Hello 2015!

Hello 2015! Hello everyone! Yes, I am writing again. Hopefully, keeping my blog as active as I used to before would be a new year's resolution for me 😊.

 A Simple Thanks 

Before anything else and as a yearly tradition for me, I would like to look back and make a review of how the recently-concluded year went for me.

As I would always say, every new year was good. So how do I really measure the goodness of each year? My answer would be as simple as this - by thanking God for everything I have had in my hands. No matter how big or small each blessing would be, we should never take it for granted. Goodness always come our way whenever we say a little word of "Thank you Lord".

I didn't have all ups, as a normal human being, I did and would encounter challenges every now and then but I knew it would never be impossible to bounce back. 

 Independent Life

Living an independent life away from my loved ones was never easy but at the same time, it was exciting as well. Thank goodness for our technology as communication made things easier not just for me but for everyone else as well. 

I  owe a lot of things to God and I owe the work I have now from Him. I could definitely say that without the work I have now, I could never travel as much as  I could. Traveling to everywhere you wished to be was never easy and it would require a lot of hardwork to pay for everything you need. I must admit, I complain about the destinations I get once in a while but thinking about it again, I should still consider myself lucky enough for having roster with destinations on it as it would mean "hey, I have work you know". 

 Seeing the World

I started 2014 with a (really) good roster. My January roster was a composition of new destinations for me back then - Munich, Bangkok, Mauritius, Amsterdam, Paris and Melbourne/Auckland. My February roster was even a lot better - Seoul, Rome, Zurich, Sydney/Auckland and two turnarounds to Jeddah. Additionally, I finally got the visa to operate US and Canada flights. Seeing the world one at a time was one of the greatest blessings I received from God. 

My body clock was a mess sometimes due to travelling to different timezones but that was one fact I already embraced when I accepted this job. 

Having been in this job for more than a year, I realized that the perks of living in a suitcase was really one thing I wanted ever since. Time goes by so fast with this kind of job - You wake up for a flight, report to work, put yourself in the aircraft and work for the duration of the flight, arrive to the destination, go out and sleep and the same things go on your way back to base. Things may look like a routine but each flight tells a different story as you always have new faces to see, new stories to hear and etc. The destinations may be the same for some months but I would never complain going  back again and again to New York several times in a year. 

Travel is never ending pursuit of learning - that's what I realized when I started going to places I've never been before and never thought I would. 

  Hello New Year

For the second time, I welcomed the new year with my friends. I didn't feel bad that I was not home. Simple messages from everyone special and dear would be enough to make my new year celebration. Sadness was just transient and the more you try to be one was just your choice. We all have the mind to decide what kind of year we would like to have. On top of everything, let's always make God present in whatever choices we make. 

Happy New Year people! Cheers! 

A Thankful Heart for 2013

My year end post seems to be a tad late by a couple of days. Nevertheless, I still want to share all my thoughts for the year that just bid us goodbye.

Saying that 2013 was a good year was understatement but I could not think of anything more to describe it in just one sentence. I would try my best to explain how grateful I was. The biggest blessing (so far) for me started to came in the very beginning of the previous year.  My goal of landing a job that would take me to different places came really close.  I tried for that one job opportunity that I think could be an alternative route to what I wanted to do.  The rest was history. I am now living in the sandpit for almost half a year. 

Independent life was never easy but I am liking it. I like it because I do grocery shopping, I budget my salary, I wash and iron my clothes, I wake myself up every single day, I cook breakfast before going to work, I cook my own meal whenever I am on day off and etc. etc.  If there's something I dislike was when you're absent on special occasions - Christmas, New Year, Birthdays, Anniversary, etc. etc.

As they say, you couldn't have everything at the same time, and yes, the latter was part of this blessing.  That was the catch of being away from home while getting to places you wanted to set foot in.  I recall Gwyneth Paltrow's line on View from the Top:

Why can't all choices be simple?
Why can't they all be window or aisle? Coffee or tea?

Paris, France - September 2013

Melbourne, Australia - September 2013

I guess, if life was as easy as ABC or 123, I would never grow. As a big girl, I need to make big decisions as well.  God never fails to guide whenever a decision has to be made.

