Amazing 2013, Welcome 2014! Praise the Lord

"Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations." (Psalm 100:1-5, NIV)

There are many things to thank God for this 2013. I could say that God is indeed good all the time, despite all the trials, sufferings, and lack I experienced last year. I decided to count my blessings and triumphs instead of being frustrated with the things that did not materialize or plans unfulfilled last year. With a grateful heart, I thank God for 2013.

January 2013, I was awarded by Tagnawa Media Awards (University of Pangasinan, Dagupan City) as the Best Male TV Field Reporter. It was the second award I received after Dap-ay Awards in Baguio City had given me the same recognition for 2012. Such recognitions inspire me to work even harder, always aiming for integrity and excellence, all for God’s glory.

Best Male TV Field Reporter,
2nd Tagnawa Media Awards, Lingayen, Pangasinan

First quarter of 2013 was also filled with God’s grace and strength. I was able to pursue my graduate studies in language and literature, and am now in the serious and tedious process of writing my research proposal, and hopefully, the research itself. I pray that I will be able to complete the graduate program this 2014.

I prayed for a relationship and God granted my prayers in May. My girlfriend Ida becomes my best answered prayer for 2013. I hope and pray that our relationship will grow, as we continue to seek God’s will for us. We covet your prayers.

:) Mt. Pulag, Benguet, Philippines

I also thanked God for my parents’ vacation in Boracay for their wedding anniversary last year. I served as their tour guideJ. I look forward to be travelling with them every year, so I pray for more provisions and favor.

The Lord never fails to give strength, protection and favor in my work. With all the different disaster and calamity coverage, crimes, politics, and human interest stories I covered last year, I believe the Lord saw me through. PTL!

Last year was also a challenging year for volunteer work and ministry. I thanked God for every opportunity that I was able to minister to students. I thanked God for the time we spent in prayer, bible study and fellowship. I also thanked God for my support group in the church. I pray that I will be more passionate in the ministry, loving “them” as Jesus loves me so much that He died for my sins.

I prayed for promotion last year, but the Lord granted me position and favor. I thanked God that He knows what’s best for me, and there will always be time for learning, patience and reflection. I saw it as a test of patience and humility. I thank God because I believe he will grant my heart’s desire.

Baguio Flower Festival/Panagbenga 2013 hosts 

Primera Balita 

Before 2013 had ended, I grabbed the opportunity for online learning offered by an international media training provider in Netherlands. For more than six weeks, I have learned new things that I could use in my work. I am praying for more exciting and challenging learning opportunities abroad this 2014.

I thank God for my family, my mentors, my friends, workmates and even the strangers I met along the way. These were the people I value and treasure so much. They are significant people contributory to my journey towards maturity, discipline and character. I speak blessings for all of them.

With a grateful heart and faith, 2014 is definitely the Year of the Lord. †

  

Laconic Rest

After my Saturday class, I was up to go home in Pangasinan to see my family. But I seemed to be chasing after time since it’s almost 6:30pm, and I should be in Dagupan on or before 8pm, the last trip for me to reach home. By then, I was experientially calculating the time if I could beat the last trip, or else, I would pay the tricycle ride with a fare higher than my fare from Baguio to Dagupan, plus the nuisances of wandering at night in a tranquil, imperturbable ambience of my beloved province. (Those who hail from the provinces can attest that the night mode differs in urban cities).

I was also thinking of my laundry works, the church service, the short time that I would be spending when I get home, etcetera, but I was reminded that it’s almost a month now since I saw my family. And that urge to see them made me a risk taker once again. Stop explaining and making sense of everything, I said to myself. Don’t let circumstances, even the rain, hinder me to do things I want and love to do, I thought.

When it’s time for the van to move, I just uttered a short prayer of asking God His traveling mercies. And I took a nap, expecting that I would be asleep right away, so that I wouldn’t mind the passing time. And the Lord provided the last bus, with more empty seats waiting to be filled up. Praise the Lord! I reached home by 9:30pm, awaking my mother to her surprise that I was home (I didn’t text them by the way that I would go home:)), and we began chit-chatting tersely. Then the night covered the night…hehehe

Sunday was a rest day indeed. My time with my family was a refreshing break from my ever-loaded routine in Baguio. Though I stayed only one night and 12 hours at home, I appreciate the ‘breathing’ the Lord gave that time. I have also put myself in contemplation whether by next year, I would move on serving and working here in the Urduja land. To wait is the answer, I believe.

I traveled back to Baguio late Sunday night. I was welcomed both by the misty bliss of Baguio and my board mates having their drinking spree. They’re having an interesting discourse over the statement: “In every answer, there’s a question, and vice-versa.” I thought before sleeping ahead, “at least, they’re talking philosophically and in quest of truth and answers.” †