rice when it is out. OMG the cravings I have just at the sight and feel of them. I crush them using my nails like what you do with head lice! I am just fascinated with the whole process. Strange addiction it is.

6. I sometimes wonder what if I would just go ahead and write in visaya. haha. Wala juy makasabot nako ba. But you know for one day and one post just write pure visaya. I wonder why there are no visayan books. Well except maybe the Bible but you know like novels. Ive seen one pocketbook in Visayan language but no decent books. haha Not even one in National bookstore. But maybe because Visaya is not a language but a dialect. But what's the difference between a language and a dialect anyway? 

7. I have this burning desire to learn Latin. I don't know why but since I heard our parish priest mentioned that "If you know Latin you know English". I just can't get it out of my head. Esto Vir! - Latin for Be a man! haha and did you know that 'es' is 'is' in Latin and 'et' is 'and' in Latin that's why we have 'et al' meaning 'and others'. Interesting right? If you find yourself being tried in court you will probably know what they are talking about if you know Latin. 

So there! Im finally done! 

I don't know a lot of bloggers around here so I'm passing this two awards to 3 bloggers I know personally and to 1 I happen to know while blog hopping. Haha! Please take note that in the first award I have the same questions for you so just copy the questions and answer them. haha Sorry Jessica, this post is too long i dont want to think about creating my own questions anymore.

So these awards are for you:

1. Eva of Dare to Believe

2. Yadz of Different Chains of Life

3. Chang of Fine and Dandy

4. Ate Kulasa of Thelettersinnovember.com

Thanks guys! I know you are all busy but please feel free to do it whenever you're ready and buzz me when you're done. haha

Thank you

People come to me for comfort, for advice, or for anything that needs praying. I dont know why. But i am glad they do. It is heavy i know, but if it's the only way to feel human then i accept it gladly. But i have no one to tell my pains, my sufferings, the things i think to over and over again. I have no one to share it to. But God has been so kind and graced me with friends who understand. Somehow with the things they do in life i am inspired to hope again. To be better again. To live life again. To Yadz and Grace... thank you. You have no idea how much i have been comforted by you. May God bless you more and more.

The Fruit of My Labor

When you shall eat of the fruit of your hands, You will be happy and it will be well with you -  Psalm 128:2


How sweet it is to enjoy the fruit of your labor. To literally see and touch what you have worked for, Ah, it is pure bliss! If you have read my previous post about my lemon tree and how excited i was to see it bear fruit and how i planned to have my own garden  hehe. I am glad to say to you now that my plant is now bearing fruits and 5 fruits at that! I know sometimes i forget to water them daily but i try my best. You have to know that touching the fruits makes me giddy and happy all over.

Here is before

...and after.

I am one proud gardener! haha if i can be called that. I am waiting for the fruits to turn yellow. yay! The fruits are heavy, as you can see i have to make the handle of the hammer support its trunks. haha. And i also have a lemonsito, visayan term for small lemon. I bought it last January in Balingasag during the fiesta. 

A closer look...

Yay! I know im awesome like that. I currently water 3 plants (i have tambis too). I think i'm on my way to having my own garden. These are just one of my simple joys. I love taking care of plants more than animals for the reason that they are just quiet and peaceful. They dont complain when i forget to water them for a couple of days- they just die; and im feeling guilty because 2 of my plants died already.(2 bonsai which cost Php 150 total) I was really sad about it, the weather these days are so hot; but i cant blame the weather i know. I have to be more responsible. Anyways, I am happy with what i have now. 

And of course i can't end this post without showing you my dad's plants too. His are orchids! It flowered last year with yellow and white colors on their petals. It was so beautiful.

My dad made those wooden thing with the platinum handles that the orchids are clinging to. My dad is awesome like that too huh?  :)

Looking neat. He waters them daily too. And bring them out ever so often to enjoy the sun.

------------------------------------------------------------

Things im grateful for today

1. I'm grateful for chang2 who invited us to her Herbalife chuva in Dynasty Hotel. I was so hungry before the seminar and the food they served was awesome. Need i mention i was lost before that? I know it could only happen to me. haha. The seminar was on the 7th floor but i ended up on the 5th floor so i did a little tour(esey). I actually learned a lot from the seminar about good health and good nutrition. I was inspired. 

