My Message to the Graduating Class of 2014

Summer of 2013.

SACR Batch 2014.

It was a great pleasure to be with you my dear students as you embarked on this one-of-a-kind experience in your Nursing school -- the Manila Summer Affiliation, our last days together.

For an Anthonian, this is the most awaited part of your 4-year stay at St. Anthony College of Roxas City. Each one of you have your own stories to tell, realizations to uphold, and memories to treasure that this experience have brought you.

I can only say that this has contributed to the success of your personas as your graduation comes to a close.

Congratulations, Graduates!

To those who have achieved such tremendous accolades, simply because of their hard work and dedication, I salute you! I always take pride in all your undertakings since we started in Nursing Informatics. It is a humbling experience on my part that I am one of those who have cultivated you into who you are now.

To the rest of the gang, don't stray and congratulations as well. You've made it all, and I am thankful for all of you!

Our Memories Together

Here are some of the photos that I saved. Talking about throwback!

The most difficult tests ever!!! (I always get that a lot from you)

Congratulations, anak! 

NCMH Days!

I can't wait to call you all "Colleagues!"

Last but not the least, to the Top of the Class...I salute you, Summa! 

Oh Summer! How I Miss You So Much...

Take out the summer hats, don that summer dress and trot the beach like there's no tomorrow....

Yep. Summertime is just around the corner and everybody is getting ready and excited for hot humid days, a splash on the beach, lounging by the pool, trying out daring water sports, getting drunk, looking at the most beautiful sunsets or waking up to the most inspiring sunrise.

Dream on! I'm not really a beach bum, but this time, I really love to go back to my hometown and experience this kind of summer. And where is that you say? Roxas City, Capiz!

It's almost eight months since I left the place and I am terribly missing the sights, sounds, and food of the Seafood Capital of the Philippines.

Our January 1st

I captured one!

Our New Year's Eve celebration was a blast! Having our daughters with us this Holidays made it more meaningful. We prepared a simple Media Noche. I cooked spaghetti, macaroni salad, roasted chicken, and we still have leftover Chinese ham from Christmas.

Since we are staying at the 6th floor, we enjoyed looking at the different fireworks display. The dark sky literally lit up as 12:00 midnight comes to close 2013. Maxime enjoyed watching the whole fireworks effects. She kept on saying "fireworks!" (in toddler tone) every time there's a firecracker that will lit up in the dark sky.

The Following Day

We woke up at 8:30 AM. Arnel and I decided to fix our little space from last night's mini-celebration. Who would want to start the year with chaos in the house? We're still quite full from last night's feast so we decided to have our coffees instead. By 10:00 AM, we readied ourselves to go and meet my cousin, Ate Laarni at SM Megamall.

Because there was hardly no heavy traffic, we arrived at Megamall in a much earlier time. So we decided to roam around and window shop. The SM Department Store is closed but most of the stores in the mall were open.

Its good that SM Megamall have this Rent-a-Stroller service. Since we brought along Miggy, we decided to rent a stroller for him. Unlimited use of stroller was at Php200.00 (till the mall closes). But if you opted to use by the hour, its Php80.00. Not bad, right? We took the unlimited time instead.

Our Starbucks Moment

Earlier on, we had the chance to stop by Starbucks and the six of us had our first Starbucks moment as a family. Arnel and I ordered our brewed coffee (they had Colombia brew at that time) while Gabie had Strawberry and cream frap, and Mika ordered for Java Chip frap. Our naughty Maxime had her Starbucks lollipop. I told her sisters not to give her a sip of their drinks because she can be too much to handle if she takes more sugar for the day.

Our Mini Reunion

Finally, we met Ate Arni and Becbec. They are my first cousins from my father side. Ate Arni is a nurse from the US. She's having her vacation right  now and she's meeting for the first time our little munchkins ~ Maxime and Miggy. Though the meeting was only for a short time, we're able to talk about our lives and catch-up on things. I'm glad that we started the year this way.

Hope to see you soon again!

Here with Ate Arni and Becbec, my cousins. We ordered Chinese.

My 2013 Gratitude List

Gratitude.

It is an inherent behavior of a human being to be fearful of change. Whatever form it may be, change takes the face of a soul-eating monster that will take most of your strength from worrying and thinking what will the future bring. This is how I take 2013 in general. It has been a life-changing year for me.  I have made many big decisions that ultimately changed the course of my life. But I will not write about it (again). What I will be focusing here is more on things that I am grateful for 2013.

Career

My first love is teaching. My 12 years in the academe has given me the chance to flourish intellectually and opened more doors for me to establish a name in the nursing profession. It's not only that I teach students to become nurses and love this profession, but I also learned several things that has given me more in return.  Sad to say, my professor life has come to a hibernation stage (I will not say close, because I know I will go back to teaching again. I just can feel it.)

I am thankful that a new job has been offered to me and this is to become the Training Officer of The Family Clinic Hospital, Inc., a newly acquired property by the Caritas Group of Companies. Although the salary is not similar to my previous job, I can still say that I am thankful for this opportunity that I have a job that can sustain us and is in line with my profession.

Family

I am grateful that I have my family - My husband, Arnel, my daughters, Mary Gabrielle, Aryanna Mikaela, and Maxime Danielle. Plus our new bundle of joy, Sealtiel Jude Miguel. I am grateful that my parents and my siblings are in good state of health, especially when the super typhoon Yolanda hit our place last November 8. The only major damage was our roof, which can be repaired.

Friends

Oh, how can I not mention about them! They are the spice to my life and sometimes my lifesavers. =)

Living Conditions

Because of career change, relocation is a major issue to consider and finding a place to stay here in Manila is like finding your way out in the jungles of Amazon. With our mere salaries, we cannot afford to buy a condominium (not as of now), or even rent an apartment that is really comfortable compared to those in the provinces. The apartments here in Manila starts at Php10,000.00 to Php15,000.00. If you are looking for a lesser price, the living conditions are also to be considered.

I am thankful that The President of Caritas Healthshield ( the company that owns the hospital where I am working) gave us a place to stay. Of course there are still bills and payments to shell out, but it's lesser compared to renting.

Freelance Career

My contract with TAU.

 It is indeed very difficult to sustain the family's expenses in today's living standards even both of you are working. You need to earn another source of income in case you need a backup for some family emergencies. For some, direct selling is their forte. Mine is online writing and freelance writing.

As a freelance writer, I am thankful for the different job offers that come my way this year. I have 2 major online jobs this year that I am grateful of. I have a contract with Texila American University as a Faculty/Online Developer. Basically, I prepare the learning materials for students who are taking up MSN degree. I have 3 subjects with them and my contract will end this January. The other job is with Future Care but I will not discuss more about this first since I am only beginning to work for them.

Aside from these job offers, I also have my blogs which i have become addicted to. Sad to say, I haven't attended to these blogs lately due to my pregnancy state. But now that i am in maternity leave, I will plan and make time to update them.

My Prayer for 2014

Dear Lord,

Thank you for all the blessings that you bestowed upon my family. 
I will continually praise and honor thy name all through life. 
You have supported me and guided me despite my inadequacies. 
Forgive me on the times that I dishonor you. 
As we embrace the year 2014,   
I pray that you will always guide us, 
help us in our daily lives, 
and be there for us no matter what. 
I believe that nothing is impossible in your name. 
I believe that you are the source of everything. 
I am forever your child, O Lord. 
With the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 
I am entrusting my life to you. 
Amen.