In my previous blog post, I shared how I lived out my #OneVerse and #OneWord for the year 2023. In this blog post, I will share what my word and Bible verse for the year are. God revealed and confirmed with me my direction for the year through this exercise again a few days into the new year. Choosing just a word and a Bible verse to focus on for the whole year is much easier than having too many goals or resolutions. Through this exercise or practice, I am able to focus my energy, time and resources more in living out what I believe in my heart God wants me to focus on and really live out. Th ..read more

One of the things that I like doing at the start of the new year is to look back into the past year and review the things that happened and what I did. Since I started choosing a word for the year or my #OneWord, I look back and review my previous year in the light of my OneWord and OneVerse. I blogged about my word for the year and verse for the year here. I ask myself: “How did I live out my #OneWord and #OneVerse? Did I succeed in living it out?” This year, looking back to the previous year brought me joy and fulfillment again. Let me share with you why. Year 2023 was not an easy year for m ..read more

It’s been decades since I last watched a movie during the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF)! I could no longer remember the last time. This year, though, there are several movies that caught my eye. The movie Rewind was one of them. This is the first Filipino/Tagalog movie that I watched with my husband in a cinema in a very long time. I think the first Filipino movie we watched together was Heneral Luna. Even at home, we only watch English movies, because that is his preference. I’m glad I convinced him to accompany me to watch this as our date on Christmas Day. Special thanks to my mom who w ..read more

It has been a whirlwind kind of adventure for me in the past months since the launch of my latest children’s book “Pasko Pa Rin” at the Manila International Book Fair in September. I wrote about it on this previous blog post. Since then, I had been busy left and right with book promotions, fund raising for my Christmas book donation drive and outreaches around the country. I’m so thankful and blessed that our Parish Priest, Monsignor Melchor David, allowed me to have a book launch in our parish, Mary, Mother of Good Counsel in Paranaque. This was done over one weekend during the Anticipated Ma ..read more

With a new school year on the horizon, we eagerly kicked things off with an educational adventure that would be both memorable and informative. So, we packed up our homeschooling materials and embarked on a field trip to Paco Park last August 27. This beautiful historical site, known for its lush gardens and intriguing past, provided our homeschooled kids with a unique learning experience. Paco Park: A Historical Gem Paco Park is an oasis of history and culture nestled in the heart of Manila. Originally a cemetery, it has been transformed into a serene garden that offers a glimpse into the Phi ..read more

On the morning of September 30, we had our first Christmas outreach and book donation drive for my latest children’s book Pasko Pa Rin. This was done in collaboration with the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP) – Pasay Chapter. My family and I came early to set up at the Saint Therese of the Child Jesus of the Holy Face School in Villamore Airbase. My husband and boys helped me carry and fix the tarps and books. My husband also took photos. With my helpful boys While waiting for the rest of the kids and the members of BCBP to arrive, we had picture taking. I did a ..read more

September 2023 is another September to remember for me because of the launch and book signing event that I had for my 10th and latest book, Pasko Pa Rin. Preparing for the Big Day A month before the event, I was already thinking about what color of dress or what kind of clothes I would wear that day. I wanted to choose a color that would make the book pop when I held it near my chest during the picture-taking. Of course, the color should look good on my skin. I was so busy promoting the event while juggling my many other responsibilities. Less than a week before the event, I still had not foun ..read more

It’s the first day of September already! The Ber months are here again and in the Philippines, this means that the Christmas season has begun. You would hear Christmas songs played in stores, homes, and many other places. Some would even start putting up Christmas decorations during this time. I guess Filipinos love the Christmas season a lot that’s why we have the longest or one of the longest Christmas celebrations in the world. It’s not surprising because the Philippines is one country in Asia with probably the biggest Christian population. We also love to celebrate and get together with ou ..read more

I wrote about The Power of Onsite Chess Competitions for Kids previously on this blog. I shared in that post that my boys joined a chess tournament on-site again for the first time after the COVID-19 pandemic. In that tournament, my two younger boys did not win any medals or anything. They were still happy and grateful that they got to compete in chess over the board. Of course, I told them that if they would keep on practicing and studying, obey their coaches, and pray, maybe, they could win in the next over-the-board chess tournament that they will join. True enough, that’s what happened in ..read more

As the calendar flips to the month of August, the Philippines becomes a tapestry of cultural celebrations and historical commemorations, woven together by the threads of identity, sacrifice, and resilience. This August, we are presented with a unique opportunity to delve into the heart of Filipino heritage and honor the remarkable individuals and moments that have shaped our nation’s story. From paying homage to Manuel L. Quezon who we call Ama ng Wikang Pambansa and celebrate Buwan ng Wika, pausing to reflect on the courage of Ninoy Aquino as we celebrate Ninoy Aquino Day, to tracing the foot ..read more