Auckland, New Zealand - September 2013

If I didn't come out of my shell, I wouldn't be able to travel to Paris, London, Manchester,Australia, New Zealand in just one month or I might not be able to see my friends in Brisbane, Singapore, Korea and Malaysia. Most of the time, every sacrifice is worth taking. I am glad I got the courage to pack my things and live a life in a suitcase.

Brisbane, Australia - December 2013

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - October 2013

Singapore, Singapore - November 2013

Seoul, South Korea - October 2013

Every year is a good one for me. I have my own share of downs and every single time I need to bow down, there would always be a chance to chin up. One thing I am sure, we should be thankful for everything we have no matter how simple it was.  Being thankful for every single thing (even if it's something that challenges) means you're getting ready for the good thing that would be coming. Let me share with you a quote from Henry Ward Beecher:  

“The unthankful heart discovers no mercies; but the thankful heart will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings.”

The unthankful heart... discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings!
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/h/henrywardb105506.html#V8rBs8QwA4x48TVT.99

The unthankful heart... discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings!
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_thankful.html#Cu3RJgLpOdbJMOUt.99

The unthankful heart... discovers no mercies; but let the thankful heart sweep through the day and, as the magnet finds the iron, so it will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings!
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_thankful.html#Cu3RJgLpOdbJMOUt.99

To the year that had been good to me, thank you 2013.
Cheers to 2014! The year of the horse.

 

Revisiting the Year of the Dragon: Thankful Heart ❤ (Part 2)

Surely, a lot will do a review of the year that is about to pass, and I'm one of them. I know that life will never be smooth sailing, but time will always give us the chance to stand up and redeem ourselves.

Even if I haven't reached my dream of working at 35,000 feet or even more, there are still many things to be thankful for. Aside from traveling to a couple of Philippine destinations, I'm also thankful for having the chance to explore another opportunity in our company. For that (almost) 24 months that I'm working for them, I've been given a couple of times to explore my own skills set when they asked me to transfer from one department to another. I'm quite excited for the coming year as I started preparing myself to work a lot better, especially now that I'm becoming really familiar with things that are involved in my current work.

I'm thankful for my family, my love, my friends and to everyone who has been good to me. Truly, we need people whom we can talk to when we feel bored and alone; people whom we can share our smiles and frowns, funny and sad stories and etc. I'm happy and thankful for the first year of love and friendship with 'mi loves' 😊. Looking forward for more years of love and friendship.

I'm also thankful that God made my 'mini biz' possible. I'm hoping that this coming year will be a good one for Kikay Konek (nag plug pa ko 😜). I'm keeping my fingers crossed for more buyers!
(Teheeeeee.lol!)

For making me optimistic, thankful, blessed, and strong - all praise to you God! ❤

2011: Opportunities, Surprises, Lessons, and Everything in Between

I started 2011 with excitement, probably because after so many years, my papa celebrated the holidays with us. When I welcomed the year, I hoped for something and prayed that everything would happen according to what I wished and longed. Reviewing the year that was about to end, things didn’t happen the way I planned it, well, not exactly, but wasn’t really bad at all. 

