Happy New Year 2015!

Tomorrow will be a new day, the first blank page to a new chapter in our lives. Just like what Brad Paisley said, let's "write a good one."

Hope the coming year brings forth wonderful things and blessings to all. I pray for peace, happiness and good health for everyone and may your dreams come true.

 From my family to yours, Happy New Year to all!

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Safety Precautions To Take When Handling Firecrackers

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It is that time of the year again when people are scurrying to buy their firecrackers to welcome the coming of the new year with fanfare. Some people prefer to celebrate quietly in the comforts of their homes or with their relatives and friends while some prefer to celebrate with a bang, and I hope not literally.

Firecrackers can be both entertaining and dangerous at the same time. While it is nice to see and appreciate the creativity of how the firecrackers explode to show off beautiful colorful sparkles of lights and sounds, it can also emit dangerous chemicals and cause fire when things go wrong.

If you are one of those who prefer to celebrate New Year using firecrackers, it is best to keep a tab of these tips to ensure a safe, hazard and fire-free New Year celebrations with the ones you love.

• Always purchase firecrackers from known manufacturers with good safety standing.

• Read the laws about firecrackers and know what is legal or not and if possible, stay safe by buying only firecrackers that are allowed by the law.

• Read and follow the manufacturers instructions and warnings on how to safely light and handle firecrackers.

• Keep water or a water hose ready just in case you need to dose of a fire. 

• Do not hold a firecracker when lighting it. 

• Wear a safety goggles. You may look weird or overly dressed for the occasion but the rule of thumb is better be safe than sorry!

• Do not point firecrackers at the audience/

• Do not leave firecrackers in your pocket as they may catch fire and also combust.

• Do not let kids light firecrackers. Never!

With all these safety tips in mind, please be careful and practice extreme caution when handling firecrackers. Avoid using them if you can and settle for the old-fashioned way of welcoming the New Year with loud, clanging noises coming from hitting pots and pans, playing loud music, honking your cars momentarily or simply cheering "Happy New Year."

Be safe everyone and enjoy the coming year!

Party Is Over! Welcome 2014!

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Yes, the days of non-stop eating, partying, drinking and merriment has come to an end (temporarily!) and we are now in the first day of the new year of 2014. It's time to get serious to the reality after the holidays.

I am not good at making resolutions but I will try to live a healthier life this year. I aim for more travels, more quality time spent with the ones I love and more blogging opps to receive.

I don't believe in astrology nor predictions that the year of the Horse is not good for those born under the year of the Rat. I happen to be born in 1972 so that makes me under the year of the Rat. People are saying that the year of the Horse is not compatible with the Rat born people. I rebuke that and I don't believe such claims.

I just woke up with my first payment for my blog services for the year of 2014 and the mail came from a trusted and regular sponsor. Mind you, it is in 3-digits! Is that not blessed or what?

So there, whatever people say about this or that, I will rely on the fact that God will bless me with more opportunities because He knows I will be sharing it.

Here's to a year of good health, more love, tons of PEACE and of course, steady flow of income from my blogs and that means - loads of paid opportunities.

Yes, 2014! I am claiming you!

Happy New Year To All

A warm greeting of a peaceful ushering of the coming New Year. Happy New Year everyone and welcome 2014 with new hope for a brighter year ahead.

2011 - What A Year It Has Been

I thought, when 2011 rung in last year, it would bring hope and prosperity for all of us. When I recall on all the events that had transpired in 2011, the negative outweighs the positive. There were political unrest in the Middle East, natural calamities like erupting volcanoes and earthquakes, the tsunami in Japan on the first quarter and deadly Typhoon Washi hitting my home country before the year ends, deaths of famous people, financial trouble still on the fore and poverty and unemployment reaching new heights. Money was still scarce for most and jobs come far in between. Despite of all the hardships we have seen and been through, 2011 came to pass. A new beginning is coming.

2012 is the year of the water Dragon. Chinese astrologers believe that the mythical beast brings calm and flowing ideas being the water dragon. It balances the right brain activity and the left side for logic. The year of the water Dragon brings innovative and fearless leaders just like the most revered Chinese mythical creature.

Personally, I am not particular with the meaning of 2012 because I believe that we all make our destinies. We can only hope and pray that we listen with our hearts and believe that our Lord will guide us through another challenges in our lives.

I want to believe that 2012 will bring new hope, new beginnings and fresh start in all the aspects of our lives. It is up to us how to accept the challenges and channel the energy towards something good. I want to believe that despite what we read about the Mayan Calendar and other dooms-day sayers, 2012 will still bring a new promise for all.

2011 has come and gone. Let 2012 begin and let's welcome the new year with a prayer from St. Francis of Assisi.

Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury,pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console;

to be understood as to understand;

to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen

Happy 2011

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I pray that 2011 brings all of us the promise and "hope" of a better year ahead. God Bless all of us.

