Bayview Hotel:APLA:Paul's Ministry and Message 2018

Day 1 Friday

Grand Prix Hotel

Alas Eatery

Day 2 Saturday

Luneta Park on a rainy day!

Alas Eatery! Home cooked

Day 3 Sunday

La Corona Hotel, I had attended a midweek devo here 16 years ago

APLA venue

Direction

LRT! chaos

ICOC-Lucena 7th Anniversary at HOPE Center Laguna

This year's anniversary was celebrated at the HOPE Center in Laguna. Many of the new converts in Lucena have never been to this site, a place whose walls were built with the help of volunteers from the Metro Manila area and from all over the Philippines. HOPE is also the benevolent arm of the church, to help Christians live out the ministry of Jesus in helping the needy.

The delegates were composed of disciples from ICOC-Lucena and ICOC-Daet. The first party arrived on Saturday afternoon followed by the second party that arrived Sunday morning at 7am.

DAY 1 August 25th
9:30AM ETD Arias Bust Terminal
3:00PM  ETA Center of HOPE
7:00PM  Dinner at the Accomodation
8:30PM  Cooking of Adobo and Giniling
10:00PM Socials
11:00PM Lights out

Day 2 August 26th
4:30AM Rise and shine from the blasting speaker of K. Rolly
6:30AM ET  Assemble time to meet the second party
7:30AM ET Orientation
8:30AM ET Communion with HOPE Community,Lucena,Daet and Laguna disciples
9:30AM ET HOPE background with JV
10:00AM ET Orientation/House Rules with Bryan
10:30AM ET Q & A
11:00AM Opening Remarks /Game proper
12:00NN Lunch Time
1:00PM Games
2:00PM Afternoon Snacks
3:00PM Loot Bags and Closing remarks
4:00PM ETD

Sermon:The Facts of Light
John 9:1-34 Jesus heals a man born blind
-we all have darkness in our lives
-we tend to question God
-bakit may mahirap, nagkakasakit...
-ano ba ang ginagawa mo?
-Jesus focuses on meeting needs not asking questions or putting blame on someone
"John 9:3 "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him."
Benevolence by Jesse
Deuteronomy 15:10-11 Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.
HOPE ORIENTATION
Isaiah 58:6-10
Matthew 9:35
Mt 25:35-40
Mindset:developmental not just one-time activity

Center of HOPE Laguna

Orientation with ICOC-Daet Delegates and ICOC-Lucena Delegates

pre-worship 

Kuya Bryan S.

Kuya J.V.

kadang-kadang game

lunch time

intermission number from kids at Center of HOPE

intermission number from ICOC-Lucena

the Hoola Hoop Game

the 4 corners game

afternoon snacks preparation

Quezon Delicacies

hab-hab eating contest

loot bags for Center of HOPE Kids

community visit

Tayabas,Quezon:Malagonlong Bridge tour 2018

This year wasn't a beach anniversary.I watched Kara David's documentary many weeks ago about old bridges and I was so giddy we have 10 National Cultural Treasure under the Historic Bridges of Tayabas, so we visited the longest and oldest bridge during the Spanish Colonial era -The Malagonlong Bridge.



We had an early celebration because the 20th fell on a Wednesday.We went there on the 16th.For the first stop we went to Malagonlong Bridge.From our home in Tayabas-we just took the jeepney to Calumpang (Php8/each) then took the tricycle to Tayabas market (Php 15/each).Next took a tricycle again to the bridge (Php 10/each).We arrived at the place at 9:45AM.

There were people who were doing their laundry,cooking, fishing and swimming. And sadly, where there are people,there will be trash strewn in the area.

We stayed awhile,waded in the water,ate some "puto" from the market, and took pictures of the inscriptions which perhaps are mason's marks.

The historical marker

imagine the many "karwahe" that passed by this bridge

one of the six small balconies with the stone marker from the Spanish era

Puente de Malagonlong

One of the arches

the arches have inscriptions!

mason's marks?

the trail to the arches,the newer bridge is in view here

Next stop is the The Kamayan sa Palaisdaan Restaurant in Lucban.We just took the jeepney again (Php 20/each). The bamboo rafts were all occupied so we just headed to the function hall area. The food arrived fast.Of course I had to order the Sinigang na Sugpo- my only love hahaha!

The sugpo!.later that night I had red arms due to an allergic reaction. 

rice paddies

painting of the Malagonlong Bridge for sale

Okay so after the sumptuous lunch,we went to Summit Gourmet. We just wanted to try it out since we were there already.We walked from Kamayan sa Palaisdaan restaurant (I think they call it the "old one" because there's another one a few meters across from it) and kind of hiked to where the plane is located LOL.

Before going to the plane you have to get a boarding pass -right- at the immigration office LOL with the friendly stewardess. Then they will announce your plane boarding on the PA system.It's like you're going on a flight at the airport it was so much fun!They even have big luggage for props.

at the reception

luggage props- super funny LOL

it was a busy Saturday afternoon

unfortunately they ran out of coffee, they only had hot choco

 I saw many photos similar to this

the airplane 

Alright, that was an early celebration, so for the anniversary day itself,we had our lunch date at Reasons Cafe .I wasn't able to take pictures of the Beef Biryani and the Chocolate Cake-it was so delicious the husband and I gobbled it up fast. My vegan barbecue was delicious from the texture to the taste -it is really like meat! I wouldn't eat pork barbecue anymore.Their coffee is black brew no dairy creamer.-you will feel great when you dine here.

This year is going to be different for us because Jesse is back in the corporate world and I am in the middle of an employment process. The previous months had been challenging because of the health issues we faced - mine part of the ageing process LOL and with that financial drawbacks.

The beauty of marriage is alive in our lives because of God's providence.God had been with us through it all.He encourages,provides and is always gracious -something I have to internalize and live out.

Tayabas,Quezon:Mainit Hotspring Mother's Day 2018

In spite of the scorching heat, Mama wanted to go to the hot spring!So to "Mainit Hotspring" it was!

We had to do about four transfers.First,the tricycle ride from our house to the jeepney terminal outside the subdivision.Second,the jeepney ride going to Bayan.Then,we had to go to SM Lucena and from there take the Mauban-route vans that pass by Mainit Hotspring.-it was overloaded so the ride wasn't good and add to that the bumpy and winding roads. It took about an hour to get to the resort.

We paid the entrance fee of 100 Php only and an inflatable for 150Php. They also have goggles for sale too.The cottage we got was just 250Php.

There were a lot of families and almost all the cottages near the entrance were full. 

Afterwards I had a bad headache and by the time the dinner was ready we are all fast asleep.