When God molds and opens opportunities

When I graduated March 25, 2007, I didn't have anything in mind but to review for the Licensure Examination for Teachers. I thought, I can better start with any job that comes along the way if I'm already a professional license carrier. There's a greater chance of getting hired to any institution, higher compensation and greater opportunities for promotion, privileges and other advantages.

But that plan was twisted when God showered me with good breaks. I already had my application form that time and the only thing left to do is to pay for the 2-month weekends review in my Alma Mater when Kuya Aldwin sent me an e-mail telling me to be his partner for supervising an adolescent reproductive health research project in Region VI. He told me about the benefits and the advantages of indulging in this activity and the things I needed to do. Besides, it's research and it means new learning, new experiences, new adventure -and that's priceless.

So, I kept my application form and prepared for the activity.

Leaving for Iloilo, I left my application letter and credentials at our Municipal Trial Court in Cities. I was applying as an office clerk. Yes, just an office clerk. But mulling over the fact that it is a national office, funded by the Supreme Court, there are fringe benefits.

It was an opportunity God opened through a mentor who has been there for me ever since we knew each other in college. That was my very first job application and I didn't imagine myself having endorsements from the President of my school, from a retired Chief Parole and Probation officer III and the President of the Philippines.

Still, those were through the unselfish efforts of one dynamic mentor - well not just in academics but also in politics, life and love. I owe her a lot.

Unfortunately, the Supreme Court didn't declare the position vacant yet so my application in the office is chilled for a while.

Later, it was already August 3, 2007 - Friday - my grandmother died and I was a 90-kilometer trip away from home, still on research. I didn't have any other option but to pursue the researchers to do everything by themselves and to just update me for problems and questions. I badly needed to go home.

God was great! He moved the heart and hands of the researchers and everything went cool.

About grandma's death, though its a sad time for our family, we saw it as another opportunity. An opportunity to help other loved ones and the community around us to see the true meaning of life. Help them know the God of provision and promotion and help them change their outlook on death.

Now, it's 2 weeks after the funeral. No doubt, everything changed here at home after the burial of my grandma. But, she left us with a business. Because of how we "celebrated" her promotion to a better place of setting up a tarp wrapped with photos of blissful memories with her family, using balloons and ribbons and of making a colorful program prints filled with songs and laughter, people came and proposed transactions!

Now we have partners from few institutions for designs, lay-outs and prints. God's so cool isn't it?

While we were yet starting with this graphic designing business and while looking forward for the board exam, my cousin from Laguna, who is a Pastor's wife, called me up one morning and told me about another research project. Now its focused on the socioeconomic and psychosocial status of market vendors below poverty line in Mindanao. My function is to facilitate the workshops and document the proceedings, and make a report. This will start sometime in September.

This is a complimentary project under the Mindanao Basic Urban Services Sector Project (MBUSSP) of DILG with Asian Development Bank as its donor. Considering the job, I can already help my mother and my brother spend for the education of my my younger brother in the Technological University of the Philippines - Visayas taking up Electronics and Communications Engineering and my younger sister who is a special science class high school student.

What do I do now? Shall I hit 2 birds with one stone? Or shall I say 3 birds. By October we will have a Adolescent Reproductive Health Advocacy National Convention in Cebu City for another set of projects for the coming year.

Indeed, When God opens opportunities, you'd go dizzy choosing where to land and I will always be thankful to God and for how He molded me in the 16 years of formal education through the utmost support, love and sacrifice of my parents and of the inspiration of friends, relatives and church family. Worth were all the sacrifices in college. I graduated with honors and it brought me to being an awardee as an outstanding youth of our city (April 13, 2007) apart from my extra-curricular activities and services. My mother was also awarded as outstanding mother of the city. Thanks to the Kababaihang Rizalista Incorporada Kapisanang Pandaigdig, Inc. for such an award. It was then my first chance to be published on Visayan Daily Star. -lol-

Now, the only requirement for me to discern what to choose and what to pursue is through praying for wisdom - practical discernment. As James 1:5 says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him."

And with all these, I praise the name of the Lord, express my deepest gratitude to my late father and my ever-protective mother and I humble myself.

On photos: [just click on it for a better view] Top The author receiving his diploma.
Bottommost (left to right) Eddie Yap (grandfather), Marisses Tampo (mother), Noel Yap (uncle), the author

LET day: there's nothing wrong with failing

The Board Examination is done and finally, I'm out of the pressure.

It was tough, honestly. Especially, I wasn't able to review formally and seriously. I only read few notes the night before doom's day. I used my remaining cell phone load balance to ask for prayers once again from my relatives and from church family.

I was really desperate for their intercession that night because I was a bit losing hope and my heart's pounding fast with the pressure.

But thankfully, God provided me with a loving community who encouraged me to climb the mountain and surpass the shadow of fear.

