Reflection

     In our SFC community, we have this annual M.E. Conference gathering. I can still remember the joyous and euphoric moments when I attended one in Manama, Bahrain way back in 2009.

     It is our yearly gathering of Praise and Worship to our Creator. A time where all are gathered to pour in their hearts and souls to glorify our great God. To have awesome fun, to enjoy each other's company, to participate in different workshops and teachings, to get to know other delegates within the M.E. Region. All boiling down to thanking Him for all that He has done for us. For all the blessings which sustain us and trials which keep us stronger.

     In this year's conference which will be held in Doha, Qatar, the over-all organizing committee decided to make some enhancement in this year's format. And so they devise this "SFC Reflection Writing" competition as one of the modifications. Each countries are requested to submit a maximum of three (3) entries. 

     And yours truly submitted an entry which focus on Mark 12: 38-44 as our gospel reading to reflect on. Please find below photo as my official entry in the said competition which is still subject for short listing. We are only given a maximum of 200 words and we should fully abide with the mechanics (I won't elaborate it here) to create a competitive entry.

     Yours truly is hoping (fingers crossed) that I may be included in the short-listed official entries. If not, participating is more than an honor for me as I treat winning as secondary. The bottom line is that I was able to take part in this year's MEC despite my absence. If you find it hard to read the full text of my entry, please read it below;

WE OWE IT FROM HIM

     "The pure intention coming from a sincere heart of the poor widow affected me the most. It is through our genuine intention which truly matters and not by the amount being presented.

     Being Christ's follower, this passage reminds me that life isn't sized up by how big or small we give but by how sincerely we offer. There are riches in poverty that God wants us to realize. We oftentimes view being poor as something to be championed for or eradicate. But in Mark's gospel, it is presented as something to be glorified. That, in reality, the joy in living and of living isn't in the possession of material riches but in our ability to be faithful in transcending the real essence of giving.

      This gospel made me realize and reflect that it isn't about what we accumulate that makes us who we are. It is about what we owe from Him that all our actions deeply roots for. He is the giver of all that we need and therefore we should rightfully return with sincerest intention what was originally His. It's because in life, all that we have we owe it from Him."

     

     To all participating delegates, good luck and may God be praised.

Naisip Lang

People ARRIVE.

They come to SHARE.

People GO.

Sometimes, they bring TEAR.

But life is a BLUR.

Nothing's CERTAIN.

Just play what's your PART.

Act it to ENTERTAIN.

Bothered?

     

     I've had a very exhausting and physically draining day today, lots of work had to share their time with me. Did office stuff while doing the laundry, working on updates for my big day, doing purchasing queries & worst of all phone ringing every now and then too. I hate the idea of answering phone calls when I'm in the middle of doing something. 
     
     General cleaning in my room is quite a daunting task sometimes. Especially when there are various thoughts bugging my mind. Plus the burden of ironing my clothes...ugghhh..I hate it. But who else would do it for me? Clothes piled up and waiting for my hands to pick them up lay it on top of the iron flat stand. In short, I had a share of physical and mental works today.

     While doing all those stuff at the same time, with only few breaks at intervals, I feel like I'm stressed big time. I haven't been feeling this mind drifts as I call it as tiring as it is. I don't know, but I just felt so low this week. I'm like not in my best condition-physically & emotionally. There are anxious moments where it just puts me to stop amidst something I'm working on.

     Right now, it's 1AM and I'm still wide awake. I'm trying to invite Mr. Sleep to visit me quickly but it seems though that he's like so faraway from where I'm at. He's not even caring that I badly need a good sleep for almost weeks now. I've engulped two mugs of milk tea in my attempt to sleep but I just can't sleep now.

     I know there is something significant that's bothering me right now. I know that I need to address it sooner before it gets blown up and out of proportion. Oh God!....I need you this time. 

     God, you know very well what's inside my heart. My struggles, my pains, my sorrows as well as my hopes, my aspirations, my courage, and my strength. Right now, I'm leaving all my worries to you. Lead me to your path and direct my thoughts as well as my actions. 

     As I attempt to sleep now this is what I want to ask from you, GOD, grant me peace of mind and a forgiving heart. 

     Good night LORD. Put me at peace when I wake up in the morning.

Goal + Focus = Target Reached

     I have been sitting all day since 10AM in the morning working on an urgent office work and my butt is aching now. Awwwww....ang sakit talaga...hahaha..sign of aging..hahaha. And so I decided to take a break. 

     Now my company is a mug of milk with tea blend. Take note, It's LIPTON's Clear Green Tea (my fave). I need to sip something hot to freshen me up so I did one mug. And I'm using my fave mug. Actually it's a coffee mug but been using it for blending tea as well.

