Hello Summer!

It's officially summer!

I don't particularly like the summer season because it's too humid here, but what I do like are the get-togethers and the outings. Oh, and the food too!  Haha!

I did go to two outings this summer.  I have to limit it to two because of my condition.  Nonetheless, those two spelled F-U-N.  I thank God that I wasn't in pain during those times I was out of town. In fact, I feel much better now.  I hope and pray that there would be less no more flares now and in the future. Lupus be gone!

Last April 8, my Sun Life family went to Anvaya Cove again.  Well, I wasn't able to do much outdoors, but I did enjoy the get together.  My bosses were very protective of me.  I'm so blessed to have them around.

In case you're wondering where I am in this photo, I'm in front, left side.  The one seated next to the guy in white. Hehe... I understand.  I gained a lot of weight. 

I also went out of town to Bay, Laguna with my NTC (National Telecommunications Commission) family last April 12-14. We stayed at the rest house of one of our senators.

With Rizza Fortes, the wife of my former boss, Deputy Commissioner Jaime Fortes, Jr.

We also went to Mr. Francisco Magsaysay's farm where farm fresh cow's milk is being produced. Yum!

L-R: me, Rizza, Muray, Director Vicky, Alice & Carlos

Behind me is Dr. Jake Borja, the one who oversees the entire operation, including the well-being of the cows.

The farm

L-R: Carlos, Atty. Ven Canta, Alice, DC Jaime Fortes, me & Eddie

Before heading home, we stopped by Calamba, Laguna where our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, once lived.

 Clockwise: The main house, kitchen & library

 From top left clockwise: One of the bedrooms, dining area & play house

Dr. Jose Rizal's doodles & handwriting

I learned that this house is a replica of the original house which was destroyed during WWII.

That's about it.  Brought home bottles of farm fresh cow's milk, the only milk I can take for now.  God's timing is really impeccable!

I'm Back!!!

Our office's anniversary celebration is finally over! I never really thought it's going to be fun but it was. Not my kind of fun really but surprisingly I enjoyed it. We had a three day celebration which started last Wednesday, July 23. We had "Libreng Tawag"- local and international calls for free, sponsored by the major Telco companies in the Philippines. I took advantage of this of course! Well, it's not all fun because I got a call from my sister at around lunch time. She said she rushed my mom to the hospital for an emergency heart surgery. So I have to leave the office and go see my mom.

That's me on the right

Thursday, July 24. We had a Breakfast Forum which I wasn't able to attend because I felt exhausted the night before so I just stayed in my office. In the afternoon we had a book launching - Regulation of the Telecommunications/ICT Sector by the former NTC Deputy Commissioner Kathleen G. Heceta and incumbent NTC Deputy Commissioner Jorge V. Sarmiento. I left the office right after the cocktails. My mom was better than the day before, but she's feeling a bit woozy.

Friday, July 25. We had mass calisthenics. This was so funny! We had two aerobic instructors leading the exercises routines. I could hardly follow the steps. Haha! Okay, I do pilates not aerobics!

That's me wearing khaki shorts

See the lady on my right? She's following me, I didn't even know what I was doing. Haha!

Towards the end of the celebration, we had raffle prizes. I wasn't really happy with the one I got, but that's okay, nobody went home empty handed. 

My mom has been steadily improving except for her blood sugar which went up the roof yesterday. I'm not sure if she will be discharged from the hospital today because of this. I'd like to thank everyone who prayed for my mom. Please do continue to pray for her fast recovery. Also, please pray for financial provision. Our bill is estimated to reach $22,000. God help us!

Busy

I'm loaded with work this week. It's our office's 29th founding anniversary. We have a three-day celebration so I have to prepare so many things. I'll be back soon. God bless y'all!

Weekend Adventure, Et Al

Draining! That's the word that can best describe how my last weekend was. I was in Batangas, a two-hour drive south of Manila, last Friday for a speaking engagement my boss had to attend for our regional office's 18th anniversary. We took the road which was newly opened for traffic by the President last April 17. I enjoyed the scenery very much. I wish I could have taken more pictures, but I was only able to take one decent picture from a moving car! ☺

The following day, Saturday, I had my Leadership Training class. On Sunday noon I left for Baguio again, a five to six-hour drive north of Manila for another speaking engagement. I took this picture from a moving car (again!) Pardon my amateurish shots.

The next morning, I took more pictures before going to the Philippine National Police Media Relation Seminar where my boss was a guest speaker. We were back in Manila at around 9:30 p.m.

The next day I was able to report for work at 12 noon. I couldn't drag myself up in the morning. I was exhausted!


On a different note, I'd like to thank Cheryl of Hope for Each Day for her prayers for my family and for giving me an Arte y Pico award. Mel and Ester also gave me this award last month. Thank you so much for thinking of me. Cheryl, like the rest of my blogger friends who have walked with me in my life's jouney, is someone I wish I could meet in person. I'd like to give each of them a big (((HUG))). Someday, in God's perfect time and will, we'll see each other. Until that day, you are in my thoughts and prayer, forever grateful to have crossed path with an angel of God.