Hear are few of the text messages I received:

"Whatever mountain stands in your path, whatever obstacle blocks your way, whatever difficulty immobilizes you, the prayer of faith can remove it! Praying for you. God bless!"
- cindy

"I'm praying for you, ta."
-tita ging

"Ok manong. I'll pray for you gid."
-sarah joy

"Kung ari ka lang di, himuan ta gid ka banner!"
(I'll make you a banner if you're here!)
-cindy


These are only few of the messages.

It made me cry inside my room realizing how I am blessed with these people. I thought, If my insufficiency in reviewing my lessons can't pass this exam, their ways of uplifting my heart and for their inspiration can. Well, apart from those who prayed for me in the blogosphere.

Through this, I fortified my strong belief in investing my life in people who are God-fearing and promising.

Thank you so much.

LET day. I am an hour travel from my examination venue so I rode a PUB at 4:30 in the morning. The bus was having very few passengers but then decided to depart knowing about the exam.

Later on the trip, 2 of my batch rode the bus and there the chattering started. Until few moments passed and our bus was loaded with examinees from different places and many of them are my classmates. "Hi's", laughs and smiles filled the ride until we arrived at the venue.

It was cool that we had good laughs before taking the mind-stirring 6-hour examination.

Thanks to the jesters!

On set. I can't remember anything on the process of the testing except for those entries that confused me a lot. Especially when it comes to philosophies and the philosophers. Besides that, I really had difficulty over those test items that I haven't encountered when I was yet schooling.

Funny "ini mini may ni mo" was popular that day except for situational questions which needed practical discernment.

Finally. Headache was the aftermath. I felt the back part of my brain was screwed up that when I got home, I immediately dozed off. -whew-

Acceptance. I am expecting the unexpected regarding the results of the examination. I mean failing. I know now that it will be easy for me to look at results on the mainstream press even though my name may not be there.

After all, there's nothing wrong with failing. Anyway, the board exam is still there scheduled every year.

If you think

I got this set of pictures from my brother's email inbox when he requested me to open it. And to compliment those who blogged about contentment, let me share this with you.

"Contentment is not the fulfillment of what you want; it is the realization of how much you already have."

I got this quote from Jackie.

If you think you are unhappy, look at them.

If you think your job is tough, how about him?

If you think your salary is low, how about this kid's?

If you think you don't have many friends, ask yourself if you have one sincere friend.

You think study is a burden? How about her?

When you feel like giving up, think of this man.

If you think you suffer in life, do you suffer as much as he does?

If you complain about your transport system, how about them?

If your society is unfair to you, look at her.

Think positively and count your blessings. You have many things and aspects in your life to be grateful for.

Now if you think life is unfair, think of these people.

Join efforts to care for those in need

The battle in 3 days.

The Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) is coming up fast and I can already feel the pressure - the squeezing I once experienced when I was yet filing for the Board. I never had felt of needing much prayers from my friends than now. Every time I'm OL, I'm in the community and in the church, I can't stop my self from asking for prayers from friends and my church family and from anyone across the globe.

Gratefully, I was talking a while with my cousin from Laguna and she told that their church prayed for me. My teachers from our school also told that they'll do the same. Also my own church family and our sending churches. Not to forget, my blogging friends also left a word here that they'll also include me in their prayers.

These really gave me a lift so I really really thank you so much from the bottom of my heart.

Indeed, we need others in this world full of shadows of grief, anxiety and pressure. "No man is an island" as we often reiterate it.

I came across a statement from Morrie from a the book "Tuesdays with Morrie" by Mitch Albom. He said that in the beginning of life, when we were infants, we need others to survive and at the end of life, when we are already near death, we need others to survive." But there's one secret he was using and maybe it was the reason why his life has been so inspiring for many people in the world right now. In between birth and death, he always 'needed' others. He invested in human family. He invested in people. He built his own community filled with the people he loves and who love him as well.

And with this upcoming exam? I tie up (or fortify the ties) with the people around me for my sources of encouragement, hope, courage and strength.

I hope and pray that everything will just go smoothly on Sunday. This will be a test of faith.

The battle is the Lord's!

Banged head

Few days left and it will the Licensure Examination for Teachers and I still haven't reviewed.

Right after graduation, I was really eager to review for the board exam - that'll be on the 26th of this month - so I could pass at the first take. But because of unexpected incidents last summer and as the new school year started, I accepted job opportunities along the way - like the recently concluded fieldwork. It was due to my excitement to earn as soon as possible.

In my previous post, I told you about the stuffs I made as tribute for my grandmother who's already history. After the burial, visitors came to ask me how much would it cost if I'd make some creatives (invitations, programs, tarp designing, cards and the like) for them. So, I thought, it would be a start of a small desktop publishing business for me and my family. We grabbed the opportunity to earn even just a little. It's already a big help for us anyway. But it came a prob for my review because we have pending orders. Besides, for now I'm the only one here at home who knows Photoshop.

It's somehow banging my head these days.