my babies

so you think they're the same.... think again...



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what's in a name?

names are very important.

we all have one, and to a certain extent, we can control how that name is used.

my full name is quite long, and for me is a bit old fashioned, so I just shorten it to "cecile". that's what it says on my name plate at work.

only a few people use my full name - of course that would be my family. especially my mom when she's angry at me. people who know me from primary school actually still use my first name in full, so if someone calls me "maria cecilia", then i know that they knew me then. at college and at work, people called me "cecile" or "ces". close friends call me something else altogether. so based on what you call me, i can pretty much get a clue as to where you met me, or how long you've known me.

so, i guess i'm pretty happy with my name.

i have here a list of names that i could think of with their meanings. of course i'll begin with my name:

cecilia / cecile - in latin, means "the blind one"...also means inspired.
ivy - origin greek and english. a climbing evergreen ornamental plant.
natalie - origin french, born at christmas,
juanita - (my mom's name) origin spanish. form of Joanne. God is gracious.
jeremias - (my dad's name) origin hebrew. exalted of the Lord.
paulo - origin african. place of rest.
origin english. little rock.
origin greek. form of paul. small.
cressida - origin greek. gold
carlo - origin french. strong.
isidro - origin spanish. gifted with many ideas.
andrew - origin latin. manly.
jacob - origin hebrew. held by the heel.
hannah - origin hebrew. grace of God.
stephen - origin greek. crown.
isabella - origin hebrew. devoted to God.
sophia - origin greek. wisdom.
rebecca - origin hebrew. captivating; knotted cord.
marguerite - origin greek. child of light.

oh well, the list would go on forever... but it's just nice to know the meaning of our names.

blueskies on a monday morning

it's monday...a fresh start...a beautiful day...the skies are blue! and i praise the Lord for His mercies.

Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies. Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. Psalms 103:1-5

...may God be my help this week...

slowly but surely

yehey! slowly i've been learning some things about html and how to actually apply them here in my blog. it's really fun, though it's quite hard knowing that i'm not really good when it comes to the "html things". honestly, i don't understand the codes. i just copied it. hehe. anyway, at least i've been able to post some links, like my friends and some good sites. i'm just thrilled especially that we have dsl connection now. surfing the net is a lot faster than before. hopefully this will be the start of a more updated blogsite...

pheeew!

i'm a living time bomb, waiting to explode any moment from now. that is of course, just my way of describing this day. it's been a day of pressure and stress at work. which has been i should say, two days in a row already. one was yesterday and of course today. i'm just really glad that it's over!

today i have been reminded of the following:
>trials will come our way anytime, it is inevitable.
>patience is indeed a virtue.
>a true friend will be there for you, no matter what.
>in customer service, remember to de-personalise. (very helpful if the customer is already being grumpy)
>in everything, be thankful. (even in a day like this, God is still in control!)

so that's about it.... i'm ready to hit the bed! good thing it's my off tomorrow. ZZzzzzzzz......

kids kids kids!

here are some of the kids at church during our sunday school. taken during our activity time.

bananas and ice creams

junkfoods out! bananas are in! i don't what happen but this has been the trend in the office for the past few weeks. everybody just having bananas for lunch, for snack and for dinner. and not only that, the ice creams just keep on coming everyday. it's like someone's always having their birthday.

i think this banana craze all started when Andrew, our new engineer came. we've noticed that everytime he goes to the office he always brings with him a bunch of bananas. my colleagues actually thought that it was a good way to go on a diet, and so, the banana craze began.

talking with Andrew, i was able to find out that he is watching his cholesterol so he is indeed on a diet (that's pretty much one of the reasons behind the bananas). he's a pretty nice guy and a good father too. by the way, he's got triplets which is so cool! and their names are nice, namely: caleb (means: capable), noah (means: rest) and ethan (means: enduring). i've been really into meaning of names lately. so i guess i'll post something about it next time.

anyway, i've seen other blogs lately and theirs are very nice. i think mine is kinda boring. i guess i'm just to lazy to study about html. hope to find something that is already made so i could just copy and paste...darn!

quotes for the day

A dear old Quaker lady, distinguished for her youthful appearance, was asked what she used to preserve her appearance. She replied sweetly, 'I use for the lips, truth; for the voice, prayer; for the eyes, pity; for the hand, charity; for the figure, uprightness;and for the heart, love.
- Jerry Fleishman

Mere change is not growth. Growth is the synthesis of change and continuity, and where there is no continuity there is no growth.
- C.S. Lewis

Whatever man loves, that is his god. For he carries it in his heart; he goes about with it night and day; he sleeps and wakes with it, be it what it may
- wealth or self, pleasure or renown.
- Martin Luther

It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy, that makes happiness.
- Charles Haddon Spurgeon

---

what's been happening?