My Plan A – the dream of becoming a frequent flyer didn’t happen this year, but at least, there were some progress. It was January when I tried for a local airline that aims to let every Juan flies. I was able to reach the final interview but wasn’t recommended to take the medicals, meaning, I didn’t make the cut. It was sad of course! Having the thought of being so close to what you wanted but ended up going back to zero was really disappointing. A few weeks after, I learned that my dream airline (World’s 5 Star Airline) was hiring again. I was half-hearted about trying for it because I tried a few times before yet I never experienced being shortlisted among thousand applicants, so I was like tired already of trying and trying, waking up very early, dolling up myself and only have a few seconds with the recruiter. It was my MUA friend, now an International Flight Attendant who encouraged me to try and even offered to groom me for the Open Day. I said yes to her but a few days before the big day, I was still having thoughts of trying but I realized that I don’t want ‘what ifs’. So I tried and luckily, for the very first time, I got shortlisted among more or less a thousand applicants. It was really a productive moment for me. I got shortlisted and at the same time, I got to learn how to put make-up the right way. I didn’t make it until final interview yet I considered myself blessed. Having been shortlisted for the first time after a few tries was an achievement. I didn’t feel bad after being eliminated after the first stage of the assessment. Come July and December, I got shortlisted again for the same airline. The second time (July) was a surprise for me. When I attended the Open Day, I arrived at the hotel around 9:30 am and was able to submit my CV around 5 pm, so imagine the hunger and thirst for the entire hours of waiting. There was neither a call nor a text message telling me to come back for the second day, so I thought luck wasn’t on my side again, but I was wrong. I got the ‘magic text’ the next day. It was something I didn’t expect at all. To make it short, I didn’t make it again until the final interview. When my name wasn’t called to proceed, it was sad but at the back of my mind, I should be thankful for the chance, at least I have an idea what to do or what to improve the next time. It was the December assessment that my heart got broken and made me want to cry and just give up. Again, for the third time, I didn’t make it until final interview. I wanted to give up but a part of me says I should not. To recall, one of our recruiters told us not to be disheartened if our names won’t be called now, who knows we might get called the next time. I really thought it was the right time for me but, I have to go back to ZERO. Life goes on after all. If I try harder the next time, if God wills, I’d get to where I wanted to be. 

LESSON LEARNED: The only chance I missed was when I said NO. God gives us not an opportunity but OPPORTUNITES. Since I never said NO, for sure God wanted me to learn the basics first. 

My Plan B – getting a job that I would like. Working in Manila wasn’t really a big adjustment for me since I’m used to getting to and from the place. I’ve become a Manila girl since 2005 (and a Makati girl from 2008-2009) so commuting would not be an issue. It was waking up early for work that had been a challenge for me, well, at first, since I didn’t work for a long time. I would be a hypocrite if I say I was contented with my work. I would love to do more and learn more from what I have now. Nevertheless I could say that I was just relaxed. I don’t drag myself to work. I don’t get depressed from what I do. In Filipino I would say: “sakto lang, kalmado lang ako, okay lang ako sa ginagawa ko, wala naman akong reklamo sa mga katrabaho at boss ko”. 

LESSON LEARNED: Consider every work day as a chance to learn something new. If there’s nothing new to learn, might as well use the day to work with quality. 

2011 also offered me surprises like falling in love and getting an opportunity to work abroad. I started the year with a ZERO lovelife but along the way, it came when I least expected it. I don’t think I need to inform the whole world how, when and where our love story started; how we got along; when I said YES to him; or how we spend quality time together. We were never a perfect couple and our relationship was never perfect but the ride was always worthwhile. 

LESSON LEARNED: Once in a while, it’s good to swallow my pride to settle something. If there’s something that should be talked about, facebook won’t help, hindi dapat nagpaparinig sa Facebook or Twitter, mas okay nang maging straight to the point sa kanya. After all, lahat naman nadadaan sa mabuting usapan. 

On the latter part of this year, I got an opportunity to work abroad but I didn’t take the chance. I won’t say my reasons but I would say I didn’t have regrets. I have longed wished to work overseas, I won’t get paid here as much as I would earn there; but considering everything, I still chose to stay and I know that God wanted me to stay here. I know that my decision was well-guided by God. So far, that was the biggest decision I have ever made. 

LESSON LEARNED: When you’re about to make a BIG decision – Pray! 

2011 had been a happy year for me. I hang out with friends once in a while; I was able to experience another EPIC night with my high school friends; bonding time with my family; singing for God; a little shopping for the things I want and a whole lot more. I might not be earning really high but at least I’m getting by and surely, God was the reason why I’m getting almost all my wants and needs. 

If there’s one moment that this year made me really sad, it was when one of my closest aunt died of cancer, but I know she’s in good hands now. She’s in a place when there’s no pain, and no problems. 

All in all, I’m thankful for everything that “2011: The Year that was” gave me. I’m thankful for everyone and for everything I have. God must be really great that despite all the problems and challenges I’ve encountered this year, He never fails to give me enough strength to get through each and every day. Hindi ko man masabi na akin ang 2011, pero maraming blessings ang dumating. Things may not be the way I wanted them to be, pero alam ko na lahat ng mayroon ako ngayon ay yung mga bagay na sa tingin ni God na kailangan ko. 

