till we meet again, Superman!

"But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself" - Philippians 3:20-21

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Last week during one of my super quick breaks, I bumped into +Paolo Gamilla, a trainer in one of the programs I used to look after. Just a few minutes before that, Facebook mobile have just informed me that it's Paolo Doria Gamilla's birthday, hence I greeted him aloud. With his usual sweet smile, he said, "thanks May!"

Paolo is one of the jolliest persons I've met at work. He'd greet everyone with a smile. He has this happy aura that's just contagious. He'd walk with superb confidence on the production floor, and you can just smile and be lighten up. He can just be an instant good vibes for such a busy shift on the floor.

Their program once had this Customer Service Week and as a treat to the CSRs, the program leads, including Paolo, put a place on the floor where everyone can get unlimited brewed coffee and some biscuits to munch on. And I can still remember how joyfully and passionately Paolo refilled the coffee-maker and served everyone, for that entire week. I really appreciate when he called me to just anything I want from that table. And when I just can't stand up from my station because of all the workload, he just put a pile of biscuits on my station instead. I know it may be something ordinary, but the way he does it, with soooo much love, makes it extra special. 

During the company's halloween parties, I would always look forward to what Paolo will be wearing. I mean, he really prepares for it, and he's really good at it. To prove that, he has bagged the best costume award for a few years in a row. 

pretty scary, right?

I didn't have that chance to be really close with him. But my few fond memories of him had really touched me. He's just genuine and sweet. And he loves Superman! :) 

So, five days after I greeted him on his birthday, I learned that he passed away. He had a heart attack after their trekking at Mt Gulugod Baboy in Anilao, Batangas. That getaway was supposedly a post-birthday celebration for him. I'm still having goosebumps when I browse through the last pictures that he posted on Facebook. They were as if premonitions. Here was the last one.

Pao's caption on Facebook: "I could almost see it."

He may be gone too soon, at the time we all have least expected. But I guess that's how life is. What's important is, he has lived a meaningful life. I can prove this with how his friends are now taking care of all the wake and interment stuffs. Pao lives alone and his siblings and relatives are all in the US/province, and so everything is being taken care by his friends. True love. 


I know he is a big lost to everyone. He's not just a well-respected trainer, but also a good friend and colleague. And I know he is now in a good place. A wonderful place we are all looking forward to. He just went ahead of us. 

'Till I see you again, Paooeey!

it's payback time

When I was younger and was still active in YFC, I was soooo blessed with opportunities to attend the yearly ILC, or International Leaders' Conference. I have religiously attended the conference from 2002-2009, sometimes I have really saved my allowance from school just to have registration fee of P1000.00. I was also blessed with my beloved couple coordinators (our advisers) who sponsored my "reg" just to attend. And one of the best ILCs I have attended was in 2006 which was held in Davao, which my papa paid all my airfare. :)


I can go and on with countless memories on how YFC has truly colored my life, and that the ILC experiences will always be memorable to me. And this year, on it's 20th, ILC is happening here in Manila on April 5-7, and together with my YFC sisses, I am attending as a delegate. weeee.


And since we have been soooo blessed by Papa God with our current jobs, my liveloud buddies have agreed on sending 1 more youth each to the conference. weeee! I'm excited for this youth I will be bringing to have that Jesus experience, that's priceless. That's Amazing. I'm excited to be in the mountaintop of glory once again. I'm excited to be a kid again.


I just hope my leave gets approved, then. It will be. I claim and believe. :)


#seetheSONriseinManila!

Dalaga Resolutions

It's January, the time when most people are still reflecting on their New Year's Resolution. I'm really not a fan of New Year's resolution. I never even had a serious one. Ever. But 2013 is something I've really looked forward to. Most likely because I know this year's gonna be a turning point in my life. This should be. It's about time to be a little more serious, yet still seriously enjoy my being Miss Pelagio. It's time to seriously work on my future, physically, financially, emotionally, before I get hitched next year.

