2-0-1-2

It ain't the end of the world - 2-0-1-2

Kanina ko pa talagang gustong magsulat. Mabuti nalang at nagkaroon na ako ng lakas na buksan ang laptop at sisimulan ko na ang countdown to 2013 ko. 2012 has been a great year. I got to experience the best of both worlds, the best and the worst. Ang daming magagandang nangyari sakin sa taong ito, may mga hindi maganda pero nangingibabaw parin ang kasiyahan at blessings! Since it's 3 hours (Pinas time) and 8 hours (Saudi time) before midnight, let me give you my TOP 10 for the year 2012. Random events/happenings and people that I've met/been part of my life this year, good or bad, either way, taught me a valuable lesson. 

Marie's TOP 10

1. Birthday sa tuktok ng bundok. February 10, 2012. I celebrated my birthday, after the longest time, in Jeddah. It was a memorable birthday for me because for the first time in my 23 years of existence, sinelebrate ko ang birthday ko sa ibang lugar. We went to Taif, known as Baguio of Jeddah, together with my close friends and church mates. Ang saya ng araw na ito dahil sa kagandahan ng lugar, naramdaman at nakita ko na kahit ako ay dumadanas ng matinding kalungkutan ng mga oras na iyon, pinakita sakin ni Lord na ang daming blessings at daming magagandang mangyayari sakin sa taong ito. Di ko rin makakalimutan ang pag-awit ng aking mga  kaibigan ng Happy Birthday habang nasa tuktok kami ng bundok. Nakakatuwa, nakakamiss. :) It was a special birthday indeed and the people around me, even friends across the globe, made me feel that I don't need a lot of friends, what I need is people who will stick with me no matter what. 

2. Hearts are meant to be broken to be filled again. Hindi na ko magdedetail sa part na ito pero sa mga nakakakilala sa akin, ang taong ito rin nakaranas ako ng matinding heartache/heartbreak (hehe!). Hindi naging madali ang moving on process (naging matigas ang ulo ko sa aspect na ito), pero si Lord gagawa siya ng way para gisingin ka at ipakita sayo na "You deserve better, Anak." I've learned that we will experience pain along the way, but that's what makes us stronger. The pain that we will have to endure will show us that in suffering, there is hope. And when there is hope, there is joy. God dealt with me and he showed me that He will take someone away from me because He will give me more... and no doubt about that, God gave me more, blessings overflowing and people who truly deserves my time and attention. :)

3. JCCF. My second family here in KSA. I am very thankful to God for bringing me to this church because I have not only found acquaintances, but I have found great friends. They have been my source of strength sa lahat ng oras na nanghihina ako and God used them mightily in my life and in my mom's life as well. I feel very blessed and thankful to be part of a family especially when you're a thousand miles away from home.

4. 30 Years of Successful Marriage.This year marked the 30th year of my parents as husband and wife. It was such a fulfillment to see that after all these years, their marriage was standing headstrong. Distance, time, differences, misunderstandings, and countless tampuhans never was a hindrance for them to work their relationship out. They were the perfect example of a happy and loving couple, yung tipong kahit magkalayo sila hindi ko nafeel ang distance at nakita ko ang efforts nila for each other despite the distance. I am so blessed to have my parents, I could never ask for anyone better than them. They are the best and they are God's gift to us as we are God's gift to them as well.

5. Kasal-kasalan. This year I must say was a year of weddings. I get to experience to sing at a wedding and naging abay din ako sa kasal. Two of my dear ates in our church got married this year and one of my closest sister got married in Tagaytay also this year (at lahat dito Ninang ang Mother earth ko, niloloko ko nga siya, sa kasal ko Ninang na din siya, dahil siya ang Ninang of the Year hehehe!). To Ate Rona, Ate Myrna and Irish (beaulag), I know this was one of the best years of your life. Nakikita ko ang kaligayahan niyo dahil alam kong ang mga partner in life niyo ang binigay ni Lord para sainyo. I pray that 2013 will not only be a year of weddings but also a year full of love and happiness. :) 

6. Summer 2012. It was a great summer to spend with family and friends back home. I was loosing hope mid-February and early March kasi hanggang that time wala parin akong tawag sa mga ina-applyan ko na work dito sa Jeddah, but God said, wait patiently. Hindi Niya nga ako binigo at binigay niya sakin ang Job offer sa College of Medicine, KSAU-HS. I went home for 2 months. It was a great, great vacation! I get to spend a lot of time with my loved ones and talagang nasulit ko ang bawat araw ng bakasyon ko. I know that 2 months is really short but my friends and family made my stay all worth it. 

