purpose

I really am thankful that God has given me lots of friends and is continuing to give me more new friends, despite that fact I am starting to lose some. I strong believe that in every loss, there is always something much more in return.

Besides, if you lose something, there will come something that will make you realize the beauty of the other side or the important of others who you might be ignoring already. Losing something is really a blessing for it is a start of something new and better.

It was last night that a friend of mine suddenly buzzed me in YM. It was so unexpected and I did not expect that we will chat until almost mignight. At fist it was a simple "hi-hello" chat. However, it ended up me opening up to her on my grudges and she, sharing her similar experiences with me. In the end, she whispered a prayer for through YM and it was a very assuring and relieving one! [A really big thanks, Faith! I really, really, really appreciated it! :) ]

It was a very nice feeling to know who your true friends are. You will really feel it. They may be far away but once they know your dilemma, they are really very sincere and caring about it. They are very compassionate. They will really encourage you in every way you can and there are no restrictions on how they comfort you.

I am very proud to say that God loves me! Despite the challenges I have been going through, He keeps on giving chances for me to have communication even with far-away and long lost friends... at least for them to know how I am doing and if I am doing alright. He keeps on giving me new friends whom I could really trust and new friends who can help me relax and forget about my grudges.

AT the same time, God also helps me realize the importance of my existence in this world! It was not only me going through these challenges these past few days, weeks and months. Some other friends, who are also in the similar situation, keeps on opening up to me, asking for an ear and comfort.

With this, I can feel a 2-way, give-and-take concept of friendship. It may not be a give-and-take between two people but a give-in-take relationship with my network of friends whom I care for and who cares for me. God really made each of us in a unique way. Each person has a purpose. Each situation has a purpose. Each move has a purpose. Each challenge has a purpose.

I believe that whatever "super-typhoon" comes into you life, we will be able to surpass it as long as the trust, determination, perseverance and faith is there. God gives us challenges for a purpose---to mold us to be stronger persons! As long as we trust Him to lead us on our way, and as long as we do not do anything against His will, we will surely succeed!

Let's keep in mind that those are only challenges! Challenges has a purpose so we must hold still and hang on. Anyway, He also gives us sources of strength to hold on to. So, never surrender!

-maron-
28november2008
7:34am

trust and friendship

People are really made different from each other. They act differently. They perceive differently. They have different styles, opinions and personalities. They also have different ways on how they look at other people and that makes each person unique.

Meanwhile, I am so happy to know that a friend of mine trusted me so much by sharing her greatest sentiments. We were close friends but we are not used to sharing things that are very sensitive and personal. However, she revealed everything to me lately.

I had mixed emotions about her story. I pitied her but at the same time I felt compassionate about her. I understood her feelings so much for I had the same experience before. What I did to uplift her is to give her lots of encouragement and pieces of advise, based on my experiences.

Actually, this is not a story about her, for I respect her privacy. It's about me, being happy that people see me as a very trustworthy person... something I should be proud about yet something for me to take care of. Indeed, that is one of the strengths I have. I value friendship, that's why I value trust by, at least, keeping sensitive things private.

On the contrary, there are also people who really cannot trust me in anyway I could be. I do not know why? Maybe they are questioning something in me. Or probably they could not accept me as a person. Anyway, I consider those kind of people as my angels...angels that keep on guiding me to the right path, by making me realize that it is not a good direction they are taking.

Nevertheless, I am still happy that I am blessed with so much friends and loved ones whom I continue to be my sources of strength, my listeners and my mentors. I am a pleaser type of person. I tend to please everybody up to the point that it leaves pain in me. Now I understand why there are lots of people around who cares for me... for they will be the ones that I can hold on to during the times that I am drowning and losing my energy to survive...

Thanks to all my trusted friends... thanks for returning the favor of trusting me... It would always be better to trust than stab at the back...

-maron-
26november2008
23:01 hrs

Job Interview Questions

Job interviews are always critical. It is a way of proving how you sell yourself to your employers. It is a living face behind you resumes or curriculum vitae so you must be careful in answering any question the interviewer or panel will ask.

First, you must prepare yourself. Dress up smartly and feel beautiful and handsome. It makes you to be presentable and helps build your self confidence as well. Then be ready to answer their questions.