So anyway, here are my Dalaga Resolutions:

1. Be healthy. Lose some weight, maybe. I want to try Zumba, or a few weekly workouts. But I guess it's more of eating the right food at the right amount. I know it's easier said than done. But I got to always look at the mirror to keep me motivated. hihi. :)
2. Make-up lessons. It's really not something of me. If you knew me 10 years ago, haha, I was really not a girly-girly type. But more than vanity, it's still good to know the basics, not only for myself, but for my guy. And I know I'd save some bucks, too, someday. Or if Lloyd and his officemate Ray continue their pre-nup shoots, I may be of help to them, too. :) 
3. Attend the 20th YFC ILC. This year's conference is gonna happen in Manila, and together with my YFC sissies, I will register and be a delegate! woohooo! Huling hirit! 
4. Learn to cook a few more dishes. I gotta do better than my scrambled egg and fried fish. hihi. More than just cooking, I want to learn preparing healthier dishes. Lloyd's mom always reminds me to take care of her beloved son, especially against high blood and too much sugar. That's gonna be one tough mission, but I sure am up to it. 
5. Get a driver's license, and of course learn how to drive. And I'm getting one tomorrow. 
6. Manage some extra source of income. I know I've said it on one of my first few blogs, and told my parents about my plans a couple of times but have failed, but I really have to work on it now. I really should do this especially for mama and papa. 
7. Bond more with my YFC and SFC friends. And I hope to be able to serve more in SFC gatherings this year.  
8. Career twist. I must look for a job that doesn't require me to work on graveyard shift and yet still earn enough. More importantly, I hope to really enjoy holidays, too. 
9. Travel. I want to go somewhere this year. Amidst the saving task that I should prioritize, I know I deserve to enjoy life at a different place once in a while, too, right? How about some Anawangin escapade? Or perhaps visit our ancestral home in Bohol? :)
10. Be a lovelier, happier and healthier me, inside and out. :) I realized last night during my shift, that if there's one thing missing in me, that is, a little more dash of positivity. I'm a happy person, but I still got to work on letting that joy and happiness shine more through me. Hence, I hope to share joy with everyone I am with. weeee. c")

To share with you my joy, I'd also want to share with you the W-day preparations I have already started working on. Sooo, I've been drooling on these two color themes for the special day next year. Can you help me pick which is better? 

blue and yellow for a cool and bubbly feel. source: blendthelightblog.com

simply because i love orange. source: weddingpaperdivas.com

Embracing the Year of Faith

2012 truly has been a Year of Grace. During the New Year Mass, all I prayed was, thank You Papa God for all Your grace. Undeserved grace, that is. And earlier at the first Sunday of 2013 mass, the kids ministry, or The Angels, sang and danced the theme song for the Year of Faith: Ang Ating Pananampalataya.

I know that just like the previous years, there will always be a lotsa challenges waiting for us. We will be prayerful and seek the Lord for help and guidance. We will be putting everything under the Lord's care. That's faith. But as we put our faith in our Lord, may we also show our faith through our actions. Let us uphold and freely express our faith in all means possible.  Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam. May God be glorified in anything, everything we do.

counting my blessings, the kikay way!

As the new year revealed itself to us, I am just excited to start all over again with my blessing list. I know blessings and graces are unlimited, but I'd always love to overwhelm myself with counting 'em all. And for me to start on that, the Lord again blessed me with a generous giver of a new, super kikay, fun journal for 2013. and the giver is no other than my boss, OM Melissa. :D

She's always been a blessing to me. She's not just a bossers to us, but she is more of a mother, with her tender, loving care. I find it sweet when she asks me, "Maybs, I'm nervous. pag-pray mo naman kami, alam kong malakas ka kay Lord." :) And for the first work day of 2013, she blessed me with this My Little Pink Book. :D It brought me back to high school days, with all the slumbook questions and space where I can write and doodle freely. I can also start writing my 2013 goals and plans, and as she wrote on the gift tag, I can use this as I plan for my wedding. **excitement!** :D :D :D

So this will be the buddy of Gracee's datebook (the purple one above). Grabe lang! All I planned was to have my handy steno notebook (free from the company's supplies) to write my notes, since I can't afford to get myself a Starbucks planner, or even have a time to scout for planners. I actually already had a free planner from Max's, which I got when we dined on Lyeo's birthday. But then, I am still blessed with these kikay stuffs from the ladies very dear to me. So, thank you Gracee, and thank you Bossers. =D May we all have a blessed year ahead!