A boost of inspiration

God Wants Your Household Saved - Joseph Prince

Acts 16:31
31So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

When God got you saved, He didn’t just have you in mind. He had your whole family in mind. That is why His Word says, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household.” Now, this does not mean that once you believe in Jesus, your family members are automatically saved. What it means is that you have opened a big door for God to move into your family’s life and to touch every member of your family!

So don’t worry about your unsaved parents or grandparents. God knows how to reach out to them. A relative of mine spoke only Cantonese, and could not go to church because she was very old and her legs were weak. But Jesus appeared to her in a vision and spoke to her in perfect Cantonese! She had never encountered Jesus, but knew that it was Him and understood what He said to her. After that, those who visited and spoke with her were amazed by her knowledge of Jesus.

Even up to the very last moment, God will reach out to your unsaved family members. This happened to my late maternal grandfather who used to make fun of me being a Christian. On his deathbed, he was gasping for air and in great discomfort. He couldn’t die peacefully. My mother, who was with him, told him, “Dad, just say, ‘God, forgive me.’ Call on Jesus.” My grandfather remained hardened and in great pain. But at the very last moment, he cried out, “Jesus, forgive me!”

You see, my grandfather had no time to pray the sinner’s prayer. But God says that “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved”. (Acts 2:21) Jesus will find every excuse to save a person. My mother saw the peace of God come upon my grandfather’s face after he had called out to Jesus, and he passed away peacefully.

My friend, God’s desire is for your entire household to be saved. Right now, your family may be giving you a hard time, but because you are a Christian, a big door has been opened for your Daddy God in heaven to touch them!

3am thought

Who can find a virtuous and capable wife? She is more precious than rubies. -Proverbs 31:10

Dinagyang Sunday at Ayanna Garden Restaurant

While what felt like the whole country was celebrating Dinagyang in the city, we opted for a more mellow ambiance.




Whay could be better than this? Under a cool shade sipping icy cold drinks, hearing the leaves rustling above.




This four seasons iced tea is dedicated to all the revelers sweating their hearts out.




Salmon Adobo Ayanna style! Love the aligue sauce with a little punch. Would recommend the tinapa rice with this one!



BBQ Pork braised on honey. Well worth the wait! Juicy, fat melts in your mouth. Insanely tender! The in-laws were spared the denture agony!



The grilled stuffed squid was also a very pleasant surprise. Fr from the rubber band texture we all dread. Very tender and filled with flavor! Loved it!





The organic chicken tinola was very mild and clean to the palate. Just right. Big serving though. 1 order could cover 4 people.

We are so blessed to have places like these so nearby. Planning a swimming trip sometime soon with Dani. My flabs will be spared the embarassment.

Sharetea loving!

Unfortunately, God made me lactose intolerant so too much milk makes a very rumbling tummy in my case. After that its not a pretty picture.

So with the new milk tea crazes happening all over the city and the country, I basically stuck with the basic verieties.

I also love Moonleaf. Especially their lychee with nata or aloe vera flavors and peach green tea both with 50% sugar.

Sharetea took the city by storm. Fun streamers all over. Extra thrilled to see they had more non-milk varieties.

As of the moment, I am in love with their ice blended strawberry and lychee nata. Strawberry and lychee together... Its like someone was reading my mind! 50% sugar, as always. This was my favorite.

The aloha tea was a bit funky. Whole watermelon seeds. Not the kind of crunch I prefer. But the tea itself was pretty good. Just distracted by the crunch.

Tonight we tried the ice blended cocoa with pudding and ice cream, as suggested by my cousin Pia. I was wary to try thinking it would be sickeningly sweet, rich and thick. I was so wrong! You taste the cocoa without the sickeningly sweet brown cow kind of vibe. The pudding was like silk tofu in texture. Ice cream was not over powering. It was pretty good.

The chicken! Don't get me started on the chicken! Yummy! Moist on the inside, crunchy and sinful on the outside. We tried the spicy flavor. Looking forward to trying the plum and wasabi flavors. The spice worked well with the drinks.

I'm happy!

A pinch of homesickness

Lately my tastebuds have been acting up. Its been craving the old familiar tastes of home. Don't get me wrong. The food here is much more diverse and the flavors are really beyond expectations. But even the simple laswa soup made by my Lola or Josephine keeps popping in my head.

So started to make my simple favorite staples from home. From the lowly beef steak to chicken pochero. I dont have to ask. Whenever I come home, Josephine makes chicken pochero and/or adobo green beans.








Simple but very comforting. My in-laws were curious about my food. But this is where Spain meets China, I guess! Haha! Wait 'til they try Lola's chilli con carne recipe.