     While doing some relaxation after havin' a break from the enslaving "inventory reconciliation + purchasing follow-up & inquiries" and my right hand holding the mug of milk tea, may naisip na naman ako. "Jay lagi ka nalang may naiisip..tugon ko sa sarili. Well, eh ano ang magagawa ko eh sadyang palaisip lang akong tao...hehehe..

     I think I need to set a more concrete GOAL this time. I think I need to set high priorities in my life. Well, it's not that I don't have one, but I guess there is a need to re-organize what's existing. I can feel the monotony. I want to break out from the routine existence.

     Suddenly, I just feel I want to resign to my current life and embark to a new adventure. Ang lalim nun ah...hahaha..puno ng meaning..tsk..tsk..ano naman kaya ang new adventures. Jay, how about doing some innovation of what's already existing. It's more like enhancing, putting more colors.

    Siguro nga napapahon na, kelangan na. Kelangan ng tuldukan ang kung anong meron ako na di na ako masaya. Marami ng mga bagay at mga pangyayari na di na ako masaya. Maging iilan sa mga nakakasalamuha ko ay di na ako nagiging comfortable. Tama ba tong gagawin ko. Pero siguro nga may "wisdom" akong makukuha sa "bold move" kung ito. Sabihin na nating kelangan ko lang mag-isip, mag-isa, mag-contemplate, mag-reflect. Siguro maiintidihan naman nila ang magiging desisyon ko.

     Gusto kung ibalik ang dating ako. Ang dating may focus, in control, and mapangarap. Di ko na rin sasabihin dito "in details" kung anu-anong mga pagbabago ang gusto kung gawin. Kasi, kapag inilagay ko pa dito natitiyak kung puno na naman nang pang-aalaska ang aabutin ko. Hayaan ko nalang na ang pagbabago ko ang magbibigay sa kanila ng ideya or hayaan ko nalang na sila ang makapansin.

     I have reached a point in life where things & situations start becoming a bit blurred. So, before it swallows me, I'll do the change to make it sparks again. Like the tea I'm drinking now, I want my life to be as CLEAR AND GREEN again.

     And so today, GOALS has been set & FOCUS starts now and eventually TARGET will be reached.

    I'm more determined now. I whisk-off the idea that I'll be doing this to prove something but I'm doing this for my self-improvement. Lord, guide me on this high adventure. A shift which isn't easy. So, I'll say, Jay, good luck to you.

Wake Up

     What keeps you motivated to wake up...err..I mean to wake up early and enthusiastically?

     Waking up early in the morning, in my opinion, is the best. Unang una, nakaka inspire makita si Haring Araw na sumisikat palang at ang dampi ng "sun rays" sa ating mga mala-porselanang kutis ng balat ay sadyang napakasarap sa pakiramdam.

     As the say, our sun produces energy and vitamins which our body needs. So, that's basically the primary reason why I always wake-up as early as I could even when there were times na "puyat ako. Especially, kapag mayroon akong lakad or importanteng gagawin, kahit one hour sleep lang sa akin is enough na.

     It's Friday morning here in downtown Dammam and I'm off from work. BUT, I still be working since I'm rushing things (nagdala ako ng trabaho sa bahay----wow the first time ever since I joined my current company) due to a vacation which culminates like in a month. Yeheey! makakauwi na rin sa wakas. And looking forward to the more bondings with my family and friends and new acquiantances as well.

     I feel sorry that I need to turn down the hosting (emcee-ing) job in our community acitivity today. And I'll miss the teaching and bonding too.  But I need to since I really have to finished "bulk paper works" from the office today. I hate turning down favors but I only have one body and as our community teaches us "we should always learn to say no" when necessary. I am sure, with lots of talented and interesting people in the community, hopefully bro. Leo will be able to find one.

     Shifting aside, ano nga ba ang mga bagay that positively push you to wake up? And here's some random thoughts why I'm interested to wake up early everyday.

     1. I wake up to thank God for another day of my life.

     2. I wake up to feed my hungry stomach (ang babaw...lol)

     3. I wake up to take a bath, fix myself and go to work (need to since work is my bread and butter).

     4. I wake up to reach out to people I love.

     5. I wake up thinking how can I be of help to someone in need for that day.

     6. I wake up excited to continue working on my dreams

     7. I wake up to think & work on things I love (like writing, reading & eating-:))

     8. Gumigising ako kasi may mga moments na masarap ang kape sa umaga (di ako coffee drinker, milk drinker ako with tea blend.)

     9. Gumigising ako kasi lagi kung gusto ang amoy ng pandesal and dairy cream sa umaga (kahit wala dito sa kinaroroonan ko..lol)

     10. Gumigising ako kasi gusto kung makita ang masasayang ngiti ng mga taong mahal ko.

     So, If I may ask you, "What motivates you to wake up early everyday?