“A customer can forgive an accident, what they can’t forgive is a sloppy response.” That is the last thing I remember from our emergency procedures training the other day. We are being trained on how to act and respond in case of an emergency, which other airlines don’t have. Come to think of it accidents do happen, it is inevitable. We can never tell when it will happen, but it pays to be prepared.

I’m sitting here in our newly open cafeteria. My mom and dad finally decided to put up a small business for the family. That is why they’ve been really busy for the past few weeks. And since I’m off today I decided to help out. I’m also glad because we already have regular customers who stop by to buy our homemade viands. This is indeed God’s blessing to us; I hope and pray that God will be glorified in this small business.

God has been good to us and is always good. We have four applicants for membership at church. It’s indeed a delight and encouragement for us to hear their testimonies on how God changed them through His words and how they’ve been brought from darkness into light by God’s saving grace through Christ Jesus. May God continue to add those who are being saved in His church.

what's up?

...it's been quite some time since i posted something here. i must say, i'm really not a good blogger. everytime i try to write something the thoughts just fly away. so, i'll just write what's on my mind this very moment.

...we have just recovered from typhoon "milenyo". it just passed manila in a very short span of time, but it left tremendous disaster in our country. power supply was cut for like a week. everybody is busy fetching water in what we called a "poso". it was actually like going back to basic, when the only light you will see at night are those from the stars outside and from the lit candles. i have come to realize that there are things in life which sadly, i take for granted. like electricity and water. i'm really humbled by this calamity. and once again it reminded me of how God, in His Sovereignty is in control of everything, even in times of calamities. who are we to question Him?

...God's faithfulness and mercy are new every morning. He never neglects His people.

another LSS (last song syndrome)

Changing Happy
By: jadon lavik; lavikmusic ascap, Chris Karn: asphaltpalms ascap

I’ve always found that happiness hides
Just around the corner just out of my reach
And the moment its found the next that it’s missing
And I need to change my own definition la da da da, da da da da da

Cause nothing’s ever quite all that it seems
And I am not convinced that anybody is ever living the dream
And expectations kill as reality plays this show of your life
It’s a whole different scene

Yeah, I’m changing what it means to be happy, what it means
Yeah, back to the way I know that it should be,
Close to you is where I need to be

No matter how hard we push or how hard we pull
There’s just a little bit more ‘til we’re full
Cause we’ve all tried to cover sadness and sorrow
With temporary things that never seem to last

Yeah, I’m changing what it means to be happy, what it means
Yeah, back to the way I know that it should be

So explain to me why we fill up empty with empty and at the end of the day
We’re confused by the longing

change it back, change it back, change it back, oh change it back,
change it back, change it back, change it back, change it back,

Yeah, I’m changing what it means to be happy, what it means
Yeah, back to the way I know that it should be
The way that it should be

Yeah, I’m changing what it means to be happy
What it means to be happy, to be happy, truly happy
Close to you is where I need to be mm mm….

Change it back, da da da
Change it back

sleepyheads

got this from a friend... so cute!

the perfect fit

when it comes to buying things for myself, i usually dont have a problem. i always try to plan shopping so as not to overspend. i have this thing of separating my "needs" and "wants" because i dont want to be out of control when im at the mall. thankfully i always end up buying the things that i really "need".

and if there is one thing that i need right now, it would be a pair of jeans. the one i have is kinda worn out and is a little big for me already, since i have shed a few pounds. yehey! wipee! :) i went to the mall this afternoon to buy one, but unfortunatley, nothing seems to fit me perfectly. for me, it's always hard to find the right kind of jeans. im kind of meticulous when it comes to this area. i dont want to buy a pair of jeans because it's the latest fad or trend. i look for comfort and ease. signature? name labels? im not very particular with this as well. as long as it fits perfectly it's fine with me.

oh well, it's not everyday that i have this thought about a pair of jeans... just now really, might as well write it.

old school

old school kinda pic...thanks to photo editing, almost everything is possible. :)

wednesday.....my rest day!