For the year that was about to end: THANK YOU! Let’s all welcome the Dragon with faith in God and with ourselves and of course, with a happy and grateful heart!  Cheers!

Welcoming the Rabbit

Hurray!!! Today marks the first Monday ever for 2011 and I'm making my first entry for the year of the rabbit.

How was your new year people?
Mine was just simple - dinner with family after 12 midnight, prayed, woke up early and attended the 9:30 am mass. I'm happy and thankful for this another year. A new chapter unfolds. Time to start anew. Time to forget all the not-so-good memories of the previous year.

This 2011, I hope the "big thing" happens. I'll be forever grateful for that. For the mean time, I hope I can hustle while waiting. I have so many plans for this year and I hope I can put each plan into reality. I am hopeful that the rabbit will bring better days. Let's all be positive for this year.

I know I am trying my best to start the year right. I am currently reading the book entitled: "Life's not Fair but God is good". For me, it's a great way to start this another chapter by appreciating God's goodness and greatness amidst all the circumstances you're experiencing. If I finished the book within the week, I'll definitely post the things I've learned from it and share each lesson with you.

Happy New Year Dear Readers

Always,

2010: Chasing.Fighting.Surviving.

Last year, I started doing a review for all the things that happened to me. I also included the things I learned and the things I want to live through for the coming years. It helps to write a review because you’ll have a thorough glance of how well you did this year or how stronger you became after battling all the tough challenges you could ever imagined in your life. If FAITH is my friend’s word for 2010, it will be DETERMINATION for me.

CHASING

You all know the main reason why I resigned from my previous work and why I’m still unemployed up to this very moment. I thought I’ll make it this year especially when I reached the final interview of two International Airlines. Then again, “almost doesn’t count” happen, I’m yet to know the reason why and only time can reveal the reasons for my every failure. I know I am trying my best, and I am trying everything I can to make everything happen, but James Ingram can be right, the best may not be enough sometimes. This 2010, I felt I’m left behind. While most of my friends are happy with their work, doing what they want, I’m living my life as a bum. It’s disappointing. I asked myself, “Is this the price of graduating with flying colors?” You earned the grades you wanted but you can’t get what you want to do. Thus, I realized, grades do not really matter, those are just numbers.
 
I tried applying for a temporary job, but mind you, there’s a HUGE difference between going to the agencies/companies applying for my dream career and companies applying for a temporary job. Most of the time, I ended up not showing up for the interview (temporary job) plus, it also happens that I’m not available, but whenever I am called for the second screening and final interview, I’m always up for it and I’m always blocking off my schedule to attend that interview.

FIGHTING

I am doing everything I can to make things happen, I enrolled myself in a swimming class during summer; took up an English Proficiency Course for the sake of having a certificate which I thought I needed to submit; consulted a dermatologist and undergone a procedure which is not yet done up to this point. I can’t and won’t give up right now. Giving up is not in my vocabulary. I am a person who will do whatever it takes to make everything happen. Although I will admit, sometimes, I want to give up because I felt like is this really for me? But if it’s not I still want to make this mine, accompanied by prayer.

This 2010, I devoted most of my Wednesdays and Thursdays attending the novena for Mother of Perpetual Help and St. Jude respectively (although I’m really a devotee of Mother of Perpetual Help since I’m 14). I have finished, I think more or less 3 novenas (9 Wednesdays each) for our Mother of Perpetual Help, but I guess, this is not yet the right time for me to get my ultimate dream.

In this phase of my life, these are the things I learned:

1. There’s always a right time for everything, I would remember Ms. Elma Muros said in one of her interviews “Kung hindi talaga para sa iyo, hindi talaga ibibigay sa iyo kahit hawak mo na”. I realized, maybe, this year is not just mine and God knows I still need to learn something or do something before He gives me what I need and what I want.

2. Stand up after a failure. I know this is a cliché. Failure is inevitable and I always say that. Life is not smooth sailing, it is always a bumpy road, and we need to accept that. Do something out of that failure, learn from it and never think you’re not good enough.

