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!

Picnic

I was reluctant to join the CFC retreat cum teambldg activity this weekend. But it was worth it! On the drive back, I got to ask myself, "Bakit sa dinami-dami ng countries sa Cambodia pa Lord? Then it came to me that I wouldn't have decided to resign from USC had I not gone to that retreat. Yes, I had thoughts of resigning from USC before but never really got the courage to do it!

Gipapahawa na ko sa ako gipuy-an, one week na lang daw ako stay. Pls help me find a new place to stay Lord. Then si Ate Jing said naa kuno koy interview sa Western International School in Siem Reap tomorrow. I thought mao na ni hinatag sa Ginoo. But then, part-time ra man diay ilang job opening as English teacher. Di ko modayon. The Academic Head is Ms Arlene Beguerras, also a Filipina. We talked, I was happy to meet her. She told me to keep in touch. I'm still thankful for everything Lord. Amen!

Teacher for Life

I guess it is in me to be a teacher for life. I realized that I first became a teacher in elementary, when I was asked to mentor a classmate, a distant cousin, to improve his reading skills. We'd have reading sessions during lunch break. I did that for a time and later on, his reading skills greatly improved! My fond memories of him include the poem, "School days, school days, always make me feel gay..." Way to go, Heide!

Chance

To live is to take a chance, why didn't I ever know that?

Got to Believe in Magic

Pity those who wait
Trusted love to fate
Finding out too late
That they've lost it
Never letting go
They will never know
The ways of love

Did I tell someone, 'Someday mahahanap mo rin ung magic my friend'? Haha!

My Cambodian Sojourn

I didn't realize that I only came to Cambodia because I needed refuge from the tough times I was having in Sg. Now that I'm thinking to come back to Sing and really finish things off, because I have been told here that I'm an 'abortionist', my university in Phils is giving me a tough time. Since Holy Week pa gud ni. Ate Jing said maybe I am not meant to leave USC. I dunno, I am not happy there anymore. Anyway, yah, I keep the faith. God bless all our plans. May we be pleasing to Him always.

My good friend, Joy said find a good-paying job na lang if u don't intend to further ur career as an academic/researcher. I am now living the life of an OFW. Siguro this is the change that I had always wanted. I hold on.

Chase

I once read in astrology that people with my sign, Sagittarius, tend to think of love as a chase. Ika nga ni Jennifer Connelly in "Blood Diamond", "I'm used to being chased but what the heck?" when she gave her numbers to Danny Archer (Leonardo DiCaprio). I think I am also like that. We'll see :-)

Change...

My problem is that I equate USC w/ the academe. Why not? I have been w/ USC all my life and now I want it to change? Well, as a good friend once said, "If you really want it, it will be worth it" That's where I am right now, and I ask God for guidance. Cause I had wanted to leave USC since 2005, it was just not possible then b/c of my remaining return service. Now it is my loyalty that's stopping me --I'm a VERY loyal person and I take my loyalties to heart. But there has to be pain so that things would end right? I pray for the best, I keep the faith.

It is time for change in my life! Gikapoy na ko ginamit sa akong utok, magtrabaho sa pud ko lain. But I'd have to continue trusting God thru and thru. "For anyone who trusts God will not be put to shame". Amen!

I haven't found a job in Cambodia yet, but we'll never know where I'd be led tomorrow. Or the day after or whenever!

The Lord said, "Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid". Exactly! Diyos sya, He's ominiscient, omnipotent, etc. I hold on.

I Will Be in Cambodia

I have decided to go to Cambodia. My sister is there, I'll join her.

I arrived here on 8th Feb, in the evening. I started looking for jobs just this Monday, 11 Feb. I keep the faith!

Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! Love is indeed the reason why we're all alive. Love is life!

Told my old Dutch friend that I am here. Adventurous daw ko. Well, kagamay pa sa ako naadto countries diri SE Asia! I had asked him for postcards of Cambodia and Vietnam when he came here on a holiday in 2004. And indeed, he sent me one of the Angkor Wat and in Halong Bay, Vietnam. He has been to Laos too, he and his friends went there as a sidetrip when he was holidaying in Thailand in 1999. God bless you, man!

Where is Home?

Very recently my chairman told me to "knock em dead and come home" kay on leave ra lagi daw ko from USC. I told him that I don't think I know now where my home is. He said, "Home is where the heart is. Bring the heart(s) to USC and you'll be home". I dunno..

I talked about this w/ Stephanie Coyiuto of PhilStar before. I told her home doesn't preclude a place, it is a feeling. She also had to confront this matter when in Greece.

I love the Netherlands and I have not been back. My God, it is at least 12 long hours from Singapore! I left it in 2001 and I have not been able to visit. Maybe I should think of going back. It was my 2nd home. We'll see.

Macedonia

I have this friend from Macedonia, a lawyer. Met him thru mIRC in October 97. He works at the Council of Europe office in Skopje, the capital of Macedonia. Just recently he sent email to keep in touch again. Wow, where did that come from? The last time I heard from him was in May 04 still, even before I left for Sing. Anyway, he said some of his friends went to Philippines and he was getting really nice feedback. In return I told him that indeed my country is beautiful and that he should come sometime in future. Let's pray for that to happen. All faith! :-)

Che

I received email from Jun Borras, the acknowledged leader of ISS Pinoys when I was there today. He's now w/ SMU in Canada.

Good news. He said Cheryll Soriano, batch next to us in ISS will be studying PhD in NUS starting this January. I'm happy coz this would mean I would have another friend in campus. I alrdy emailed her. Hope to see her soon.

Actually I picked her up from Changi Airport. Then I went with her to Bukit Batok to check out a possible place to stay. She's there now. She lives very near the MRT station but she said she's found a bus to NUS.

I don't always see her around campus but I'm happy she's here. I really need a friend. People from her dept are also doing a research in Bohol, they asked me for contacts. Her chair, Millie Rivera even gave each of us a coin purse from Puerto Rico, really cute.

We're quite busy these days. But we alrdy agreed to have lunch sometime. God bless us always!

New Year

Today is a good year for me according to my astrological chart. I was born in the year of the Rabbit. I hope so, but I am going to work for it! Good luck to us all in the new year.