2. I'm grateful for Eva and Cute. Haha. It was fun cheering the two of them to loose weight. I took pictures of them so i can document their before and after transformation, just in case they decide to take on the task to loose the so called fats. Hehe but i love them the way they are, i will love them more if they could love and be proud with their bodies. Go ladies! I am all for you being sexy!

3. And lastly i am grateful for my new mobile phone. It's a samsung galaxy young which my cousin lend to me for half the original price. I am indeed under God's unprecedented favor. yay! I dont text much. I can go on without my phone for a year! BUt you know i have friends. I need to stay connected so i have to have one. I downloaded a lot of games and books on it. Most of the time i use it just to play and read ebooks and take pictures. Those pictures above are taken from my phone. I am happy. :)

Upset: The reason behind your feelings

 image

Ive been so upset today with my work. I have this problem with my webmaster and i just dont know what to do and where to start to solve it. I was stuck literally. Spend hours and hours going through the web without being conscious of what im doing just so i can delay dealing with my immediate problem. My favorite form of scape. I was so upset, i wasn't able to do anything with my time at wok. Half of my day was ruin. The list of things i want to do wasn't done. It's like being in the middle of a traffic- everything got congested. It's like watching a bad domino effect before your very own eyes. I was so upset because i cannot move on to other tasks at hand without solving it first(i dont know why im like this. Perhaps because deep down i believe in doing the difficult task first.). The feeling was so overwhelming i wasn't able take it anymore.  I have been to so many problems like this that finally today i was able to catch myself. My thought process was, Why am i feeling like this? Why am i so upset? Do i truly recognize my problem? Is this such a big deal? The moment i started questioning my feelings about what's bothering me was the moment i took the initial step to solve it. I started asking my workmates of their opinion about it and i realized it wanst that bad at all. In fact it was such a small thing that it makes me wonder that it bothered me. From the moment i looked at my reaction(feelings) to the problem was the moment i took action to solve it. I prayed and ask God for help and decided not to fret about it anymore. And viola! Just like magic. The feeling was gone. I wasnt upset anymore. Got my head cleared. Took action and i was able to solve it. I was so lifted up. I felt wonderful. The genius has come and ole to me! :)

Things im grateful for today
1. I am grateful that i was able solve my problem and discovered a new way of approaching upsetting situations.yay!
2. Grateful for Keong2. He's a kind of person who teach by example without him knowing it. Im glad im arround people like him. It makes you want to be better a person.
3. I am grateful for TED videos on youtube of remarkable people. It is inspiring. One day im gonna be up there gracing their show as a speaker. hehe.
4. I am so grateful for this video of Elizabeth Gilbert the Author of "Eat, Pray, Love". This has touched a portion of my life and made me realized something really important about my work life. Enjoy watching it and i hope you will find a glimpse of inspiration. And Ole to you!

for subtitle u can click the cc button *wink*

5. I am grateful for my two new followers. MarkSFO and Rhea Liza hello there beautiful souls!  :)

Thank you 2011

"We steadily grow into the likeness of that which we constantly love"

- Christian Larson

As we leave 2011 i shall count all the things i am grateful for that have touched my heart.

                                                                          image 

I am truly grateful for the trees!


- Yes the trees! Because in them i see God. In them i feel hope and peace so calm. When i am angry i look at trees or when i miss talking to God, I look at trees- I look at trees all the time! They seem to know a lot of things. They go down through history. Some a thousand years old! take for example the Old Tjikko, a 9550 year old Norway Spruce, is the oldest known living individual clonal tree. yay! (Take a look at  wikipedia to see a list of the oldest trees.) And lastly because the trees know how to celebrate life. haha

I am grateful for my SFC family!


- For the bond we made and will be making. For knowing that i am not alone. And for being certain that we are all a work in progress. I am truly grateful for everysingle improvement that we make in our daily lives! I am excited to see how much we will improve by the end of 2012 already. In you i know that we are all learners in life, may God melt and mold us and fill us with His Holy Spirit so that we can build each other up. We will run the race together and we will pray for each other.

                               yay! I wish i can have a workstation at home as lovely as that! image

I am grateful for my work!


-  For my work reveals my weaknesses and my strength. I can see myself a whole lot better because i have work to do. And how i do it reveals my true character especially now that i am working telecommute in which i feel so blessed(Working at home is a privilege not available to many hehe ). It is indeed true that "The reward of our work is not what we get, but what we become."

I am grateful for my family and friends!

