fly me to the moon

Have you ever imagine travelling around the world in just 80 minutes? Yes 80 minutes... this is what the Barcelona-based architects promised when the "Galactic Suite," the first hotel planned in space opens for business on 2012.

This will be the most expensive in the galaxy, costing $4 million for a three-day-stay. Wow! who ever can afford that?!

So, what activities are in store for the guests staying at the Galactic Suite? Well, during their stay, guests would see the sun rise 15 times a day and use Velcro suits to crawl around their pod rooms by sticking themselves to the walls like Spiderman (spider sense!). And when guests are not admiring the view from their portholes they will take part in scientific experiments on space travel.

This is indeed impressive, but then again, who would want to spend huge amount of money on going into space? Bill Gates? I just don't know...

For me, lying down on a rooftop at night underneath the sky and with a little imagination is already my ticket to space.

pretty flowers at home

Celebrate the wonderful ordinary things you see around and rediscover the wonderful art of taking pictures...

That's what I did one fine Thursday morning at our backyard; finding pretty flowers at home. There's a lot of beautiful things to see if we just look closely...

























"O Lord, how manifold are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all. The earth is full of Your possessions." PSALMS 104:24

rainy days are here

umbrellas and jackets are in again! we've all asked for it and now it's here... rainy days!

classes were suspended today and also for tomorrow. hmm... i wonder if that'll also happen at work...

it will be pretty difficult again for me to wake up because of the bed weather... love it!

transformers, premonition and shawshank redemption

i think it's been like ages since i've posted something here. yes, i'm not your faithful blogger as you would say. i'm just one of those people who's able to post something if i remember doing so...

for the past few weeks i've been in what i would call a "movie week". i will not make a review on all the movies i've seen but just give a short thought on each of it...

first, was TRANSFORMERS...
movie was awesome when it comes to the special effects. i remember watching the cartoons and not really care about the name of each robots. i didn't realise that they have names not until i've seen the movie. although, one of my colleague said that the movie deviated from the original story, i really didn't care. i liked the effects. period. and again, i didn't finished the credits so i missed the part where one robot went back to outer space which clearly says that there will be a part two. it happened to me when i watched pirates of the caribbean, didn't finished the credits, so i missed the part where elizabeth and his son was waiting for will turner... lesson: try to finish everything...even the credits because you'll never know...






next movie, PREMONITION...
i think Sandra Bullock has this thing for doing movies which you really have to think...think hard to get it. i actually felt confused at some points when i watched this movie, just like the way i felt when i saw THE LAKEHOUSE. there's so many twists in the movie that you get really confused and clueless at the same time.
i just felt that there's so many inconsistensies in the movie.








last but not the least, SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION.
i remember seeing this movie on HBO and not really don't bother watching it because i don't think it's a good one. but enk! i was wrong...

this is a powerful story about hope, friendship and strength. it's about experiencing pain, discomforts and never complain about it. i liked how Andy, stood by what he thinks was right and not let anyone or anything hinder it. and also, the importance of friendship is for me one of the highlights in this movie. it doesn't matter how many friends you have, but how your friends stand by you no matter what happens... "he who finds a friends, finds a treasure."

'til my next movie week... ta!

competency exam

It was like college days again last wednesday. I felt like I have thousands of butterflies in my stomach and I was fidgeting as I was about to take my compentency exam at the Canadian Embassy.
The personnel who called me said that the exam would comprise of general information and stock knowledge. And so, I tried my best to read some things about Canada and about the embassy for the general information. As for stock knowledge, I didn't review, after all it's supposed to be knowledge that is stocked...(?) [hope it made sense]
Exam day: I finally understand why the personnel wanted me to be 30 minutes prior to my exam, it was because of the long queue for security checks at the embassy. Security was really tight and it should be since that building was mostly comprised of foreign embassies, which means there are diplomats and expats. After completing the security checks, we were asked to proceed to the examination area where almost 50 of us took the exam.
The personnel was kind enough to explain the procedures of the exam and that the exam aims to check our competencies to work locally for the embassy. The exam was mostly reading comprehension, which I found kinda difficult because I was pressured about the time since it was only 50 minutes. There was actually a point in the exam wherein I found myself stucked on a certain number.
Overall, the exam was easy, but for someone who hasn't been taking exams for the last 4 years, I found it quite difficult. I'm still thankful though, that God has given me this opportunity to exercise my mind and thinking abilities.
So, did i pass the exam? I don't have the results yet... i'll find out soon!

picture pictures!

here are some pics from the REBAP summer camp last April 5-7 held in UP Los Banos, Laguna.



group pic...


1 cup of rice each...


after the session

500 metres walk a day...some exercise!

the green team!

what's with this well?

friends all the way from Abu Dhabi, UAE

a strange tree and umbrella.

uhmm...the gwapings???

my mystery dancing partner....guess who???

i like to call them manly men of God.

flip flops on the go!

camps theme:

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." Galatians 5:22-23

free butterfly

a beautiful shot of a butterfly... (courtesy of joash)

the little prince

It has been a long time since I have read a really nice book. I let myself be drawn into the busy and fast paced environment that I forgot that there is one hobby that I should indulge in because it's good for me...and that is reading.
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery is a surprisingly nice book. I think I will not get tired of reading it over and over again. It's a delicate story. It could have been taken in so many ways and so many different perspectives. Yet you can't help but giggle at the personifications of each star and who is on them. You can't help but bite your lip to keep from crying at the end. You can't help spending time afterwards to think about what the story meant in a whole. The Little Prince transcends the innocence of children to becoming an almost etheral being. He acquired more insight into human nature in his considerably short stay on planet earth than most humans could ever hope for in a lifetime. He encountered greed, humility, love, loss and even friendship, yet he never loss his quench for knowledge nor his devotion to his home, his beloved rose and all it has.
"It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye." That quote from the fox is very much true. Sometimes we give importance to the things that our eyes can see, and neglect the intangible things which is far more important in our lives.
Another thing that I like about the book is the perspective about friendship. "One only understands the things that one tames", said the fox. "Men have no more time to understand anything. They buy things all ready made at the shops. But there is no shop anywhere where one can buy friendship, and so men have no friends any more. If you want a friend, tame me..." Friendship is not just something we can easily get or ask for, like a toy from our parents or whatever, we have to work hard for it. We have to know that person, spend time together, communicate and most importantly accept that person for who they are.
This book is indeed not just for kids, but it is actually meant for adults. It contains lessons that most of us are forgetting these days...

everywhere

Want to hear a little fact?