As a guide, these are some typical questions during a job interview:

• Briefly introduce yourself.
• Why do you consider applying in this company?
• Why are you leaving your company?
• What was your greatest accomplishment?
• Whats is your greatest regret in life?
• How is you relationship with your boss?
• What do you think is the most high-impact decision you have made?
• How do you handle stress?
• If I will bring 3 people you know here---your mother, your youngest kid and your boss, -----and I will ask them who you are, what do you think each will tell about you?
• What do you think is the greatest motivator for you to stay in a company?
• How do you see yourself during the first 30 days of your job, assuming you are already hired in this company?
• What do you think will be the best innovation that this company could launch?
• What do you think is a 'best' product to launch?
• What do you think can you contribute to this company?
• How do you handle a stubborn colleague?
• How do you handle a stubborn boss?

These are just a few of the questions but may help as a guide for you when preparing for the interview. You may take some time and think about the answers the night before your scheduled interview. Make sure you give the best answers that would impress the interviewers. Just be honest, be natural and confident in your answers!

By the way, these job interview questions are basically not for fresh graduates and first-timers!Good luck!

-maron-

22november2008

17:14 hrs

Friends and Challenges

There had been lots of challenges in my life lately. This is the main reason why my friends noticed that I am losing some weight. I hardly sleep. I hardly eat. I need to divide my time, or rather multiply it so that I could do more tasks at a time.

However, there is one thing that I regret doing, i.e. challenging myself! If only I did not challenged myself, I should be at peace right now!

Things are getting better but some are getting worse in some aspects. I cannot take my pride leaving people who did their best to support me, but I cannot live with people who are not sincere as well. This lead to my decision to challenge myself but in return, made my situation worse.

Still, this will not stop me from searching for more challenges. Challenges makes a person experienced. Experiences make a person mature. Maturity leads you to perfection and avoiding mistakes in life. This is just the start of a new journey. A more exciting trip will follow and I must be ready for it!


Being in this kind of journey makes you closer to God, the one One whom you could get strength from. Though the decision to challenge myself came from me, I believe it is in His will for me to do so. I discovered many things. I discovered new friends. I discovered who among old friends are really there for you, not just for good times but for down situations as well. I discovered who among them are sincerely concerned, and who among them are willing to help or at least cheer you up. I discovered true friends who are always willing to listen. True friends who are willing to give time and comfort. True friends who, I consider as angels sent from above, that help me save my day.


God provides everything. If something is lost, He will replace it with something better. If you lost someone, then more people will come and cheer you up. If you lost in a game, you will discover that you had fun. If you were lost, you will discover a better route. We must just keep the faith and we must trust Him that everything is happening as planned.


These are just challenges. It will just build a stronger person me. It will give me more hope. It will open up better opportunities. Whatever my decision will be, for sure I will be guided along the way and learned to be accepted by people I unintentionally hurt. I must not sound selfish for them anf if they really are true friends, they will surely understand...



-maron-
20november2008
23:32 hrs

Reflection on my 31st

Birthdays must be considered special but this year is something different! The kids enjoyed more than me. Probably because I was not able to swim because of my monthly period, the pain on my sprain and I am afraid the sprain will worsen if I swim in the pool. But of course, I enjoyed singing in the karaoke...something that I really enjoy doing! :D Anyway, let's forget about the celebration and focus on this year's reflection.

What happened a year ago? A year ago, I was in Kuhala resort in Rizal, celebrating my birthday working and having a team-building with my colleagues! However, it was indeed a memorable one because, as far as I can recall, it was my only birthday when I cried. Even during my 18th birthday, I cried during the celebration but it was not celebrated on exactly November 16th.

On my 30th year, lots of things had happened.

It was the year when there was a big career change for me. After all the hardships, I was finally upgraded and I was transferred to a totally new category....new team, new products, new process, new plant, new production trial schedules! I needed a big adjustment but thank God I am surviving! And I hope to survive further...

It was also the year when I got to discover new friends---friends that will hopefully be there for me through thick and thin, friends that I do hope will last a lifetime, friends that I shared happy memories with. Better yet to say, discover new friends but keep the old ones! And I am trying to discover more for not all can be kept forever!