- Life would be meaningless without your family and friends! For what would be the reason for all your hard work if you cannot share your life with them? I am grateful that i have an understanding family. Because who can stand my whims and laziness? haha for all the second chances they gave and for not counting mistakes. I have the best family there is! I am also grateful for my friends! You are God's gift to me. I see beauty in you. We are friends because we resonate the same level of weirdness. hehe

I am grateful for those blogs i visit often because they inspire creativity and constancy:

Karenika.com - I think i have grown to love karen's blog without me knowing it. I love seeing Nathaniel and David grow. haha from having a tooth remove to seeing  a new smile. I love how karen documents her day with her family. And not to mention her layouts! I love how she's constantly doing what she loves.

http://blog.vanillerygarden.com/ - Natalie is oozing with creativity. Her drawings and stuffs are so cute. haha and her cats too! She's a free spirit! I love how honest and open her writing is! And i love the fact that she's in her 20's just like me.

http://www.youtube.com/user/TheBathroomGirl - yay! For Cherry is on the top list of my "inspiring people". Her music and the work that she does. Her whole character is just inspiring. For inspiration, I advise you to go check her out.

---

<-- And lastly i would like to take this opportunity to thank the person responsible for me having my own domain. haha. Cute2 you are! Ikaw na! :) Thank you so much cute for buying me my own domain and for the $1 thing. haha. You made my Christmas memorable with your gift. Thank you, thank you!

I wish you all the best in life! Carry healing, love, joy and encouragement as you go through life!

Always forever in gratitude,

tabulyo -

Blog Award

                                                

"You are special because you are you"

Yehey i got an award  for the first time evah! Thank you Chang! I dont know what you are suppose to feel when you get an award like this but it's an AWARD so i guess special. It says in here "Heart Locket Blog Award- Because Youre Special" I personally choose this coz ive got two awards even though i would have wanted the owl and the other one is a picture full of hearts. I'm grateful for my award. THank you chang you are so sweet to include me in your list of honorees. I know im suppose to like pass this on to wonderful bloggers but i dont think those people i follow read my blog. teheeeee! So im gonna keep this one for myself for now and then maybe find someone wonderful and special to pass this on. To continue the Legacy eh? I feel special. And so does my blog. Thank you thank you.

Things im grateful for today! Huray for gratitude lists! IM SO BACK!

1. Im grateful for me and my daddy's little plant.It's a Lemon plant! The one you use when you drink a lemonade. weee I actually saw it in a multi cab and got attracted with the big fruit it has. For a small plant to carry such big fruits is a peculiar sight for me. This one costs Php 200. and those with the big fruits were like a thousand pesos! Im actually waiting for the day it will bear fruits! Ah. And yes ive taken care of it, soiled it, watered it, talked to it, every single day for two days now.

       She is placed on our rooftop. Alone. I'm planning to make a garden for now lets be content with her.

Her view. Amazing. Agora baby!

2. Im grateful for me and my sister's white boards!

That's mine!

 

 And this one's for my sister :p Ya i know mine's like 1/10th the size of my sister's white board. 

I kow you wanna take a look.....

haha she's having her final exam for this semester. And she's counting it down! Lord God help her. Make her to study the things that will come out in the exam. In Jesus name! :p I love you Lord. hehe

3. Im grateful for my Rosary. Little Loncio actually tore it this morning and im a whole lot angry with him this morning. But im all well now. Get angry if you must but never hate.

 

I was actually attracted with the color that's why i bought it. Gotta start praying sheen!

4. Grateful for my books!

Notice the two bible :p that's mine and my sister. I bought it for her. I bought one also for my brother. I'm a book hoarder than a reader. I think i spend much time scouting for books than actually reading them!

I need to start reading. I know.

4. Im grateful for my brothers and sister. And for moments like these....

And lastly here's a treat for you. Im actually grateful for little loncio the mischievous one!

See him?

That's our Little Loncio on the left. Haha. 

Have a good day everyone!

Im more happy being grateful

 Yet, even now i know;

The Lord will work wonders for me 

and it will infinitely surpass my boundless desires

 -from little flower adopted by little flock a.ka. tabulyo

And because for the past three months i have been so busy being tired after every shift(night shift is such an energy sucker) There are a lot of things ive missed and failed to consistently do! First and foremost is of course my daily gratitude list! Ive noticed i am unpleasant when i forget to do this. Somehow something is missing. And that i am more fearful and so much more reserved. ahahaha wanna feel like living in a cave?... and secondly i have forgotten to do my water color weekly project- This is something that i really want to pursue. So without much further a do here are the things im grateful for today.

