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

Imminent Danger

Japan is still experiencing after shocks as we speak. The grim reality of facing the catastrophic effect of the recent off-shore quake and tsunami is overwhelming. The threat of a nuclear meltdown is also looming around the Japanese government and the world as a whole.

I am still following the development of the recent natural disasters which hit Japan last week. Bodies are now floating in the coastal areas and the hope of containing the scary nuclear meltdown is becoming dim.

I feel sad and scared. Much as we all want to do our share to help; these events are just beyond our capacity as humans. These things will remind us that there is certainly a higher power greater than mankind.

I pray all these imminent danger come to pass. We need to pray for Japan to have the strength to rebuild its nation. We cannot let the possible meltdown ruin the environment and the rest of the world. I believe that a prayer when said in unison becomes a prayer brigade. Let's do our part in any way we can.

2011, Bring it On!

What's in store for me this 2011? I ask myself.

2010 was a year full of tribulations and doubts. I was practically depressed the most part of the year. Although my depression was brought about by personal woes and issues I could not address directly. I was smack in the middle of "mid-life crisis" and no pun intended on that. 

I was lost. I had plenty of questions. And those questions until now are not yet answered. However, I cannot let the mistakes of 2010 bring me down as well this 2011. I need to rise up and face whatever challenges head on because that is the only way I will learn. 

I pray with a sincere hope that 2011 brings the much needed break each and everyone of us so badly need. 

So 2011, bring it on!

Mentally Drained

Okay, the "informal meeting" with the big boss of the department I applied for turned out to be an "informal  'further' interview." I honestly feel so drained right now - mentally that is. I don't know but I suddenly got tired because I was asked the same questions that were asked during the 2nd stage of the application. Although this time, it was thorough. I was asked many things about the application of the system their department was using. I honestly told them that it has been 7 years since I last used the system.

I don't know how I feel now. My feeling is gravitating to being restless and slightly feeling being a "wild card"  because I am pitting against 3 other candidates who are currently using the department's system. 2 of them are from the same department, 1 from a different unit but is very familiar and have hands-on experience with the software the new department is using currently. As for me, well, I can always learn the new system as I have always done in the past. I am quick to learn and I hope they will take that into consideration.

So, the ball is rolling. Where it goes, I somehow know... Then again, I may be wrong...

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.

Waking up on a Rainy Sunday

Much as I miss the rainy season back home and love the winter feel of the new climate, it is different when you wake up on a rainy Sunday morning.

It has been raining for the past three days now. It was the same situation last year around this time when Dubai and neighboring Emirates were submerged due to the non-stop torrential rains. It is nice to be relieved of the scorching heat once in a while. However, there is not good drainage system here so we expect flooded thoroughfares again and it is going to be one hell-of-a-traffic in the busy streets of Dubai.

Although it is gloomy and all and the sky is very bleak, I still find a recluse in the coming of the new season. After this season comes a spring of hope.

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

Reach for the Star

I came across this bible verse and would not like to let the day pass without sharing it to everyone. I hope this can give us an extra will to believe what we can do, we can do best.

"No good thing will the Lord withhold from those who do what is right." -Psalm 84:11

What's in store for US of A?

Now that Mr. Obama has been elected as the 44th president of the US of A, he has a lot of cleaning up to do. He is going to face a big challenge when he starts his official day in the White House.

I cannot help but hope for the best to come for USA. I have always have this soft spot for the US since I have relatives and friends there. I hope and pray that US will come out of the financial quagmire it is in at the moment with the help of the able President Obama and his Vice.

We all go through burdens in our lives and so are our countries no matter where we reside. However, with the mighty US as one economic giant affecting other countries like my home country, we could only pray for positive things.

So, what's in store for US now that they have a new president? If I were to voice out my hopes, I want US to pull out from the crazy war and solve the war within (poverty, economic crisis, homeless people, recession, diseases and the thinning moral fiber of a nation), better education, support for the US troops and to provide more jobs to their people and to those who find greener pasture in the land of milk and honey.

These are just hopes from someone who is neither an American nor a resident of the US. Someone who believes that US will come out of whatever battle it has at the moment - a winner!

The Midnight Owl

The Midnight Owl
by Ria Cervantes

Alone in the forest
One summer night
I took the needed rest
And there is nary in sight.

The moon was shining
As I stared on the sky
Many thoughts are running
Was this solitude worth the try?

Hooo, hooo, came a sound
I wondered who was on the prowl
And was surprised on what I have found,
On a tree, perched the midnight owl.

Hooo, hooo, "You are alone, I see"
Said the owl to a restless me
"I want to leave my worries,"
The midnight owl nodded to agree.

"And if I may ask?" I said to him
"Why are you here?" I asked.
"I have been alone in this forest rim,"
"The peace of the silent night is mine." He added.

The midnight owl looked so content
Perched on the branch, where he was meant
I continue to lie with my own laments
As I try to comprehend where my life just went.

In the silence of the night the wise midnight owl has said
"Child, just throw worries aside
Your fears cast away like mold
Live your life with hope."

With that, the midnight owl flew.
The wisdom spoken I never knew.
Left alone in silence, I have learned
Life's great lesson from my midnight owl friend.

(photo from: http://www.birdingintaiwan.com/mountainscopsowl.htm)