Welcome 2011 with Hope

2010 has been a year of "greats" - great disasters, great snow storms, great political threats that could shake a nation's security, great attack to Christianity, great economic depression and recession, great rift among nations (N. Korea and S. Korea), great divorce amongst famous personalities, great environmental harm and great deaths. The list can go on but I don't want to press on the negative events of the year that will become a "has-been." Rather, I want to focus on the good things that happened during 2010. I am sure that 2010 did not bring just the unfortunate events. It also brought brotherhood and humility to everyone.

What are the positive things that happened this year which we all find inspiring and worth taking to 2011? I have a few to list here which I feel and think merits recognition for the positive impact they have on a global scale. (Like I said, these are my personal opinion.)

1. Oct. 13, 2010 - Successful rescue operation of the Chilean Miners

All 33 Chilean miners have been trapped for more than 10 weeks. Although the rescue mission took long because of the sensitivity of the mission, the were rescued nonetheless.

Nations prayed together, had a vigil and camped out to await the day of the precise extraction. It came on October 13.

2. June 11 to 11 July, 2010 - South Africa's FIFA global fever

South Africa graced the successful 2010 FIFA and brought about unity and camaraderie amongst other nations and fellow Afrikaans.

It is good that their country hosted the well-known sport event because throngs of delegates and other nationals flocked their country to watch and support their team. And what does that mean financially - money came in.

3. November 16, 2010 - In-Kyung Kim donates golf winning to charity

Money is scarce and the rich are richer. It is so wonderful to know that a young adult is wise beyond her years by doing the thing most young and rich people will not do - give it all. The winning that is.

22-year-old In-Kyung Kim donated her golf winning from the Lorena Ochoa cup to the Lorena charity. Half of her winning went to another charitable institution in the United States.

4. June 18, 2010 - Final installment of Toy Story (3) is released

With the deluge of senseless movies this year, it is breath of fresh air to watch something we will all remember. I have always been a fan of Toy Story, from the very first to the last installment. This movie moves me and make me see toys in a different light.

I love how the theme revolved on the "toys' desire" to be there for Andy no matter what it takes. It showed , friendship, trust, love for others, perseverance, and respect which I don't see too often in other movies these days.

Toy Story 3 may be the last but for me, it will always be one of the greatest animation ever shown. And I will make sure that when I have grandchildren, they too, will enjoy the movie as I have had.

So, the year is about to end. It will be nice to bury the fear, animosity and negativity in 2010. I know it is easier said than done but let's welcome 2011 with a glimmer of hope - one day at a time. A prayer will do wonders too.

Happy New Year everyone. 2010 has been tough and we have braved the tumultuous year standing. 2011 will be challenging but we already know what to do.

Safety First This New Year

Christmas has come and gone and people are now anticipating the coming of 2011. A lot of you may celebrate New Year with a bang, quite literally. However, here in Dubai, residents are not allowed to hold their own fireworks display at home. Maybe some who have permission but it is done by big hotels only or the government body.

So, New Year is rather safe here. We just watch the fireworks from the distance and it is being set up by the professionals. For those of you who are going to have fireworks display, just bear in mind these simple tips to avoid any accidents or mishaps you may regret.

1. Keep all your fireworks in a safe place, preferably away from the reach of children.

2. Don't put your fireworks near hot areas like stoves, fireplace and kilns. This is rather common sense!

3. Set up your fireworks in a vacant yard or at least few feet away from the residential area or where the public has access. You don't want your fireworks to accidentally "blast" on unwitting passers-by.

4. If you need to light up your fireworks the conventional way, i.e., use of a match, please wear protective gloves like the ones used by construction workers.

5. Tie a candle on a long stick and use it to light your fireworks from a distance.

6. Do not fire "weapons." Period!

7. Tap the pots and pans instead if you want to make some noise or put your stereo on for some nice and non-deafening music. 

We have managed to live without the frivolities of fireworks display for many years now. It is a welcome respite though, to see the magnificent display brought by the professionals as sponsored by the government and hoteliers here in Dubai from a very safe distance. Although the celebration back in the Philippines is really missed, I would rather settle for a simple and safe welcoming of 2011 than find my fingers all over the place. If you know what I mean.

So, let us keep it safe and simple. If we can avoid not setting up fireworks then let us do so. However, if one intends to welcome 2011 with grand display of fireworks, be my guest. Just be cautious and have a first aid kit within reach just in case.

Happy New Year everyone. Where ever you may be. Have a safe and peaceful 2011!

The Year That Was and The Year That Will Be

I welcomed 2009 with big, open arms but was disappointed as the year wore off. I am not saying that my 2009 started on a wrong footing. As a matter of fact, the beginning of 2009 was promising for us. We spent the holidays with our love ones back in the Philippines. We applied for our USA visa for the first time and got approved. My brother's employer gave him a chance to work full time in their company. And I established good blogging relationships with new bloggers who later on became my online-sisters cum buddies.

2009 didn't really start to disappoint me until the recession took a nose dive sometime mid of the year. Our company did not give us increment in lieu of our job securities. We did not get our bonus for the exemplary performance we gave for the previous year. However, despite the lack of monetary award, we have our jobs. That is a blessing in itself.