I still laugh at the memory of my father in law looking at the turkey, stuffings and cranberry my Lola sent one Christmas season. He asked, "Ano ni?" He was referring to the cranberry. Uhhhh... "Daw atchara, Pa. Para sa turkey." Hahaha! It was so foreign to them! Like an alien dropped on our dinner table.

Still introducing them to the wonderful world if cooking not from a sachet. Like spaghetti. They were fascinated my meat and sauce ratio were similar. Thats bolognese to be exact. I just find it so entertaining! :-D They are so used to the Clara Ole or Del Monte Pasta sauces.

So onto the next dish! May it be ever so simple, theres no place like home. *clicking my heels* er... Flip flops.

Les Miserables

Special thanks to the Santa Maria Parish for hosting the special screening of Les Mis!

Its a classic, timeless and with a cast like this, stellar performance! Hats off to everyone!

You could feel the rawness and the emotion. The actors outdid themselves. An aunt of mine who saw it in Broadway actually preferred the movie. Every tear, facial expression, intensity could be appreciated. Lovely!

A must watch!

Oh! And Samantha Barks not only has a fantastic voice but a killer waistline! Ugh! Pass the bbq sauce!

Watch what you say/post

Proverbs 12:6
The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,
but the speech of the upright rescues them.

1 Timothy 4:12
Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.

Titus 2:6-8
Similarly, encourage the young men to be self- controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.

The world is fast becoming smaller in scope and sometimes in mind. People have less sense and quicker tongues.

As believers we should be above such nonesense and must be controlled and understanding. It is too easy to find fault when people purposefully look for it. So best to be in a light wherein it is more difficult for people to believe. The best example that comes to mind is Daniel.

Times like these, the Word really should be our guide and strength. Strength not to go on the attack, but strength to look away and take the peaceful way out.

I wish I learned this lesson earlier in my life. But I'm glad I know it now.

Butter toasty goodness

Simple, affordable, crunchy, buttery goodness! Simple joys! This and a cup of coffee and I'm good to go!

Honesty & truth

Help me, dear Lord, to be honest and true
In all that I say and all that I do;
Give me the courage to do what is right
To bring to the world a glimpse of Your light. —Fasick

Another proud moment

Chanced upon this on today's edition of Panay News. Virgo is one of our prioneer students and an original member of the Hercor Jaguars basketball team.

Moments like these make me smile. Its so worth it when one of our kids come into their own and shine.

Good job, Virgo. I hope I get to say this to him personally one day.

Starting it right

Okay, I am officially a cry baby when it comes to my baby. At a year and a half she went to her first Sunday school class today at Hercor College Christian Church! I was tearing up carrying her to the classroom! I never realized I could be this emotional! But then again, its proof of how much this means to me. I was fighting the tears back!

This was Dani's first class ever. So its fantastic that it should be in a Sunday school.

Obviously, she was surprised, puzzled and guarded. So many kids of different ages. Different faces, everyone doing their thing. We sat in the back since I wanted to be close to the door in case she decided to act up.

Dani was such a sweetie! She prayed along with her hands together like I taught her. Said her "Amen" with everyone. She tried catching up to the actions to the song, "This is the day" (my own Sunday School favorite). Again, I was tearing up!

She got a bit restless at some parts. But made a new friend in Ma'am Noknok's (thats her nickname) son Gj. Thats him below with Manang Lee.




Its a big foundation move on our part as parents. I'm glad I was there supporting her, as I should be.

I was surprised that she pointed out Jesus in the picture the teacher showed her! I was grinning from ear to ear! Thrilled to the heavens!

I am excited to bring her to her next class! Its still a bit too early but I'm hoping next month when she turns a year and 8 months she'll be okay.

This is the day that the Lord has made, indeed. We will rejoice and be glad in it!

All your children will be taught by the Lord , and great will be their peace. (Isaiah 54:13 NIV)

But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. (Luke 18:16 NIV)

Whoever fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge. (Proverbs 14:26 NIV)

If there is one thing that I can give my all to Dani is to give her my love for God and hope it will grow more in her.

I will never be there for her 24/7. My life is charted in God's hands. At times I will fail to be what she needs. So with whatever time God graces me with, I would like to have that used to the fullest in cultivating the most important thing in life. I can only pray and hope for God's wisdom and guidance.

From time to time, scenarios come to mind. For obvious reasons I cannot protect Dani from the harshness of this world. My stomach churns to see how other children act at such a young age. It frightens me even more so that Dani is a girl. I've had to fend off my share of bullies, jealousy, jerks, and all those nasty sorts. How will she handle it and how do I teach her and prepare her for it?

God, calm my fears. You took care of me and got me out of predicaments at the right time. May it be the same for Dani.