...been looking forward to this day. been really stressed out at work. we had a few diverted flights from australia due to the bad weather in hongkong. as usual, everybody's been busy. quite tiring, but i'm not complaining. it's just good to seat back and relax at home.

...might get a new haircut tomorrow.

...amazing race 10 will start this september. excited to see it!

...been laughing hard last night because of the video that was on my colleagues celfone. roger was able to capture on video maco's special number at det's house. he was dancing to the tune of "crazy in love" by beyonce knowles. his moves were old school! funny old school! haha.

...been trying to speak in english with a british accent. another haha for me! been fond of the accent ever since we handled the british airways diverted flight.

...i hope to find a dvd copy of pride and prejudice. my cousin kring and i agreed to watch it together.

...still thinking of the blueberries and cream crepe and mango crepe we had at cafe breton. it's super delicious!

...current mood: nonchalant

random musings

>family dinners is one of my favorite things. when i say family, it includes the whole clan. last sunday, after church, we had a big dinner at home. a typical filipino dinner of pansit, pork adobo, fried bangus (milk fish) and salted eggs with tomatoes. hmmm.... yummy! but of course, i had to control myself, since im still practically trying to lose weight(really now?). while having dinner we were discussing the sermons we heard that day. just sharing our thoughts with one another which is truly encouraging.

>i met my niece, venise. she's 3 years old. she's very cute, tiny and she's got sparkly eyes. and i'm just really amazed at how she can speak clearly at her age. and not only that, it's like she has her own world. she has an imaginary friend, which she calls her boyfriend. oh my? a boyfriend at 3 years old. i'm 25 and i dont even have one. hmmm.... by the way, violet is her favorite color.

>chocolates... who doesn't like it? i could probably last a week or even a month without rice or bread. i've done that. but i dont think i will last a day without chocolates. i'm a "sweets" person. recently, i had my blood sugar tested. i got the results, and to my surprise my blood sugar level is normal. i thought it will be like so high because i'm really into sweets. but it's normal and i'm happy about that. i also had my cholesterol level tested, and it's also normal.

>my best friend ivy, called me the other day. and i'm so happy to hear from her. i truly miss her...she's not just my cousin, my best friend but most importantly, she's my sister in Christ. hope to see her again.

>action speaks louder than words. i've been thinking about this for the past few weeks. and in some ways, the way we act really says a lot about how we feel.

>been doing a lot of cooking for the past few weeks. mostly salads and grilled foods. because of this i've been going to the grocery more often. it's been my way of relieving stress. :)

>most recent movie i've watch: nanny mcphee.

>weather here is still unpredictable. you'll wake up to a sunny morning. and then hit the bed with a rainy evening.

>current mood: relaxed

survey says....

i finally filled-up this girlie survey form... just a few facts about me:

>>what do you friends call you? *cecile and ces*
>>is your bestfriend a girl? *yep, my cousin ivy*
>>do you wear make-up? *yes, but only at work*
>>do you wear shoes with high heels? *unfortunately, yes*
>>do you like wearing dresses? *yep. it's so feminine*
>>do you have short or long hair? *uhmm, kinda long*
>>one length or layered? *layered*
>>how long does it take you to fix yourself up? *at least 2 hours... :)*
>>do you have a "kikay" kit? *yes i have one*
>>if yes, what's inside? *my face powder, lip gloss, concealer, blush-on and lipstick*
>>how long do you take a bath? *30-45 minutes*
>>do you use conditioner? *alternately*
>>how do you dry your hair? *air dry*
>>what's your usual hairstyle? *ponytail*
>>do you panic if you have a pimple? *not really*
>>do you often go to the salon? *not that much, only when i feel stressed*
>>when was the last time you went to the salon? *can't remember*
>>do you have crushes and share them with your friends? *i only have one...and yes i share it only to my closest friends*
>>what you like in a guy? *thoughtful, nice, honest, neat looking, responsible, taller than me and of course a Godly man.*
>>do you blush whenever you see that special person? *uhmm...yes*
>>do you paint your nails? *nope*
>>what's your usual outfit? *jeans and white t-shirt...anything white and khaki*
>>rubber shoes or sandals? *rubber shoes*
>>how many piercings do you have one? *one on each ear lobe so i could put my earrings :)*
>>do you go on a diet? *yes...im on it*
>>what brand of shampoo do you use, lip balm/lip gloss, soap/body wash, lotion? *shampoo: head and shoulders, lip balm: body shop, lip gloss: estee lauder, soap: goat's milk soap, lotion: dont use one*
>>do you put cucumber in your eyes? *sometimes*
>>do you fix yourself anywhere? *when i feel like it*
>>is it fun being a girl? *yes indeed*
>>what are you thinking right now? *hope this survey ends*

cutie...

here are a few pics i got from my email. so cute, it made my day.

sweet thing...

awww! so sweet...

cool dogs in summer!

four happy chicks...

best friends...

last song syndrome for the week

let it go
by: jadon lavik

Sometimes I wonder

what's holdin me back
from runnin' this race
at a steady pace.
I start out fast
but go clingin' to my past.
And suddenly,
I'm sitting in last.

Here and now is where I wanna be,
not hangin' on some worn out memory.
And I know
the best thing for my love,
sometimes you just gotta,
you gotta let it go.

Stand up, please
and change the channel on my mind.
Another scene,
any other scene would soon be just fine.
Rehearsin', rehashin', reinactin' all the times.
I keep returning to
the scene of the crime, yeah.

Here and now is where I wanna be,
not hangin' on some worn out memory.
And I know
the best thing for my love,
sometimes you just gotta,
you gotta let it go.

I know, I know I know, I know.
I know, I know, I know, I know.
I know, I know, I know, I know.
I know, I know, I know, I gotta let it go!

Here and now is where I wanna be,
not hangin' on some worn out memory.
And I know
the best thing for my love,
sometimes you just gotta,
you gotta let it go!

Here and now is where I wanna be.
Here and now is where I wanna be.
Not hangin' on the worn out memories,
here and now is where I wanna be.

stressful day

thursday, yesterday, 03 august was just a normal day. started my day with a prayer and meditation of God's word. was pretty excited of what's in-store for me that day. i went to work feeling relaxed, although i was a bit late. everyone at the office was pretty much okey. not until 3:30 in the afternoon...

one of my colleague got a call from london, that flight BA031 bound for hongkong will be diverting here in manila due to the bad weather in hongkong. and that's it. the relaxed atmosphere in the office suddenly turned into a slight chaos. because it's an unexpected flight. and since british airways is a member of the oneworld alliance, we as staff from qantas are expected to help out in their flight. it was actually, okey, but what made things complicated is that it is simultaneous with our qantas flight. so we had to divide the staff into two. the other half would be assigned for qantas, the other for the british airways diverted flight.

as i looked outside the window, i saw a certain number of cathay pacific aircrafts which also diverted in manila due to the bad weather. there was also swiss air.

the airport was in chaos. both arrival and departure area looked like an evacuation center. passengers where actually brought to certain number of hotels, others were transferred to other airlines.

i was assigned at the office that time. and it was really a stressful night. phonelines were really busy. it's like a call center! the calls over the uhf radio was also non-stop.

there was actually a number of flights that wanted to divert in manila, but since the airport is really full, they were no longer accomodated and was just advised to divert at clark or at cebu international airport.

it was indeed a busy day for all of us. and i'm thankful that all of the diverted flights left already a while ago. again, we handled the british airways flight. and it turned out very well, thank God. we even got commendation from the crew, and from the passengers. when i heard what they said about us, i just felt like, all of the stress and cares from handling that flight just flew away.

i really thank God for what had happen. the diversion was really unexpected and unknown to us, especially to me. but it's a comfort because i know i was able to get through that experience because of God's grace. and i will always be thankful for that.

"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10