7. Welcome to the Bundok! Yes, I am a certified OFW. June 26, 2012 marks my first day as an Overseas Filipino Worker and Proud! Hindi madali ang kumita ng pera, at lalong hindi madali ang mamuhay sa ibang bansa. Kaya yung mga taong iniisip na ang mga OFW ay limpak-limpak ang salapi, medyo mag-isip isip, katakot-takot na depression, homesickness, pagod, culture shock atbp ang dadanasin ng mga OFW bago kitain ang hard-earned salary. Working here in Jeddah made me realize that I will never experience this comfort I am experiencing if not for my parents who worked so hard for so many years away from home just to sustain us and to give us all our needs. It was a glorious moment, seeing my mom and dad, fulfilled and contented dahil lahat kaming mga anak nila ay nakapag-tapos ng pag-aaral at lahat ay nagiging (magiging) successful sa aming chosen career. Sa pagiging OFW ko natutunan na kailangan mong matutong tumayo sa sariling mga paa, at kailangang matutong maging independent. All by myself ang drama but I never felt I was alone, because I have people who served as my support system in times na nagigive up na ko. God is so good, despite of being away from home, He blessed me with good friends and a very loving and caring room mate. 

8. COM-J. Working in COM-J was really tough. Kailangan matibay ang loob, at open sa lahat ng possibilities na pwedeng mangyari sayo. My first few months were very challenging dahil talagang tinetest ang patience at efficiency ko sa aking trabaho. Na kahit ang liit ng sweldo, tambak ang trabaho. Na kahit todo effort sa pagtatatrabaho, yung mali mo parin ang nakikita. Na kahit anong gawin mo, hindi nila naaappreciate. That was my thinking three months ago. But God made me realize that I should not complain and instead, I should do what they want me to do, and do it with all of my best efforts. When I started to change, everything around me changed. Yung mga kasama ko sa department na feel na feel kong ayaw sakin, nafeel ko na nagbabago na sila towards me and our working relationship started to be harmonious. Truly, when you decide to give it all up to Him, He will show you great and mighty things. Work will always be challenging, there will always be competition... but when we realize that we don't work for them, we work for God and His glory, our work disposition will change and everyone around us will change as well. It's all about the right attitude, maintaining the happy disposition despite of it all. 

9. Blessings! Daming blessings this year. Financially, hindi ako kinulang. Laging sapat at minsan sobra pa. Hindi ako nagugutom, hindi nagugutom ang pamilya ko, nabibili ko ang gusto ko at nakikita ko ang pinaghirapan ko dahil finally, I can buy some of the luxuries that I think I deserve. Ang sarap ng feeling na makita ang bunga ng pinaghirapan, na kahit minsan sinasabi ng iba na material things lang yan, its not the about the money or the gadget, its the fulfillment that even you worked so hard, may kinalalagyan naman ang pinaghirapan mo. This year, I was able to save as well, for myself, and minsan naisip ko nga... Kailangan ko pang mag-abroad para makita ang value ng sweldo at ng pera. Sometimes, we will learn our lesson the hard way. I am very thankful for this year, God granted me more than what I wanted and desired. Thank You Lord!

10. Si Babe. Siya ang isa sa pinaka-magandang (gwapo hehe!) blessing na ibinigay sakin this year. Sa taong akala ko ang love life ay magiging non-existent, nagkamali ako. I was given another chance to love and tunay nga ang kasabihang "there's always a rainbow after the rain!". Si Yuan ang aking rainbow, ang aking shock absorber, ang aking laughing partner, ang aking prayer partner, ang aking clown, ang aking best friend, ang aking worst enemy, ang aking teacher, ang aking lover, at higit sa lahat siya ang aking pinakamamahal. Oo na cheesy na, bakit ba eh patapos nanaman ang taon, pagbigyan niyo na ko. 

Hindi niya lang alam kung gaano ako kasaya at kung gaano ako ka-hopeful sa aming relationship. He made me believe that long distance relationships CAN work and that no distance can hinder two hearts who are truly inlove. Araw-araw mas nararamdaman ko ang pagmamahal para sa kanya na kahit minsan hindi kami magkaintindihan, mas nangingibabaw ang pagmamahal. I can't wait for June 2013, six months to go Babe and this is it! Maraming salamat sayo kasi minahal mo ko ng lubos kahit abnormal at mainarte ako sa buhay. Mahal kita! 

Welcome 2013!

2012, you have been so good to me and to my loved ones. God has blessed me and my family and I am so thankful for their lives. Ngayong malapit na matapos ang taon, nais kong magpasalamat sa lahat ng tao na naging parte ng taon ko at nawa'y makapiling at makasama ko pa kayo sa mga susunod na taon. Sa mga taong lumisan naman, maraming salamat sa mga lessons, hindi ko makakalimutan ang mga bagay na natutunan ko dahil sa paglisan ninyo. 

I pray for a blessed and prosperous new year and that we will always remember that He is the reason for all of our celebration. Welcome 2013, handa na ko sa mga hamon, pagsubok, pagluha, kasiyahan, oportunidad, at panibagong karanasan na ihahandog mo sakin. Alam kong maraming marami pang mangyayari sa buhay ko, patikim palang ito, dahil dyan.. excited na ko para sayo. :)  

Manigong Bagong Taon,

From Jeddah with love <3

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