Himig Ko Handog Ko 2016: Season 5

2 Corinthians 9:6-11

Generosity Encouraged
6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written:

“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;
    their righteousness endures forever.”
10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

-There will always be poor among us, but God, who sustains our physical and spiritual needs, will enable us to flourish and in turn serve others.I don't view this as a duty but through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, I believe that we can be compelled to help others without expecting anything in return.

This year's Himig Ko Handog Ko is similar to the first season because volunteers sang Christmas carols to the beneficiaries and gave them food packages right after-this is actually where the project's name came from. Ang Pasko ay Sumapit,Noche Buena and We Wish You a Merry Chritmas were the line up of songs this year.

Jeric Melarpis and Gladys Masilungan spearheaded this year's outreach program.We had 25 beneficiaries 23 of which is chosen by DSWD whom we have tied up with to be able to reach the poorest of the poor in our city.The other two are our members from Mauban and Padre Burgos respectively. Our more than 50 sponsors gave donations of cash and food items.Volunteers of about 12 people with the help of Barangay Parent Leaders, went to some of the cities depressed areas in the neighborhood near the vicinity of waterways Dumacaa River and Iyam River in the following Barangays;Dalahican, Mayao Crossing, Market View and Ilayang Talim.

heart heart

Season Five

groupie

More Pictures by Jay and Carlo

First Caroling Night
Second Caroling Night
Last Caroling Night

The Visayas :Dumaguete and Siquijor Trip 2016

I love making itineraries and using it as an outline to remember my trips.Husband and I have this privilege of traveling together as our work schedule permits-which is pretty flexible so it is so fabulous.I can't say our trips are very budget friendly,it largely depends on the destination.If it doesn't require airfare and hotel stays,then I'd say it is gonna be easy on the budget.

airport scene

Hotel Camila

Sunday Service -Siquijor Ministry updates

Century Old Balete Tree

130 + steps to crystal clear Cambugahay Falls 

Cambugahay Falls,Lazi Siquijor

Cangclaran,Lazi

Good morning !

Salagdoong Beach hotel

Salagdoong Beach

Salagdoong Beach cliff diving

Salagdoong Beach

This year we attended the Church History APLA (Asia Pacific Leadership Academy)course.Our main reference book is Church History in Plain Language by Bruce Shelley.This reads like a novel and I had a hard time putting it down because it is really engaging.I especially love the background stories of some of the most famous influencers,how certain scriptures brought them epiphanies and enlightenment that somehow led to their conversion.It sheds light to how denominations sprung and how people fought for everyone to go back to the basics of obeying God's word and how it became really bloody.And now many are still at it.

The class itself was of course very alive,it is not your typical boring History Class-well this is me,I love history,facts and everything about the past centuries,I'm an old soul (what doctrine is that! LOL) and I'm glad that I have read like half way through the book and skimmed the rest of it so I was able to follow the lecture.And thanks also to Monica's summary of learning points from Manong Rolan that she posted on FB : ) ,it made it easier to digest.

And many call this Aplacation because after all the learning, you go on vacation!This means extended stay or early check-ins or both.This time I had the chance to visit relatives in Siquijor.My Aunts weren't there but their cousin Uncle Dore was there to meet us and tour us around the island.This is something I learned from hospitable people.You really have to get out of your way to make them feel welcome.This is a Filipino trait called hospitality!This is so lengthy already so here's our IT:

Day 1 Nov 23 Wed

01AM ETD Lucena to Manila Airport
0730AM ETD Mnla to Dmgt
09:00AM ETA Dmgt! there was a slight delay
09:30AM breakfast @ Hotel Camila (booked thru AGODA)
11:00AM early check-in it's supposed to be 2pm : ) they are very nice
03:00PM Sans Rival Cakes and Pastries
05:00Pm SWOT Meeting -sit in : )
10:00PM back to Hotel

Day 2 Nov 24 Thu

07:00AM Boulevard walks/QT
08:00AM breakfast at Bethel Guest House
09:00AM APLA class Day 1
12:00NN lunch talks with the Aquinos and Pasoquens : )
05:00PM End of first session like whoaaa!

