Himig Ko,Handog Ko Gift Giving Project

“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’Matthew 25:40-45

This has been one of the theme scriptures of the recently concluded "Himig ko Handog ko" caroling and gift giving project sponsored by HOPE and Metro Lucena Christian Church.About 15 disciples rallied to the homes of 10 recipients with cheerful songs accompanied by guitar,maracas and tambourine,wearing red hats and with gifts in tow.

families from Site, the neighborhood of Kuya Rodel and Ate Mariz, Mommy Conch,Renda and Erma - The Merano and Dayate clan

Sannelyn Rapsing,a barangay street sweeper,living by the river in Milagrosa Subd. Often alone, and was said to throw things away and cry incessantly about her children,welcomed us to sing songs and flashed a smile at us.

De Vivar family near a trailer truck,the 20 yr old son Ramil, said that he persuaded his mom to move to another place, but she just stayed there unable to leave the memories behind,probably the reason why a sound mind escaped her. Aling Adela would often share that she have 24 children,and other tall tales.

A family near the street whose child was a student in West II where Dianne teaches was also a recipient.Children from the neighborhood flocked around us as we sing,and some of them even squatted looking up bewildered.

The last stop of Saturday's caroling was at Barangay 9 where Aling Erlinda lived.She sells crocheted goods beside VCCI bakery with her son who is handicapped.We all gathered inside her dark,makeshift home.It is a duck's pen,lit with gas lamps.Unperturbed by her surroundings, she offered a short prayer before we sang ,after which asked for our names,thanked us and imparted words of wisdom saying that she had offered her life to God and that she is happy even when she is poor.We know she is rich and so are we.

Aling Virgie of Hollywood, the neighborhood of Tita Annette, Elaine and Gian-the Siongco family.The first stop for Sunday caroling,we piled up inside her house and she chatted with us a little bit about where she sells balut.

Landing- Castello family.Children holding their own tambourines made out of bottle caps looked on as we rendered songs and by that time,we already memorized most of the songs even the one with the figgy pudding and Rudolph the red nosed reindeer.

riding the trolley P5 per head.

walking beside the rice fields

Donna who is a kakanin vendor, sells delicious home made snacks everyday around Rosario Village the neighborhood of Rolly and Marie.The hospitable family even gave us kutsinta and softdrinks-perfect to end the meaningful event.

2012! January and February high lights

January
Celebrated the new year with the Merano Family

Watched House Husband after the Service

Las Pinas Sector Missionary Journey and Dinner at our house in St Jude

Cavite Sector Missionary Journey

The month when we still have Hope Feeding Program at West 1,visited Ate Weng and Bernadette at Memorial, missionary meetings, Glady's solo performace singing Jesus lover of my soul acoustic version and I still have a few online classes.

February

We had s university B-Talk at Enverga

I have a separate blog about it
http://mtniasj.blogspot.com/2012/02/enverga-university-b-talk-time.html

Chuchay's Christening at Merano's Moscow Residence

Jesse's B-day celebration at St. Jude

HOPE FEEDING Program Valentines Party

English Proficiency Training Sponsored by Rotaract

Acoustic Valentine's Party where many friends studied the Bible and some became disciples in the following months

This was a really busy and fruitful month for the Church.We also had a movie showing of Fireproof,Dianne's b-day celebration at Mug Cafe which I was not able to join due to my night classes and Ate Mariz' had ongoing Bible studies too.

another pouch

I just needed another pouch for other paper stuff.I don't like papers getting soggy and creased in my bag so I had to find my stash of pretty swatches and I got these cute design and it turned out really fun.I had to add the lace and the blue button, similar to my make-up brush pouch-it's like I made a theme for these pouches. I could probably name it the lace and blue button pouch collection haha

my very own Nautical bracelet

Got the inspiration from here:

from http://ablissfuldream.blogspot.com.au/2012/02/diy-nautical-rope-bracelet.html

What I made was very simple, from just what I have around the house- a cute gold elastic kind of string from a free recipe I got from the supermarket,some beads from a broken necklace, a clasp from a broken key chain and voila!

Quality Street memories

Quality Street dream...I love them...I love eating them all,the toffee, milk choco block, caramel,orange crunch etc. all the types, it doesn't matter.When I was young I shared them with my younger sister and cousin(I think reluctantly).We would eagerly open the balik bayan box and eagerly look for chocolates especially large and small tin cans of QS. My sister got a small can for Christmas and I think we acted very nice around her so she would give us some. I remember opening a large rectangular box and we would sit in the corner and eat it straightening the foils after each bite and piling them up to see how many we've had.Very delicious I love those times.

white crayon and water color card

Got this for Rendz and I just draw shapes using a white crayon and painted gold water color over it ,it looked like a wedding themed card though.

DIY stuff 2012

I just signed up in Pinterest and there were a lot of DIY ideas like the 5 minute vest from old t-shirts (which I also did-recycling my URU cowl neck that I can't use coz it's ill fitting) and gift wrapping and other things and then I just got this idea of making my own make-up brush pouch.It took the whole afternoon for me to finish it and I just used old fabric swatches for it and I think its cute.