This was also the year when I had a palmistry reading and guess what?! Some predictions are really happening, or had happened already after I knew the prediction. Hopefully, those negative predictions could be controlled.

Furthermore, it was this year that I had my farthest travel so far. Travelling for 24 hrs, by air or around 34 hours, including the transit, I came to visit the farthest country I've been so far... Brazil in Latin America. Though the journey was so tiring, I enjoyed the place, I got to experience the culture, and I enjoyed networking with foreign friends! But of course, the learning from the workshop must never be ignored!

It was also at this age when I got a chance to have a communication with my long lost (boy) friend. After more than 10 years, he found me in Friendster but it was good to know that I have learned to forgive and forget... because time heal all wounds. Besides, I have learned to move on, especially now that I have settled with my own family.

Speaking of 'family', it was also this year when we discovered that Kaira also need to wear eyeglasses! Right now, all 4 of us in the family wears eyeglasses, with my husband having it only while doing computer works. And besides, I got to 'fake' mine with my contact lenses! hehe!

Two weeks before my 31st birthday was also a memorable one. My mom almost lost her finger and I almost broke my ankle, two things that happened in 2 separate situations! The bad news is, I am still suffering from it right now. I still have not fully recovered by stance.

These were all I can remember, so far---the highlights of my 30th year on earth.

Going back to the celebration, I think it's part of maturing that you think more about others rather than celebrating and having fun for yourself. Priorities were set at a different level. Things were planned not according to what you want but according to what your loved ones need.

I believe I had considerably great accomplishments this year. I have gone through many trials that made me a more experienced, more matured and better person... making me stronger and ready for bigger challenges in life!

-maron-
17november2008
22:51 hrs

I Have Dreamt About Her---A Tribute

It was Saturday night when I dreamed about her. Who is she? She is Sherlyn Cadapan, my highschool close friend who was known to be abducted by the military in June 26, 2006 in Hagonoy, Bulacan. That was 2 years ago. I, myself, was surprised with that news.

Sherlyn was my schoolmate during the elementary days in Maquiling School, Inc. but we used to know each other by name for there were over 200 students in 1 batch. During highschool, she was one of my close friends in third year at UP Rural Highschool. We were always seatmates for her surname was 'Cadapan' while mine was 'Casiño'. We were were always partners in almost all activities. Many times she opened up to me about her family problems. I gave all my support to her on her career as an athlete. She was always a Palarong Pambansa delegate for track and field.

It was in college when we separated ways. She studied in UP Diliman, while I studied in UP Los Baños. We seldom see each other then. At times, we gather during friend's gimicks. I also seldom see her during November 1 whenever we visit our departed loved ones at the Los Baños Cemetery. It was after graduation when our communication was stopped. The last time I heard about her was when she was working in UP Diliman as a PE teacher but at the same time trying to have some scholarship for further studies. Thus, the June 26, 2006 news really astounded me!

Just around 2 weekends ago, we went home to LB for a weekend visit to my mom's home. My whole family was there and my kids, mom and I were watching television (MMK) in my mom's room. Suddenly, my niece came rushing and knocking to my mom's room door. "Tita Ga! Tita Ga! Your friend Sherlyn is dead! C'mon watch it in the news!"


I was so surprised that I hurriedly grabbed the remote control and changed the channel to GMA. It was almost too late to hear the whole news in Jessica Soho's program. I only saw Tita Linda (Sherlyn's mom) holding a candle and seems to be praying over a certain area in a forest. My sister, my niece's mother, came over and told me that Sherlyn was dead. She was able to watch the whole segment and told me that the found remains were not yet confirmed to be Sherlyn's but it was assumed that it was hers.

I really felt sad about the news. More questions came into my mind. What happened to her? Is the news true? How was the baby? (Because there were news before that she was pregnant when she was abducted). Why was she not given a chance to see her family? STill, I pitied on her and juts hope and pray she'll be given justice!


Meanwhile, it was last Saturday night when I dreamed about her. I woke up Sunday morning recalling that I saw Sherlyn in my dream!