Day 3 Nov 25 Fri

07:00AM QT /Reading
08:00AM Breakfast at Hotel Camila
09:00AM APLA Class Day 2
12:00NN Lunch together with Benk,Jeffrey and Edmond at one of the many eateries in the university town
05:00AM End of session 2 be like ...inspiring!
07:30PM Double Date with Jessica and Benk at Mifune Japanese Restaurant
11:00PM back to hotel

Day 4 Nov 26 Sat

7:00AM QT/reading
08:00AM Breakfast at Hotel
09:00AM APLA Class Day 3
12:00NN Meeting with South Luzon G2
05:00PM End of APLA course
06:30PM Monica's birthday celebration at Hayahay Treehouse Bar and View Deck
11:00PM Back to the hotel

Day 5 Nov 27 Sun

7:00AM QT/reading -not done yet LOL
8:00AM Breakfast at Bethel Guest House
9:00AM Worship service and fellowship
12NN Pier boarding for Siquijor
01:00PM Siquijor,Siquijor pier
02:00PM Uncle Dore picked us up : )
03:00PM Lazi Church,Century Old Balete Tree and fish spa
03:30PM Cambugahay Falls descent and ascent LOL about 130+ steps
04:00PM Cangclaran House
04:30PM cooking the chicken from the backyard -thank you chicken
06:00PM Dinner with cousin Arnold,and travel companions and new friends Alice and Oscar : )
08:00PM spectacular star gazing and firefly sight seeing - saw about 4 shooting stars I was so wonderstruck I yelled!
10:00PM lights out

Day 6 Nov 28 Mon

Legaspi,Albay:Metro Legaspi Christian Church's 20th Anniversary 2016

Metro Legaspi Christian Church's 20th Anniversary

Scriptures from the Sunday Message by Bong Aquino entitled:

On a Mission

Matthew 28:18-20
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

I Pahalagahan ang mga tao

1 Corinthians 12:12
 Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ.

II Our Greatest Encouragement is Jesus

Hebrews 12:1-3
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

-Do not focus on people i.e if they don't something,I won't do it too.The reason for everything is because Jesus is Lord.

My Reflection:
Our God who created the Universe,who draws people to himself,I praise you.Metro Legaspi Christian Church had been around for 20 years simply because of your great mercy and grace.I pray for them to be strengthened and united as they love one another and grow even more in their convictions that it overflows to those around them.May we not forget our great commission from Jesus who is our only hope,able to do anything,give up everything and go anywhere for you wherever you may call us because our focus is Jesus alone,throwing off everything that hinders us especially the sins that can easily entangle us.
===========

In support for the 20th Anniversary of Legaspi Church last September 18th,the Metro Lucena group went to the home of the majestic, perfect cone volcano -oh let's not forget it is also very active and was at a heightened alert that time.The seven of us got on the van and braved the long grueling drive to Bicolandia. We had a flat tire and ate pineapples while waiting for Manong who cooked up a piece of tire to patch up our blown up tire for who knows how.But we were told that in that particular part of the road there are some traps so you could stop and have your vehicle fixed in one of the machine shops around the vicinity. Bam!But who knows.It was part of our fun experience I think.

We sang to the tune of many decade songs saved by Bernard and it totally made me go back in time.I didn't sleep the whole time because it was my first time going to Legaspi anyway.So ,because we were a long time coming,Beng and Bong waited probably for hours at 7-11 and were looking sleepy when we got there.And because it was the Feast of Penafrancia (and General Bato was there),the signal was cut off so we couldn't contact them.Anyway we went to Kambingan Restaurant and I liked their adobong kambing,So after that off we went again and settled at Hotel Liatris.We got the standard room.It was quite new and still clean.My husband didn't arrive until the morning so I was alone,but it didn't feel creepy.

Kambingan Restaurant in Daet with Bong and Beng Gulapa 

Hotel Liatris

The next morning we went touring ,our first stop was the Cagsawa Ruins.It was so cloudy so we didn't see the top of the famous volcano.Husband tried the poses to trick your eyes into thinking the church bell fry was tiny,he did a couple of poses with tiny people around.I loved that there are still farmlands and the old paintings of Mayon and pictures from school text books that I saw when I was a kid was actually in front of me.I love the trees and the rice paddies and even the stones from the ruins.

Cagsawa Ruins

Majestic Mt. Mayon

Cagsawa Churh

The next stop was Sumlang Lake in Camalig,Albay.We missed the road leading to it because the signage wasn't big enough.You can see the Mayon with unobstructed view while sitting on a balsa-but it was still cloudy that day- so I just saw half of Daragang Magayon.

Gigantic Chicharon

Sumlang Lake 

Sumlang Lake

After our balsa ride we went to Hoyop-hoyopan Cave also in Camalig.It was about a 30 minute drive from Sumlang Lake.The air was cool in the cave.It was spacious and non-claustrophobic for me, there was just one part where we had to squeeze ourselves in.Mike who was over 6 feet was able to get out so I think it is still spacious.There was no crawling too-thank goodness- to get to the other cave chambers.What I noticed was the stalagmites that were cemented back into place-it looked really unnatural.I think the highlight was the dance floor or ball room-the floor was made of concrete slab.The guide said the people used to gather there for guerrilla meetings and later on, even parties.