A lot of misfortune happened this year. Many calamities hit my motherland. A lot of people perished. And now, Mount Mayon is showing its natural force! Are there more to come before the year ends?

My heart ached for this year's misfortunes and misgivings of people I trust and close to my heart. I feel bereft of anything except for the flicker of hope that is 2010. The recession is still on. But I hope that tiny shimmer of hope does not wane as I enter the new year ahead.

I am praying for everybody and not just for myself and my family. I am praying that the coming year will bring us good tidings and peace. Please join me in this solemn prayer I wrote:

Dear God,

We thank you for the year that was and the year that will be. We know the trials before us are something to prepare us to strengthen our faith.

We pray that You will guide us through 2010 with big hopes and belief that all these will come to an end. Help us detach ourselves from earthly possessions which hinder us from accepting all the harsh realities. Let us grow in our faith and hope with your loving grace.

We know it will be tough but with You on our side, we will get through this. We will believe that there is hope in everything as long as we pray with sincerity.

Thank you dear God for the lessons we learned this year and prepare us to learn more with a better discernment and bigger faith as 2010 approaches.

We believe. Amen.

Gong Xi Fa Cai

To all my Chinese family and friends...


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Welcome Year 2009

2008 came and went and here we are, facing the uncertainties of 2009 with perturbed anticipation of how it is going to be like.

I too am worried with what the future brings but if I pray, why should I worry, right? I will just leave everything to the hands of our Almighty because He will not forsake us. These are just wake-up calls because we have been too comfortable with everything. We do not exert efforts anymore to do something worthwhile. Everything is just convenient. Maybe this time it's time to exert more effort.

So, welcome 2009... I hope this year will be a good year for all of us despite of...

My New Year's Prayer for 2009

Dear Lord,

As we come to the end of a tumultuous year of 2008, give us a shining ray of hope to welcome 2009 with faith and belief that all of the crisis the world is facing right now will come to an end.

I pray for peace amongst my brethren. I pray for prosperity for everyone. I pray that You will continue to bless us with your grace and love. Keep all of us safe from harm. Provide us the needs that You deem is enough for us. I pray for the protection of the innocent children all over the world. I pray for the healing of Mother nature. I pray for happiness of those who have already lost so much and hope for the hopeless. I pray for the indigent people. I pray for our religious and political leaders that they will be guided according to Your will. I pray for the homeless to have shelters. I pray for the rich that they may share their riches to those who are in need. I pray for the lost souls that they may find their way. Give us the strength to battle each obstacle that will come our way. Make us steadfast in our faith in Your most omnipotent power.

I believe in You Lord because You know what is best for us. I will leave all my worries with the passing of the old year and welcome 2009 with bright promises.

Thank you Lord for the year that was and for the year that will be.

Love,
Ria

Catching Up

I am back but taking things easy and slowly this time as I have a lot of catching up to do. I didn't realize the amount of tags and awards I need to do and post; not to mention the other articles I have set aside to post eventually at a later date. They need updating of course.

How was everyone's Christmas? I hope it was spent meaningfully with the people who matters most. My family had a great time and I was glad I took the trip. I was adamant of going because of financial reasons. I felt it was too "inconsiderate" thinking how the world was suffering from economic crisis and there I was - traveling. Then again, I didn't travel for the sake of satisfying my travel bug sickness but I had to spend my Christmas with my mom and siblings and in-laws too.

Well, the New Year will be a different matter. I dare not talk about it ;) I just pray and hope that good things will come despite the rise of job cuts, the crazy increase in credit card interest rates (which reminds me that I need to discard mine before I fall into a bottomless pit!), the uncertainties looming around us. I always believe that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. The tunnel might be long and winding but it will reach its end. Let's just have faith and rely on our family and friends for support in this time of need.

I wish you all a very peaceful and prosperous 2009. Prosperity might not come in riches but the blessings that we still have food on our table, a roof over our heads, clothes to keep us warm and a job to sustain our living. Let's all believe. We will all pass this storm unscathed but with more steadfast faith in Him.

Happy New Year everyone.

Gone for the Holidays

Let me greet everyone a Blessed Christmas and a Peaceful 2009! My family and I will be in Manila for the holidays but I will be back after Christmas here in Dubai. I cannot take a long leave now so I am cutting my vacation short (for financial reasons as well). I will not blog for a week to spend my time with my family so please bear with me. However, I will really appreciate your comments, greetings and well-wishings. I shall resume my normal blogging activity by last week of December or perhaps on January 2009.

I pray for the grace of our Lord to shine upon all of us on this blessed season. Let our Christmas be measured by the love of our families and friends, instead of the material things that commercializes this blessed time. Money may come scarce to some of us but we will all get through this through our faith. May 2009 be a year of new hope, new dreams, new goals and the spread of peace to all.

A Blessed Christmas and a Peaceful New Year to all of you.