I am grateful for our Media Negotiation Training and Workshop. The passion these people have  with their work is admirable-i hope it will rub off of me. hehehe. I am thankful that they actually thought of sharing their knowledge to us. I am in awe of how knowledgeable and generous these people are. And somehow in the depths of me i am glad i am a part of them.

I am grateful for all the internal trials i have been experiencing. I know its hard and heavy inside but i am thankful and full of gratitude for these trials. Because in them i know that God is at work in me. So now i will let go and stop worrying about it. I will abandon myself to God and let him do what he wants to accomplish in me. As what St Therese says “You do not need to know what the good Lord is doing in you; you are too little.”. I will be content with that.

I am grateful for my friends. They are my happiness. A part that makes life a whole lot more beautiful.

I am grateful for Eva and Sheila- you two are God's instrument. Thank you.

I am grateful for Ate Nessa and Lovely and for Ave too- nothing beats old friends.
NOw im missing the 7 dwarfs.

I am grateful for kenny and chang2 and cute and mimai, glaiza, bernie, jeah, jessie and kuya jones too.

I am grateful for my life for what i express and for who i am.

I am grateful for my God and for his love that knows no fear. May i learn to love that way.

Im grateful for the story ive read about a girl who is so shy that even saying hello to other people took a lot of courage. Now she is a successful businesswoman because somehow she said she has been so accustomed to using her courage often that in time of great need for it it has somehow seen her through.- i cried while reading her story. The little girl in me who has been in great pain has been touched.

I pray for healing and for acceptance. For peace and for learning to live it.

Things ive pondered as true

"Life is a series of lessons and opportunites,

not a series of mistakes and inadequacies."

Image from here

Today is a list of all the things I’ve pondered as true (proven or not) or at least thought to be true for me and also a list of my current activities, and a mixture of both. So let's start!

1.       Singing is just like playing games! Just like skipping ropes! Timing and fearlessness is required and the courage and abandonment to try it because you want to play. - Things ive pondered while learning to sing.

Why if my country was not dubbed as the singing nation of Asia I wouldn't have cared less if I’m so out of tune. All my colleagues know how to sing really well. Everybody I know of seems to know how to sing! It’s like 1 out of 10 and I’m that 1. Not that I’m frustrated or something. lol. Seriously.

2.      English can be fun. Respect.

Discretion is synonymous to prudence - it made me respect that word more!

It is fun looking for the synonyms of the word than looking its meaning up. Either way you arrive at something true. I suggest take the more pleasurable path! Because that is what learning is all about. PLEASURABLE!

I wish I had discovered this way back in high school, to look for synonyms rather than its meaning. Because somehow it’s more fun that way. Meanings can be burdensome you know.

Like divulge is reveal, but divulge sounds so much more manly to me! I love how it sounds!

Like how interference is like meddling and prying (sounds like gossip to me), but I’m more into the electronics side so I’d like to imagine interference for a channel (tv or radio) that has been distracted by outer factors. Sort of the static voice for the radio and a sudden black or white disturbance for the tv. -Oh how playful words can be!

3.       That it is okay to get angry but don't sin. To acknowledge your feelings yet not do something that will lead you to sin. That gentleness and faithfulness is the fruit of the Holy Spirit and 7 more others. That I’m not trying to be spiritual here. That the best thing you can do with your life is to ask for the gift of the Holy Spirit which will teach you all truths.

4.      And lastly and more importantly this one: That Christ searches not for malice but for ignorance and screams out not in pain but in forgiveness. –I’ve read that in a book. It is true. The kind of truth that will pierce your heart and mind. Can you do that? To not search for malice but rather for ignorance to someone who have wronged you? What a profound idea this is!

***

Things I’m grateful for today

1. For being able to remember Enola's request! Thank you Abba-cakes!

2. I’m happy today. And I am grateful!

An entry from my gratitude journal:

Thank you Lord for this wonderful morning: thank you for the birds in our backyard, for our mango fruit. for our chickens and for my brothers and sister and for my cousin Reyna. Thank you Lord for my parents, and for our house. Thank you for the healing in the morning and for the grace that comes with it. Thank you for your unfathomable mercy and for your humor. Thank you so much Lord God. You are wonderful to me.