Hoyop-hoyopan Cave

a short walk to Hoyop-hoyopan Cave

In the afternoon,me and hubby had a chance to catch up with our friends Ilona and Rey and their cute children at the Embarcadero where you can take a picture with the big letters that spell out Legaspi.Then we headed to the venue to help out with the decor and set up.There was rain shower that night and we had a good time fellow shipping with the disciples.Hubby hung the banderitas again like what he did when we were preparing for the 5th anniversary of Lucena church.Then,we had dinner with the other couples at the church building while the single's had their mixers party.We talked a lot about the cheesecake from Koffee Klatch.

The service was attended by family and friends and disciples from all over.There were tons of food and they had fun and games after the service.We had to leave because of the long drive back home.The gang didn't forget the seafood at Ching Larry's so we felt we really had to eat dinner there.I got their number off the picture I took of their signage and Marie placed the orders and we were full and that people was my great journey to this lovely province.

Seafoods restaurant in Tagkawayan

Fashionising:

Plaid Block Top from Hallohallo Mall P168

Metro Lucena Christian Church's 5th Anniversary

more pictures in Facebook when you click this link

This year's theme was about family gatherings so we come up with traditional games like pukpok palayok, pabitin, tingkayad, sack race,patintero and hagisan ng itlog.The venue ,Vista Verde Clubhouse,was big with a swimming pool,basketball and tennis courts.It was good to see kids enjoy the parlor games and go swimming, some teens also played badminton.The weather was nice despite of the typhoon or LPA that week.

tatlong maria preps

pabonggahan assembly challenge

banderitas for the fiesta theme

rainy day Saturday ,the day before the event

Many of our family of churches joined us in our event - Batangas Church,Cavite Church,Laguna Church,Naga Church,Daet Church even some disciples from Manila Church.Many of the families of disciples came to join the celebrations as well. I think the biggest delegation is still the Merano Family -with Rendz,Russel,Neng and Ryan,Uni,Nanay Conching and 6 grand kids.There's also the Melarpis siblings and De los Santos Family from Cavite church who is also our neighbor in Lucena and even Keana's group of friends came over too.

from all over South Luzon Geo Region -photo by Meanne

last game -patintero

Bong Aquino shared the message in line with the theme about family citing these passages:

1 Peter 2:9-10 

9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Ephesians 3:14

14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.

Hebrews 2:11

11 Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.

1 Peter 1:22

Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.

My response:

God designed for us to be part of a family- especially a spiritual family.It indeed requires deep love because a church family is composed of different people with different upbringing,so much character differences and many other differences imaginable.It is hard to graft yourself into a family or group.You may have the feeling of being confused and disconnected and wouldn't even think of trying.But then comes God's will-what is pleasing to Him? definitely it is not our own preference with our sinful nature always trailing after us-the tendency to isolate self with anything that has something to do with Christianity.We need a spiritual family to guide us and teach us everything Jesus had taught his disciples.That is one of the reasons we go to church on Sunday mornings.

I've been a part of MLCC for the past 5 years, there have been many situations and sometimes I find it hard to fit in because of my own limitations and other people's ways I just couldn't understand and reconcile with biblical teachings.These things will take time to be polished -in God's time.God's word is continually teaching me to always bear, deny myself and look at the bigger picture and stand up for what is right.It is God's church and it will prevail no matter what people do.

Happy 14th Anniversary

I just celebrated my 14th spiritual birthday,14 years of a saving relationship with God.This is the God I worship:Scriptures are from the Holy Bible New International Version

He is the God who created heaven and earth (Nehemiah 9:6)

God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth. (John 4:24)

He desires mercy not sacrifice and acknowledgment of God rather than burnt offerings.(Hosea 6:6)

He doesn't change (James 1:17)

He is true to his promises (Psalm 33:4)

He is just (Col 3:25)

...and vast number of great,awesome,magnificent attributes.

So I better not worship Him in vain lest I waste my life following rules of men.

Isaiah 29:13

“These people come near to me with their mouth
and honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me.
Their worship of me
is based on merely human rules they have been taught."

In the past months leading up to my 14th year,God have shown me areas that I have to grow in so I can be of better use to Him.It is a privilege to be shown favor by God even in the guise of hardship because of discipline.Because often times I can be disobedient.I can never be perfect in my lifetime,I'm always sinning-am I hopeless?Yes,on my own, but God will take care of me.I will lose if I live my life the way I want it....Going back ,if I hadn't been a Christian,I wouldn't be writing this.I would have been long dead or suffering from mental illness.

my convictions:

there is no lone Christianity--I belong to my church because God led me there,my spiritual family.There are many christian churches -yes because God wants to spread His word.We are put in a spiritual family to help us grow in our knowledge of God,to love others like Christ loved us-1 John 3:16.etc.How can a lone so-called christian do that?