Worthy Cause - Part 3

     Good day guys! And whooah! akalain mo yon magkakaroon pa pala ng Part 3 ang WORTHY CAUSE post ko...hehehe...

     Kidding aside, this continuation is all about the photos I took while we're sorting and packing the relief goods generously donated by our loving and kind community people. Kudos to them!

     In volunteerism and charity works, there is a priceless joy and satisfaction. A joy that radiates from your inner core and makes you feel good about yourself. Have you had this feeling? I bet you do....

     By the way, let your eyes ride through the candid shots, bro. Carl, bro. Edmund, and I took while sorting is in progress that night of Tuesday, October 10 at the center (venue's name withheld for security reason).

Satt on my left, ME, Jojo peeking in front & somehow a terrifed Owen..hehehe

busy Carl, laughing Owen, Jojo in striking yellow shirt and Satt on the far right

ME arranging clothes inside the box, Owen handing me over, Leo sorting out and Jojo

ME and Carl sorting out clothes from the plastic bags

     Below are some of the piled-up clothes we need to sort-out and put in a "balikbayan box". There's a funny short story about the boxes we used. While on our way to the center, Satt and I look forward to do the task,  but when we reached there we found out na wala pa palang balikbayan boxes na paglalagyan. "Anak ng pating na puti ang karne! hahahaha...So, our dear bro. Leo and Chad had to rushed to the nearby SKY FREIGHT office to buy some boxes. Good thing, Tita Ging was able to offer one box for us to start the packing.

Some donations from loving and kind community people

ME sorting out

     And what made us boisterously laughed that night was when bro. Sattie and bro. Jojo tried out few of the ladies wear and starting goofing around. We're laughing our hearts out when we realized that when they fit it in, the clothes almost tear apart since malalaki sila...hahaha. It was such an awkward moments but so funny as they goof around. I can't show you their photos here baka "pagalitan" ako...hahaha...Baka sabihin sa akin "the unbecoming of an SFC Leader"..hahaha...

     By the way, sorry guys, if some of the people involved in the sorting and packing were not seen in these photos. I just took some random photos kaya di ko na na-include ang iba....

     Beneficiaries of this effort will be the victims of typhoon PEDRING which recently devastated our country. It's a noble act for us OFW's to do this kind of thing as a gesture of reaching out to our fellow countrymen who have lost their homes and livelihood. People who needs immediate assistance.

So this is it. Back to work mode now. :))))

People Who Inspires Me - The Concept

     

     While doing a multi-tasking office work today, suddenly an idea pops-out of my mind. Well, it isn't that new. I have been having this thought way way back. But now, I guess I need to start it out. Sayang ang mga oras eh, dapat ng mabasa na rin ng mga taong involve dito ang gagawin kong series of articles.

     This post will be like the concept, the introduction, the prequel, the beginning, the alpha, the start. I will be featuring articles for people who inspires me. It is not limited to people I know, but it also will features people I meet along the way, in the street, in the concert arena, in the sports stadium, people I chat with, people I look up to but haven't met yet, my co-bloggers, people in my community, people whom I read in the book (like authors), people in the government (public figures), people in the faith aspect, and also people that are stranger to me but made an impact to me the first time I meet them. 

     Basically, it will focus on ordinary people, humble people yet living an extra-ordinary lives because of their works in the community and their advocates in life. People who spreads the value of unity, camaraderie, people who selfless devote their time and energy in improving the quality of life of others. People who does not necessarily seek the limelight for recognition.


     In short I'll be writing about people who inspires me. Inspired me yesterday, still inspires me today, and will inspire me tomorrow.


     My motivation will be "how do I know them and how well do I know them?"


     While I was writing this, lots of people suddenly floods my neurons and I'm so excited to feature them here. This will be like a series. A post you will be excited to wait for. I hope so..hehehe.


     Just watch out for it as I am more inspired to write good things in life. Things that can inspire readers as well. 


     See you in the next entry. Hopefully, the entry No. 1 for the first ever person who inspires me.

Worthy Cause - Part 2

     As promised eto yong Part 2 ng WORTHY CAUSE na post ko kanina. Di na ako nakatiis at sinimulan ko agad ang pagsusulat ng part two. Inisip ko lang na baka mawala pa ang mga ideas na maaari kung masabi dito. Ang hirap nun! Mag-iisip uli...di naman kasi ganun kadali ang magsulat.

     Actually, I'm utilizing my three (3) hours break from work since split timing ako sa office. So, aside from updating things for my wedding, I do the usual multi-tasking which I've been practicing for more than a decade. Likas naman sa ating mga pinoy na kung ano ang pwedeng magagawang bagay higit pa sa isa ay gagawin natin. Benefits of it are: saving our time & finishing multiple jobs at the same time. Basta focus lang ang kailangan while doing it.

