Return to Cebu

Just now my good friend and former colleague, Lorna said she would be back in USC this 1st sem pohon. Iya tiwason iya residence requirement of one year sa Pinas aron kabalik sya US nga walay hassle. All the best, my dear. I'm really happy for you. Hehe, niadto ra sya Dubai aron manganak!

This morning it all came to me. The reason why I had wanted to finish my program in NUS is the possibility of applying for permanent residence upon finishing my program. But I asked myself, "Why would I want to become permanent resident in a country where I don't even have relatives?" So I knew it is not for me anymore.

I may have to try a new job here in PP. I dunno, I have come to feel quite at home here. I know what I have to pay for --my Philam nga mahuman by 2010 pohon, my Manulife nga dugay2 pa human, Palm Heights next year pohon, my balance from NUS, and Lorna and Biboy's education. As long as I'm at peace with the outcome of things, I know I am in the right path. Pls show me thru and thru Lord. All praise and glory be to you!

It's Over

Finally I know that my desire to finish in NUS has come to an end. Di na man gud sya worth it. I think I have alrdy hurt too many people in wanting to finish my program there. It's enough. I pray it is not yet too late.

Twice I have encountered this verse from Jeremiah this week: For I alone know the plans I have for you; plans to make you prosper and not to bring you ruin. Plans to give you a future full of hope [or a future you hope for] (Jer 29:11). It must be true, the Lord wants me to start anew here in Cambodia. It's all in His hands. I just keep the faith.

Right Time?

I am still able to laugh at amusing things. Like this morning, when I came for interview at Art + Cafe in St 108. The owner asked me if I had a family, my own family back in the Philippines. I said no, then added it with 'strange'. And he said really, why is that? Reminds me of the taxi driver who chauffeured me from UP-Dil to the domestic airport in 2003. He had asked me if I was alrdy married and why not. I replied w/ "Cguro hindi pa po tama ang panahon". He retorted, "E kelan ang tamang panahon?" I really do not know. I'm still chicken about it.

Bernadette Sembrano alrdy got married last 12 June 2008. She said she's waited 32 yrs for it and she said he (her husband, Emilio Aguinaldo IV, nicknamed Orange) is worth it. I know I would have to wait some more. Pero tan-awon na lang pud ni. Hehe..

Dating and Marriage

Since 2004 pa I had thoughts of getting married. I met Ferolini then, at the watershed research. But he told me to find my kalevel daw mao huna2 ko, he's not worth it. He was the one who went to Panglao w/ that reporter girl during kalag2. Then in December he said she's alrdy taken. Okoy sya! Now he is an attorney and we are friends in Friendster and also sa YM. But I know we now belong to diff. worlds. Good luck to us, Atty!

Then I had chats w/ Jonathan. He even called me on Christmas Eve 2006. Met him when I came back to Sg. He said he's alrdy a PR there, andun na buhay nya.

My former flatmates Deepti and Preeti are getting married soon. I wished them all the best and I would really like to attend their weddings pohon in India.

Now I am not in Singapore anymore, I am here in Cambodia. And I have a very nice group here where I could grow spiritually, which is what I have been looking for all this time. (Makatambok lng b/c nindut man pagkaon every gathering). I am also meeting really nice friends, mga Pinoy sad. I might even meet someone here to marry! Anyway, I keep the faith. It's all in God's hands.

Sihanoukville

We went for an outing to resort town Sihanoukville, formerly Kampong Som for the Khmer New Year break. Lingaw kaau. It had its own share of hitches and intrigues but overall we had a very nice time. Though we had to drive for at least four hours para lang makakita ug beach, nalingaw ra man gihapon mi.

Dreams

I always have dreams that I think are omens/signs of events to come. I used to check papers back at USC only to realize that I alrdy saw this scene in a dream. Sometimes I dread being able to dream of my own death! Haha, too optimistic!

I had a very amusing dream that really left a mark w/ me. I was in class daw when I had a visitor. Nagdala pa kuno'g buwak. The guy's face was not clear to me though. I thought it was in USC, at AS bldg kay mao may positioning of the class. But now I think that it could be somewhere else. I'm quite excited to see that dream materialize. Hehe... :-)

Na'pa lain dream that made me think. It's about seeing someone in church, ig ka peace w/ you part, in Tubigon. I had dreamed that it was Harry then I thought maybe it was someone else. Maybe it was someone else indeed. Let's see what happens next...

Edge

Andrew Chua of CFC once said during the retreat that God is not safe, that is, He puts us on the edge. That is exactly what I'm going thru right now. Because I was disobedient, I declined the job in Siem Reap which I asked Him from. I'm so, so stupid! A person of less faith! Please forgive me Lord and give me another chance.

I ask myself, "Bakit ako nakikipagsapalaran dito sa Cambodia?"I have a very nice job in the university back home. But then, I am not happy with it anymore, that's why. I don't relish feeling disappointed again and again after receiving my teaching load every semester. There has to be something better than that experience right?

I just might end up teaching English here. We'll see how things would unfold. I always ask God for signs. And this time I'd really follow His direction. I hold on!

Siem Reap, Cambodia

I came to Siem Reap, the Angkor Wat town, on 1 April 2008 for a job interview at Western International School. They were looking for English teachers. Part-time ra may ilang available diay.

Siem Reap, as I was told is about 300 kms from Phnom Penh. It was a gruelling 6hr-journey by bus, w/ stops in between. Siem Reap is nice, mora ra syag Pinas jud. I can imagine myself staying here for long. But not for now, maybe in future. Isa pa, I don't like their attitude of milking money out of tourists. When will they ever learn? Filipinos are also like that, unfortunately. Tot straks!