LGBT--I attended Guy Hammond's class when he came to Manila.He talked about same-sex attraction.He discussed biblical truths about homosexuality and shared his testimony.

I couldn't remember if I learned about this insight from Guy but it is about 2 kinds of homosexuals-1 Timothy 1:10 ...for those practicing homosexuality and the ones who do not.

I would not say that I would completely understand all areas of it-response to attraction,behavior,conduct etc. because I am limited.Even my stand on it is questioned both by non-believers and believers.Should I give up and quit church because of the many apprehensions?This is a matter of opinion (my opinion about the areas) (Rom 14:1) so I just have to humble up and explain my self and clear out any misunderstandings.

People will understand what God wants after hearing the word;believing the message;repents;accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior and gets baptized as a pledge of good conscience and participating with Christ's death-burial and resurrection.But those who will not accept it, it is their choice.God gave us free will.But He definitely wants everyone to be with Him.

Giving/tithes-We enjoy our relationship with God when we give and we know He gives us many many things.We only give Him what comes from His hands.Everything comes from God.I give because God's church needs it and it is my way of worship.I believe in my church and we put it to good use to advance the Kingdom of God.I know this full well especially for our church in Lucena. I don't just depart with my money.

My Glamourbox #2 - Perfectly Pixie

It's time to buy me a new set of cosmetics from non other than Glamourboxph and here it is!!Tadaaaaa!So Boho Chic that's why I like it a lot.It seems like this year is full of Bohemian style vibe from bridal showers,wedding themes and all sorts of parties. What's interesting with this box is you'll never know what you're gonna get til you receive it in the mail.But they don't disappoint.They usually put in around 5 great products for you to try and at a very low price you'll be surprised.I also got the Eye of Horus Box last year.

I especially love it because there's a mascara-Lash Booster Blackest Black;a make up palette-Book of Beauty Minimal Makeup;a tinted lip balm- Shea butter Lip Balm Sweet Peach -these babies will definitely complete your look.Plus the toner-Glow Tonic and wipes -Make up Melting
Cleansing Cloths : ) to take care of your skin.Just lovely.All of them are full sized except for the toner,it's a cute mini size.You can get it for Php1,290 + shipping.I threw in some other stuff to get free shipping- Nippon eye brow razor kit and the Messy Bessy Sports Spritzer which smells really good and it's locally made too.

The value of the box amounts to ===Php3,439 you save Php2,149 : ) that's 62% -good for me coz I love to enjoy lovely things without breaking the bank you know.

1.Shea butter Lip Balm Sweet Peach Full size 4g Php 420
Expiration:18 M after opening.Deeply moisturizing.

2.Glow Tonic Mini size Php 390 Mfg Date 150806 Caution on Bottle:Contains alpha hydroxy acid which may increase skin's sun sensitivity.

3.Make up Melting Cleansing Cloths Full size 40 pcs Php 499 Exp. 24 M No rinsing needed.Gently removes even waterproof makeup.
-feels good,no sting. I removed the waterproof mascara and it did not sting my eyes.

4.Book of  Beauty Minimal Makeup Full size Php 1,290 Exp. 18M
-I used a sponge tip applicator and I also tried the eye shadow brush, I didn't experience fall out,the eye product sticks like it's part of your skin : ) I think the blush is not that highly pigmented though I had to brush it on several times.I even used my fingers to wipe it on.

5.Lash Booster Blackest Black full size Php 840 Mfg Date 20160121
-the wand helps separates lashes,no clumps,apply several times to get desired volume.It doesn't smell that nice though. Pixi will give you just the natural put together look.It didn't make my eyes red even if I had it on all day long,so it think the formula is great.

your face will love it

bubble wraps 

the awesome Perfectly Pixie Glamourbox

Messy Bessy Sports Spritzer
&
Nippon Eye Brow Razor Kit

Shea butter Lip Balm
Sweet Peach Full size Php 420
Exp:18 M after opening

Glow Tonic Mini size Php 390
Mfg Date 150806

Lash Booster Blackest Black
full size Php 840
Mfg Date 20160121

Book of  Beauty
Minimal Makeup Full size Php 1,290
Exp. 18M

minimalistic love it

Make up Melting
Cleansing Cloths
Full size 40pcs Php 499
Exp. 24M

Curated box

love the colors!! so Boho Chic

trying it out hahaha
no make up make up look for work