Oratio Imperata

just blog-hopped and started dreaming of summer back home, beaches and swimming frenzy...

but alas, my heart is troubled. eversince the tsunami that hit Japan, I could not stay still. i keep fearing of a time when a calamity will hit my country, especially where my family is, and I am not there with them. it is so hard to be away from our loved ones and even small news of bad things happening to people we know, or not know at all, is enough to keep us teetering on our toes fearful that the next one to meet such ill fate may be a loved one.

makes me long for home all the more.

may I offer the following prayer, lifted from my prayer book, Straight from the Heart,

The Oratio Imperata: A Prayer in Times of Calamities, Deluge and Pestilence.

Almighty Father,

we raise our hearts to you

in gratitude for the wonders of creation

of which we are part,

for your providence

in sustaining us in our needs,

and for your wisdom

that guides the course of the universe.

We acknowledge our sins

against you and the rest of creation.

We have not been good stewards of Nature.

We have confused your command

to subdue the earth.

The environment is made to suffer

by our wrongdoing,

and now we reap the harvest

of our abuse and indifference.

Global warming is upon us.

Typhoons, floods, volcanic eruption,

and other natural calamities occur

in increasing the number and intensity.

We turn to you, our loving Father,

and beg forgiveness for our sins.

We ask that we, our loved ones

and our hard earned possessions

be spared from the threat of calamities,

natural and man-made.

We beseech you to inspire us all

to grow into responsible stewards

of your creation, and generous neighbors

to those in need.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

March-ing Out

The month is Marching out already. Sandstorms are signs that the weather's a-changing. Kuwait is pretty much hit by serious sandstorms these past few days. But not here in Dubai. It's getting cold at sundown. And that's another of the tell-tale signs for changing weather. Soon the air is going to be hot at any time of day.

This is one of those times when i start dreaming of our Philippine beaches. Hooo...

Off Again

again, wandering the streets of rigga on my day off.

.. and eating at KFC.

.. and stealing glances on that DJ bag.

.. and paying my phone and internet bills.

.. and calling home.

.. and doing the laundry.

.. and watching news from back home.

.. and waiting for Imortal on primetime tv.

.. and then logging on to post on my blogsite.

this is the life of an OFW.

So Grateful

many thanks to my mom and dad for everything! you're God's gift to me. and to the rest of my family (kuya, chi, nicole and esmuky), too. you're my lifeline. love you all!

Thank You

Resisting Temptation

the D Shopping Fest has started last 2oth Jan and will be on till the 20th of Feb. So many SALEs happening everywhere... problema ko nga lang walang pang-shopping. wehehe...

kaya pasyal pasyal na lang ang drama ng lola niyo. naglalakad ako lagi sa gabi dito sa aming street kung saan ang happening every year. parade every night, fireworks pagdating ng 8:30 sa gabi, tapos rides galore. nagmistulang isang peryahan ang whole stretch ng rigga road. as usual, nauuwi sa bargain hunt ang lakad ko. di naman bawal tumingin-tingin e, at sabay pisil-pisil na rin, kilatis-kilatis kunyari bibili.

haaay. i'm trying to save kasi. pero hanggang try lang yata talaga ako. waaa! o tukso, layuan mo ako!

let's see. if there's a will, there's a way.

kailangan ko ng mas matibay at mas solid na visualization!!! naman!! begin with the end in mind, abigail!

Stormy Weather

it was very dark when i went down from my flat to go to work. immediately i flagged the first cab i spotted just as it was rounding the curb towards our building. i thought i should hurry before it rains. it looked like it's gonna be heavy.

just three blocks from my place, however, i noticed it was not rain that came. the wind was picking up. and i mean picking up, like all sorts of things that can go along with it... scraps of paper, cardboard boxes, plastics, and sand- lots and lots of sand. a sandstorm was brewing and i didn't even recognize it for what it was. hardly had i seen it face-on. always i've watched sandstorms from afar. but this time, i was on it. i was so afraid. man! suddenly, the whole surrounding turned dark. i felt like i was inside a tornado. but this was dry and all sand.

the taxi driver's head was moving left and right every so often. i realized then that i was not the only one scared to be on the streets at that time. we could hear the howling of the wind and when we got near the workplace, we had to stop for the signal to go green, and the big sheet streamer at the tunnel was banging against the wall. it was just scary.

when i got off, me and just about everyone were scurrying to get inside the buildings. trees were falling on the cars at the parking areas. whew! it was really dangerous being out.

it was the first time in my life that i experienced that. i was so scared.

NEVER SAW BLUE LIKE THAT - SHAWN COLVIN

i was at a F21 shop here in deira city center when this song suddenly played on air.

and suddenly i was back to my college days. watching julia roberts' movies. runaway bride. etc...