     Last night, while Satt & I were traveling going the center where the "sorting and packing" will be done, I was thinking about several things. I started contemplating about life. And these are my random thoughts:

1. I AM LUCKY! - I felt blessed to have things ordinary people don't have in life. Well, I don't own expensive gadgets or the likes, but things that are just my needs and a lil bit of a "want" na rin. I am lucky to have a job that pays more than I need.

2. I MUST SHARE! - As someone who's really inclined to charity works, volunteerism, and the likes. I always feel I have to give back. I have to share the blessings regardless how small or big it is.

3. I WON'T COMPLAIN!- Sometimes, complaining is normal, but it becomes an annoying thing if every now and then we complain. I realized that I am really blessed despite little misfortunes which happens from time to time. Blessed because there are countless people somewhere who suffer problems bigger as mountains than I am or have.

4. I WILL ALWAYS HAVE A TIME FOR SOMEONE WHO NEEDS ME - There are certain moments in our lives where we feel so lazy to respond. We tend to ignore things to be done, people to talk to and situation to act upon. I am guilty of it admittedly. So, I realized that I should be more sensitive to the needs of others from me--especially "time". We never know what impact we can create by sharing our time to others. More so, to our love ones. So from now on I will have more time for them.

     You might be wond'rin why there were no photos yet for the relief goods sorting and packing, it's because I don't know how the bluetooth in Satt's laptop works. I've tried but being a not-so-tech-savvy  kind of guy, I find it hard to figure out. So, I'll be posting photos later when I got home from work using my own laptop.

     So watch out for it. I'll update this post later. Meanwhile I have to prepare to go back to work. I only have 30 minutes remaining and lots of office stuffs await me there.

     CIAO Amigos Y Amigas!

Evolution

If you're a reader here, you may have noticed (maybe) about how many times I did changed my blog name. I don't know but there's this certain feeling of dissatisfaction in me which drives me to modify again and again my blog name.


I started with a name "JEST OF JAY". It runs for few months.


It was followed by "Scribbles Of My Mind". I guess it has its share of weeks or so.


Then after, it became "Scribbles Of A Free Mind"


But my innovative mind once again modified it to "Word Is To Be Written As Life Is To Be Lived."


If I may remember it only run for like a week or so.


Then there's a new name "Scribbler's Block". This one has the shortest stay. It only run for like 2 days.


NOW, I am settled with this name, "Rafol's Draw of Thoughts". It will be my last modification. I feel like it's cool if it carries my last name though it sounded a bit weird and awkward since once you read it, it's like you're into "raffle draw" thing...lol...but that's the uniqueness I saw. Only reason that I'll be sticking to it for life....I guess..:)))


So officially, my permanent blog name will be "Rafol's Draw of Thoughts"

Worthy Cause - Part 1

     "Maayong aga sa indo tanan" (hiligaynon dialect for "magandang umaga sa inyong lahat).

     Gusto ko sanang isulat ang naging partisipasyon ko sa "relief goods sorting and packaging" kagabi ngunit ang aking "antuking mata" ay di na kinaya pang makisama sa ninanais ng aking katawan. Ugali na ng aking katawan na kapag dumating or bago pa dumating ang midnight siguradong aantukin na ako. Masuwerte na lang kung malagpasan ko ang midnight na di ako aantukin. Well, it only happens when I'm surrounded with people. 

     Kagabi habang kami ay masayang nagso-sort out ng aming ipapadala sa mga biktima ng typhoon PEDRING ay bumalik sa alaala ko ang naging kaparehong sitwasyon nang ang mapanirang ONDOY ay nanalasa sa ating bansa noong Setyembre taong 2009. 

     It is such a horrifying scene seeing the capital of the Philippines - Manila - being swayed out by heavy and deep floods which stirs the world wide community. Imagine, being featured in the CNN as a "Breaking News" is something more than alarming. It means that the incident was really disturbing and highly dangerous.

     Philippines, along with other countries surrounding and nearby Pacific Ocean has been regarded as one of the frequent "typhoon stricken" countries. It's a sad truth. Pero wala naman tayong magawa or magagawa kasi natural calamity ang typhoon. We can't even do some magic to stop them from hitting us and our livelihood. All we can do is to always be prepared. And pray of course. Prayers have been proven to help in difficult times.

     Siguro mamaya or bukas ko na isusulat ang Part 2 ng entry kong ito. As you may notice the photo for the relief goods isn't authentic since the real photos which I took last night while doing the sorting and packing are still in my mobile phone. I need to use it's bluetooth to transfer it to my laptop.

     Well guys, this is it for now. PART 2 coming up in 5 hours? See yah! Cheers to helping and sharing. -:)))