Trick or Treat:Ebony and Ivory Party

It looked like I have a big hair do on this shot. Everyone seemed to have fun dressing up a bit and playing charades.We had black and white food too most of them sweet, and the hit was the chocolate pork of course!It was delicious.

Now to the spooky part of this post ...reminiscing some of my own ghost stories...

When I was in 5th grade, I heard this story my classmate shared with us when we were talking about ghosts and the supernatural.If I remember her name right, it think it's Nerida. She said that she was playing with her friend in the swing when suddenly her friend vanished then reappeared, she was quite spooked even as she recalls the incident.

I never really believed in ghosts until I moved in to the sister's household at Project 3 QC back in 2008.

I had slept over in that house a couple of times before when I was not able to go to the bed space I used to rent back in Boni because it was pass the curfew.The ghosts did not manifest themselves during those times.

After a few weeks or maybe even days of my stay in the house, I started hearing creepy sound.Because of my graveyard shift, I would be up in the wee hours of the morning reading, doing my laundry or watching DVD's.One morning at around 3 am after I'm done with the laundry,I heard foot steps of someone running playfully,I didn't pay attention to it although I thought to my self who would be running in that hour?would there be enough room to run around when there's like 9 people in the house and most of them sleep on the floor?I didn't mind.

When everyone was up to get ready to go to work,I told them that I heard someone running a few hours ago.Then Lyn tried to describe to me how it might have sounded and I agreed and she said that it was the boy kinda haunting the place.

I also had this instance when I had to use the toilet and I heard 2 people talking softly, hardly noticeable then gradually it's becoming audible.In my mind I was thinking it could be the neighbors but when I thought about it,it seemed impossible because it's concrete,right then and there I think my hair stood on end.

The other time was when I was reading in the other room because we were about to vacate the place due to leaking roofs and clogged sink, it's simply in bad shape already.While reading I heard Hilde call my name and I thought she just forgot something but then when I rushed downstairs no one's there so I think It's her doppelganger who called me.Em said she'd seen her hehehe.

We just ignored them.I think the sisters have names for the ghosts there too but I forgot them. Some of the sisters lived there for years and I think Hilde stayed there for about 10 years since her college days.

Chocolate cake

I suddenly had a flood of memories of Landayan, San Pedro Laguna. We moved there when I was around 6 or 7 and stayed there until my 3rd grade.One of my fond memories was coming home from school and being excited to get a slice of our favorite chocolate cake with several layers.Me and my cousin Cris often had a slice of chiffon cake for our school snacks.My mom used to bake them,she would bake upside-down cake with pineapples,banana cake,loaf bread,other sweet breads,cup cakes and even single size pizza which she also sold to neighbors.

I think I got the baking skill from her although I rarely bake nowadays except for the communion bread I make each Sunday for the church.She has several baking tools and my papa would also buy her the same things so she would have 2 of each LOL.I asked her for some of her old tools and that's what I use now in my own kitchen.

Card Project II

My first off my new set of cards with the 40's,50's,60's theme.I just like that era.The red gown fabric was made from the swatch of my bride's maids gown last November 2011.The first set was themed "cuddly animals" and was given away to friends in Cebu last year.I didn't have pictures of them though.

I like using fabric,lace,ribbons and tassels from my old clothes and cloth swatches.I also like using them for small decorations around the house : )

Mauban,Quezon:Cagbalete Island Get-away 2012

We had our first ever church retreat at Cagbalete Island last April 21-22.This was our sort of IT:

4/21 Saturday
07:00AM ETD from 7-11 Quezon Ave. Lucena City
08:00AM ETA Mauban port
08:30AM aboard the Amazing Grace boat :)
09:30AM ETA Cagbalete Island shores,board banca in groups of 5-8 people
10:30AM ETA Pansacola Beach Resort after about 1 KM walk I think :)
11:00AM Lunch
12:00 Free Time
03:00 Free Time
03:00PM Frisbee
03:30PM Relay Games
04:00-6:00PM Free Time
06:00-7:00PM Dinner
08:00PM Bonfire and "Baka ng Baka" games
09:00PM Prayer Time
10:00PM Lights out

4/22
05:00AM Prepare for worship
06:00AM Worship service at the beach
07:30AM Breakfast
08:30AM Free Time
11:00AM Free Time
11:30 Lunch
01:00PM prepare to walk and board banca
02:00PM Aboard Amazing Grace
03:00PM Mauban Port
04:00PM Lucena City

It was sooo hot and I felt so uncomfortable I seldom went out even for pictures hehehe.You need to drink plenty of water so bring plenty, as in plenty.

Saraiya,Quezon:Mt Banahaw sapa 2012

We went to Sariaya to visit Greece and her family,we also wanted to go to Banahaw and we got our wishes, but with a few challenges - Jesse hurt his feet and had a few bruises, Frecie's shoes was utterly destroyed and I discovered that I have fear of steep ravines/cliffs. I think Mt. Maculot is steeper but at least you can walk on wide trail,but it was very difficult for me with this particular Banahaw trail (our trail originated from Sariaya). I think we can all agree that we had a great time.We had halo-halo too and of course hab-hab lol