It was actually a multi-scened dream. At first I was with my office colleagues, having some kind of team-building activity. In one of the activities, I needed to walk around and find some of my groupmates. That was when I met Sherlyn. She had a short hair and whe was wearing a black t-shirt with a colorful print on the front side. She smiled at me so I smiled back. I tried to touch and hug her and ask her what happened. I told her that there was a big news that she was dead and I kept on asking her if it's true. I cannot clearly recall if she answered by question but as far as I can recall, she was in a hurry and left me after a very short conversation. We went opposite ways!

I do not know what that dream means! Is she still alive? or is she trying to say something?

I do hope that wherever she is right now, she will be free from pain and has already forgiven selfish people who made her life that way.

Some websites about Sherlyn:

http://www.abc.net.au/foreign/content/2007/s2096113.htm
http://stopthekillings.org/stknpv2/?q=pagpupunyagi-nina-karen-sherlyn
http://www.pinoypress.net/forums/comments.php?DiscussionID=2
http://www.protectionline.org/Sherlyn-Cadapan-Karen-Empeno-risk,6208.html

-maron-

11october2008

13:06 hrs

Fingers and Ankles

It was at around 7:30am of October 31, 2008 when I sent an SMS to my mom informing her that we will go home to Los Banos on either October 31 late night of November 1 early morning for All Saint's Day. I was on a bus going to the office then. It was also only then when I realized that mom was in the emergency room of Los Banos Doctors' Hospital, having her broken right middle finger stitched.

Mom accidentally banged her finger at our backdoor while preparing for the office. Good thing the bone was not affected but lots of blood were lost. She needed to remove the fingernail and had 3 stitches around her middle finger. So pity! :(

That night, were were all prepared to go home to LB. We intentionally plan to go late at night to avoid the heavy traffic jam due to the holiday. When we were set to go leave at around 10pm, the car engine didn't start. We have no choice but to set home early morning of November 1.

I woke up early on the Saturday morning of November 1. At 5:30 am, I was fixing our things we need to bring home. As I got something from the travelling nested on the lower part of the stairs and was set to go to the toilet to take a bath, I thought I was already on the ground floor, when in fact, I still need to take 2 steps down. Having my foot ready for a flat floor but in fact still elevated, I fell down and twisted my ankle. My husband saw me and tried to help me stand up but I can't! I was in severe pain and told him that I'd rather sit on the floor for a few minutes. this time, I felt blood rising to my head. I felt through my lips that I was about to faint. I see the surrounding getting dimmer and dimmer. I felt a bit dizzy until I only see darkness even with my eyes opened. I can feel cold perspiration coming out of my pores so I just lied down on the floor. After a few minutes of trying to get my full consciousness back, I stood up slowly and transferred to the sofa in the living room. I can feel pain on my ankle as I walk towards the living room. I lied there for a few minutes and when I felt ok, I went to the toilet to take a bath.

After taking a bath, I noticed that my right inner ankle was swollen and I was in severe pain. I decided to have an x-ray, thinking there were some dislocated joints but I planned to have it in LB. And so we set home and went straight to the LBDH emergency room right after dropping off my family in the cemetery to spend November 1 with my dad.

When I reached LBDH, there were only few people there, for it was a holiday. Good thing there was 1 general physician there who was able to check me up. However, he just prescribed me to have some ankle support and and some pain relievers. I can't have my x-ray done for there was no radiologist to interpret the results. I just settled for pain relievers and an ankle support.

Even in severe pain, I still tried my best to go to my Dad's grave in the cemetery. It was a very long walk from the cemerety gate to the exact site but I tried to bear the pain. My husband held me as I walked lamely. The 10-minute walk became a 30-minute journey, just to spend the holiday with my dad.

On the second day, my ankle was more swollen and dark spots started to emerge. These were bruises caused by the forceful stretching of the muscles.

Right now, I am stucked here at home. I can't go out to see the doctor. I can't walk to get a public transportation but I neither can't drive to the hospital. SO I had no choice but to wait here at home, do paper works, emails and attend webcast meetings through the intranet. It really was a good thing that I had my Unilever laptop with me so I can deliver my work offsite.

-maron-
03november2008
10:40hrs