Happy with my new B-I-B-L-E!!

Yeheeey!! I finally got the chance to buy a new Bible. I was really having a difficult time in choosing which translation to buy but I discovered that you can search so many verses with different translations nowadays. Thanks to biblegateway.com; I opted to buy the NIV because the ESV Bible is really way out of budget and huge to carry every Sunday. And since I'm quite drawn to gray/silver stuff, I'm so glad that they have it on this color. Thank you Lord for the blessings. Iba Ka talaga Lord. Overflow. :)

"For Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." Psalms 119:105

People of the Year

God didn’t fail me that when I said 2010 will be a year that I will look forward to. He didn’t let me down and for that I will always be thankful. There are so many things that happened that I just really thank God for. I’m overwhelmed by His loving kindness and faithfulness. That’s why for my very first post for 2011, I’ve decided to make my own version of Time magazine’s People of the Year. People that I know He used for me to get through 2010 just like the way He planned it.

We got this whole idea from Bianca G. but I never got the chance to make one. Let’s just say that now is the perfect time to do it. I am blessed to have encountered and know these people and how they influenced and inspired me. Note that these people are far from perfect, human, capable of making mistakes; yet in spite of those, still managed to give great effect not only me, but to others as well.

April Gem Evangelista

I call her Apps, Auntie Apps, Appachengcheng, Madam, Mother, Mother earth… whatever suits my mood actually and she doesn’t mind. I guess she does but she keeps it to herself. Hehehe. I’ve only known her for a year but she proved to me that she is the kind of friend that won’t let you down. When I was at my lowest point, she was the one who kept checking, who gave me simple yet meaningful advices, always tagging me along even if it’s just a quick dinner at RP Galleria or a sweaty badminton game. You can really depend on her. Thank you for being there for me madam, and now I think it’s the best time for us to do the same for you.

Janice and Sonia

They are the singing sensations of Youtube. I’m not really acquainted with them, and I saw them on Youtube ages ago. We haven’t personally met but they inspire me to introduce Jesus to other people through music. You can see how much talent God has blessed them, and they are putting it to good use. Plus, lagi silang maganda diba?! Hahaha! Nakakainspire lang! hehehe! I guess it’s really true. Once you’ve received the peace that comes from God, it will really reflect on the outside. Keep it up girls.

Ma’am Weng

I’ve been with this person for more than a year now. And all I can say is that I really thank God that I got the chance to work with her. She’s more than just a co-worker, an officemate, she’s my "nanay-nanayan" at the office. I can still remember it vividly, how tears fell on her eyes when she saw me crying one time. It’s quite mala-soap opera. Hindi na ako umabot sa CR nun para umiyak ng bongga. She just hugged me, and I felt like I was hugging my mom. She knows what I went through that she was quite protective of me. Nanay na nanay lang talaga ang drama. Maybe that’s the reason why I really look up to her like that. I feel like I can tell her so much of anything. I don’t know how I would do without you at the office Ma’am Weng. You’re the best.

Vilma Santos

I’m blessed with so many surrogate moms that I have another mother figure on our church. Tita Vilma or Tita V. as we call her; is our advisor of our WLT (Worship Leading Team). She is like your own personal barkada. She’s cool but knows when to get serious. She’s generous. She’s caring. She’s sweet. She's super-energetic worship leader. She treats each members of the team as if he or she is her own child. She’s very passionate in sharing the Word of God. She’s very good with business too. I guess that’s where my friend Christie got her entrepreneurial skills. Whenever I talk with Tita V, it makes sense, and I can see how much she has changed for every trial that comes her way. I amazed how she trusts God completely. Never backing down because she knows how big her God is.

Patty Laurel

I’m her blog-follower for how many years and when I first saw this People-of-the-Year concept. I know she would be included in this list. If you would read her blog, maybe you could relate to me when I say that I want to be like her. Patty inspires me to be myself. Because when I read her blog, her personality really shines. She’s effortlessly funny and effortlessly beautiful. The best part is she gets to spend lots of time with kids. Imagine a great opportunity to teach kids about Jesus and instill them something that they would carry and remember when they grow up. Another thing that inspires me the most is her travel experiences. Her practicality amazes me. I would never forget a line from one of her posts. “Instead of spending your time and money on things, spend it on experiences.” She unconsciously taught me to be practical right then and there. One of the things I’m thankful for. That's her challenging Mount Everest by the way. hehe!

April Joy Reperuga

I call her Buddy Joy. Hehe. And surprisingly, she calls me buddy too. It’s such a revelation to see how this lady matured and bloomed. She doesn’t even have a clue how she’s inspiring me in her own little way. I’m inspired on how she accomplishes things. She’s never mediocre. She gives her best and even if no one helps her, she doesn’t complain. She does her own thing and she does it gracefully. She’s very generous too. She’s a proof that God blesses those who give. She knows what she wants and stands by it. Gusto niya mag-drive before and now she’s doing it. She wanted to go out of town and she did. She’s never complacent and indecisive. Those are the qualities that I wished would have rubbed off on me. Thank you buddy, not just for giving me and the group treats and doing those work for the church, but for inspiring me more than so many ways you can imagine. Wishing you lalalalalove this year. Hehehe! Mwah!

Pastor Dennis and Miss Thammie Sy

I’m overwhelmed by the generosity of this couple. They never fail to give something that must be shared. They don’t try to conceal the knowledge that they have but instead they blog it. They share it for other people’s benefit. They encourage people in living by faith. Their relationship is something that you would want to have in the near future. Pastor Dennis, the rose among the thorns. hahaha! Being the only man who made on this list, I am very overwhelmed of his passion and his boldness to share the gospel. I am very thankful to God that even through his blogs and podcasts, I’m growing more, spiritually. I could feel his joy in what he’s doing. I am amazed how much he loves and honors his wife and values family. Miss Thammie, as Pastor Dennis described, have the qualities of a Proverbs 31 woman. When I read her blog and how her husband respects her made me a little envious and wishful that if ever I’m going to be mom and a wife someday, I would want to my husband and kids to say the same things to me. I would like to be still as pretty like her. I can still remember one time I told my mom “Ma, ayoko maging losyang.” Hahahaha! Natatawa ako sa mga statements ko. But for real, she inspires me because she knows her priorities and without a doubt she’s a good home maker. I’m just so blessed with both of them and very thankful on how God is really using them in church, in the web, in their families.

So there goes my list. Feel free to comment and create one of your own. God bless and cheers for a year full of love, blessing and happiness. Truly God is good all the time.

(c) photos: pattylaurel.blogspot.com; dennissy.com; google.com; facebook.com