The Lord has got your back

He’s got you everyday

And His love will never fade

You never have to run

You never have to hide

Even if you can’t see Him,

He’s still inside.



Everywhere you look, He’s standing right there

Even when you think, He just doesn’t care

Everywhere you look, He’s standing right there

Even when you think, He’s not being quite fair.

Everywhere you look, He’s standing right there.

Everywhere….



Sometimes He doesn’t give you what you had in mind,

Sometimes you don’t like what you find.

But He has something in store for you,

Just trust Him, He knows what to do.

christmas party, old spag house and single's fellowship

i would have to say that this week has been tremendously busy for me. It is overwhelming. 'tis the season to be busy tra la la la la la la la la! i felt like a lot of things had happened...lots of thinking...mixed emotions...december is actually my favorite month obviously because of christmas. the time where families, friends and long distant relatives get together for reunion and not to mention the beautiful lights displayed in houses and different establishments (im actually fond of lights and sparkly things). there's also the christmas parties in companies which sometimes has a particular theme. like what we had last december 19 in our company, "qantas goes chinese" (dont ask me why we had this theme). suprisingly, it turned out pretty fine. almost all of us, including the guests were dressed in chinese costumes. everybody had a great time, with the special numbers that the new staff presented. it's tradition that when you are new with the company you will have to perform something for the christmas party. (im thankful that i did that already like 2 years ago...it will never happen again!).

i'm here with my supervisor and friend aileen. oh yes our chinese blouse is almost the same! just the colors are different. our manager mayin bought this at singapore when she was there for a training. i was surprised when she got home and gave me the blouse. it was exciting because it's the first time that i got to owned a priced and authentic chinese blouse or "chiongsan" as they call it (not sure with the spelling though). this is something that i can still use when i go out with family and friends. just need to pair it with a nice pair of jeans and a gold flat shoes then i'm set!

the next day after our "chinese" christmas party was our dinner at the old spaghetti house somewhere in makati with our ALO's and colleagues from the airport.
<<ricardo or "ricky" as i call him is on the left and on the right is cameron, the "new guy". unlike our "previous ALO", ricky left manila not just as our colleague, but also as our friend. he's so efficient with his work and still manage to maintain friendship with us. and guess who he looks like??? never a dull moment with him for he talks too much...(kidding!) i hope that we'll also have the same working relationship with cameron. anyway, he also seems to be a nice guy too. i guess we'll just have to wait and see after three months.

and there was the single's fellowship at the hofmaier's house. this is one of the things that i look forward to every december. a time to be with my friends at church who shares the same faith that i have in Christ Jesus. it was a night of mingling, catching up and of course eating! 'twas really nice to see everybody again.

im sitting here with 3 special and talented individuals. joash: a fine arts student. who's really into arts...(duh?!) he's so good with drawings and photo editing. likes taking picture of everybody and of course of himself. next one is hannah: also a fine arts student. really good drawings and paintings (saw her works and it's amazing!). one cool gal with a distinct taste in fashion. we share the same love for "bargain hunting" at divisoria. and lastly, is none another than, hapi: the girl who has inspired me to go on the "southbeach diet". however, we are now the main violator of that diet because of the holiday season...hehe. but as soon as the holidays are over we're back to phase one, aren't we hapi? :) we can do it again!


the fellowship wouldn't be the same without games and singing. i just forgot the title of this game. but it's like putting the star on top of the tree and you do that when you are blindfolded (hello?! it would be too easy to put the star without blindfolds???!) i love it when we play this kinds of games...the feeling of being a kid again with nothing to think about but to play the whole day... i miss those days. "all work and no play, makes jack a dull boy."

...and of course, the best thing to end the night would be a group picture (a trademark of our get together)... hope to see more new faces on our next meetings, Lord willing.

...so that's it...that is december 2006! another memorable month for me. what's in store for year 2007 is still unknown to me...but it is a comfort that beyond the uncertainty in this world is the certainty that God cares, He is in control.

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

the best song that describes ME

Who Am I?

Written by Mark Hall
Music by Casting Crowns
Song based on Psalms 52 and 139 and Ephesians 2

Who am I, that the Lord of all the earth
Would care to know my name
Would care to feel my hurt
Who am I, that the Bright and Morning Star
Would choose to light the way
For my ever wandering heart

Not because of who I am
But because of what You've done
Not because of what I've done
But because of who You're

Chorus:
I am a flower quickly fading
Here today and gone tomorrow
A wave tossed in the ocean
A vapor in the wind
Still You hear me when I'm calling
Lord, You catch me when I'm falling
And You've told me who I am
I am Yours, I am Yours

Who Am I, that the eyes that see my sin
Would look on me with love and watch me rise again
Who Am I, that the voice that calmed the sea
Would call out through the rain
And calm the storm in me

I am Yours
Whom shall I fear
Whom shall I fear
'Cause I am Yours
I am Yours

mi familia

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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

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