3. Hard work will pay off soon. Patience and determination are the keys to make everything happen and to surpass every challenge.

4. Being true to yourself can help you realize what you really wanted in life. In this kind of outlook, you will know your goals in life that will eventually lead you to genuine happiness. I believe every person has a dream, although sometimes, it takes time before one realizes what he or she wants to be. Not knowing what you want is a bummer. Not doing anything for what you want, not even a single effort is just the same as joining a game but not doing anything to win it. Why join the game in the first place right? I’ve encountered people whom I think pretends to be happy and contented even when they are not. Niloloko mo kasi ang sarili mo kapag ganoon, reklamo ka ng reklamo but you are not doing even a minute effort para mabago mo ang ayaw mo ng maranasan.

SURVIVING

I welcomed 2010 with sparkling hope. I really thought it’s going to be MY YEAR, but it turned out the other way around. It may not be a good year for me, but I still have to be thankful, at least, I survived the year with FAITH, OPTIMISM, STRENGTH, LOVE, and HOPE for a fruitful life (for the coming years).


I am grateful for the people who never left me and supported me all the way. I am thankful for my family, friends. I am thankful that I have this kind of FAITH. If not for my FAITH in God, I will never be this determined to reach my goals, strive harder, and remain standing amidst everything that happened.

Here, I learned:

1. To look at the brighter side of things. OPTIMISM. The sun shines, the sun sets; the rain comes and the rain ends. Fractions with different denominators can still be added as every problem has a solution.

2. To never stop praying. In everything that happened to me, may it be good or bad, I know, I have to be thankful that God is there for all my ups and downs. God makes me feel that His hands will always work. Through my downs, He will lift me up and grant me enough courage to stand up and face another day. Prayer works. Prayer is and will always be the best medicine. It will be your best weapon in every endeavor you have to face.

3. To be appreciative of every single blessing. The simplest blessing comes from God and I know His hands work even in the simplest gesture. Sa mga panahong walang wala ka, you will know how to appreciate and be thankful for that.

4. To be practical. This year, I learned how to manage my expenses more than I ever did when I’m still working. Before anything else, spend on the things you need before spending on the things you want.

On a lighter note, this 2010, I realized that:
1. It’s never too late to love reading. Now, I am into reading books. I have a wishlist and it goes on and on everytime I go to the bookstore to check out titles.

2. I am a self confessed make up lover. No need to elaborate on that.

3. It’s never too late to join the Choir. I am now a member of the oldest choir in our parish. It is not easy as I thought it would be. I just hope I can manage my time between being a singer for God and as the same old individual.

Today’s the last day of the year. In a few hours, we’ll be welcoming another year. Let’s not forget to pray and give thanks for both 2010 and 2011. I want to say Happy New Year Everyone. Thank you for reading and following this blog. Thank you for all the encouragement, good comments, etc. Again, Happy New Year. I hope you will not get tired of reading my every entry. SMILE!

ANEW

This is my first ever post for the new year (of the Metal Tiger). I decided to have some changes in my blog from the lay out to my site's name. Yes, after 5 years, I decided to change the name of my blog, I also put a countdown on the sidebar (as inspired by Jezee), so that I'll always be reminded of my blog's anniversary! :)

Welcoming the year 2010 means having a simple celebration for me and for my family. Dad's not around because he is working overseas, I've been used to it since he's been a seaman for more than two decades already, but, still, I can't help but wish that he's here with us so we can all enjoy the holidays together. Mom cooked spaghetti, bought a chocolate mousse cake, prepared fruit salad and embutido and of course how can I forget the fruits on our dining table?! :); and of course, the most important activity for the new year - going to mass and thank God for all the blessings and for this new year. Acknowledging God in my belief is one way of starting the new year right.

I hope this year will be a brighter one for us. May all our hopes and dreams become reality.
To my fellow flight attendant aspirants, let's always keep our faith on high, we'll soon reach our dreams! :)

Greetings!

The clock is ticking! A few hours more and it will be another year. This is my message from me to the world:




I hope 2010 will be a better year for everyone! :)
LOVE,