The Best Place Called Home

I have made a post of this last year, transferred from my honeydhynnes.wordpress account. Just copied and pasted including the picture where it was saved in that domain. It was already closed or should I say suspended, so the picture does not appear in my post, only the narrative.

I saved a picture of our old home, our loving home who sheltered and took care of us for more 27 years. Almost wrecked, stood still under the stikes of typhoons and earthquake, of rainy and sunny days. Made of wood and the floor was just the land where it was built. It made me dreamed of something for my family, when I was born here, at a very young age, I promised myself that I will give my parents a better home. But that was not easy. So I still aim that my dream house will be built soon (actually, me and Arlene Bonquin - now in Taiwan, dream and aim to have our dream house).

That was our home, loving home. We will never ever forget that. See, daming tukod to support our almost pagiba nang bahay. It was memorable, I borught many of my friends there, slept and did some get together, from elementary, high school college until my working days. Almost a year and half that this was gone, but remains in our hearts. It was a place where true happiness resides :-) .

Read my post The Best Place Called Home - August 2008 also in this blog.

till then,

How to Survive College Life

I’d been through difficult times when I was in college. Finances were really apart from me and not in my vocabulary. I am not blessed with a wealthy life, should you have one, a good education from famous schools can be chosen and you may be feeling so choosy where to go to because you have lots of pennies in front of you. Lucky you are then!

Contrary to that, well, I can say I am still fortunate for having a life that is financial struggling; it was through it that I became very eager to finish my college education, so very aggressive to find ways to uplift my family’s condition. It is who I am – I am a dreamer who kept and keeps on believing that there is nothing impossible if you thrive harder and aim higher.

After I graduated in high school, I had a problem of whether or not to pursue my college education, I was aware that my parents were unable to finance me well, my father had a temporary job and wasn’t sure if he will bring home excessive money for my education , my mother was a housekeeper. But I was really eager to go to college. Some advises me to stop for a year, find a job and save for my own education – she had point though, but that did not prevent me dreaming to have my college. Fortunately, there was this school who offers scholarship to less fortunate individual like me, CANOSSA COLLEGE – the only school I’d taken entrance examination. God was really good for then, I was able to pass the entrance examination and the interview of the College Dean Ms. Susan Escolano. Two HR staffs visited our home to check if I really need the scholarship – Ms. Aileen Juaneza, and they saw that I really need one. So after all those processes, examination, interviews and home visit, I got an A in their scholarship program under St. Bakhita.

I am thankful for the scholarship grant I had, but that wasn’t enough, I still need my allowance for food and fare, how will I survive now? And this is it! On my first few days – I only ate Creams biscuits during lunch that was my food until the very last subject (it was perhaps the reason why I was so thin hehe) but I still need sort of allowance. What did I do then?

I was selling palitaw, butse and yema in our school, my classmates were my customers. And haist….I had my allowance already, thanks my classmates for providing me my daily allowance because of you, I survived! Aside from that, I offered my tutorial services to four elementary students of Canossa – after my classes, I went to their home every day. I had excessive allowance by then and I was able to hand some to my parents, so very thankful Lord for providing me! That way – selling kakanin and tutoring, I survived my college life!

I am not alone for this experience, I know there are thousands students everywhere who are looking for many ways to survive their education – especially those who are less fortunate. There are many ways folks, you can do what I did, or if you do not know how to make such kakanin, you can make some accessories like earrings, beaded bracelets, necklaces and ID holder – not only you are having fun with your craft but you are also earning from it for your education. Use your idle time doing some lucrative things and stuffs. You may want to blog too – you can earn from it, little by little, the wee earning you see will grow bigger as time goes by. Some schools do offer assistance to less fortunate students like being a student librarian, cleaning rooms during the students’ spare time, being a varsity player and so on. You may inquire your schools and check what they have.

If you are really eager to finish your education, there are many options and ways to do so, in good ways though, do not try filthy things just to finish it – that will not bring any good to you.

Strive hard and you’ll reap what you sow someday.

Take note of this:

"Dream your dreams,

Then do your best.

Never stop and never rest,

Until those dreams are yours."

Till then,
 

My "Preciouses"

And I love looking at this precious picture of my loves. This is so maganda ^_^ and forever will be treasured.

This was taken in Pagudpud Ilocos, April 21 2013 at Hanna's Beach Resort. Jd was guided by daddy J, as she enjoyed the ocean's splash. Swimwear failed! pero oks alng, cuteness still.

 Till then,
 

Real Success Comes From Real People..

Nice one.. :-)

These were the words uttered by one of the male singing groups who recently arrived here in the country to do concert, the Lettermen. The group had guested in PDA and taught a bit about singing, and likewise gave sort of advice. Admittedly, they are great, they have a great singing voice and rendition of the song, (sorry i forgot the title). Bugoy had also a chance to sing a song before them.

As they were about to go and their wee performance inside the house had ended, they vociferated these words..."Real success comes from real people", and this had caught my sleepy mind during that night. I told my housemate Renee, "Ganda!!" (beautiful!) it's true.

No matter what you dwell in your life, how you venture into anything you just wanted to vent, if you are not sincere and true to these endeavors, surely, success will not be in your hands. Success comes to those who are indeed honest, toilsome and real, no dupes involved in performing the tasks, no pejorative and sporadic acts along and no chicanery cohorts. Success is all about our clean and pure intention of executing all our deeds.

Seeing our idols and those who are successful ones, we definitely know that they reached the stage where they are now because of being toilsome, plus discipline plus the mettle to take the risk plus dreaming their dreams and turning these dreams into reality plus the clean and pure intention of fulfilling these dreams and executing the tasks accordingly. Step by step, these are the very fundamentals of becoming a real successful person.

By the way, success is not only measured by the achievements we have had and how lucrative we are, but it is also measured by the fulfillment in our very ownselves, the happiness we feel each and every time and the way we deal and rise up with our flaws and blunders. Additionally, success will absolutely be in our hands if we always pray, so pray a lot.

Hope i somehow eke some wee inspiration  to you guys.

'Till next time!

Baler

Lucky me, I married David. Why? Because my husband's family enjoys visiting different places together. And because we are part of his family now, I was able to join them too. Last year's adventure was at the north part of the country , Ilocos region. We spent 3 days of vacation, my husband was also here during that time. It was month of April then. And this year, we were dragged to Baler. My husband wasn't here to help me look after JD. He missed this adventure, happened on April too. I thought I can't join them as I also had a work then, but they asked me first when I could possibly take a leave, and they'd schedule according to my availablity, very touching. I wasn't expecting that :) They were thinking of me so I could join them, albeit my husband wasn't here, thank you! And the adventure began. It took us more than 5 hours of drive to reach Baler, it was that long because we took a different route, we had it at mountains, scary as it was beginning to get dark, and we heard that there's lot of NPA around. But thank God He guided us and kept us safely. We reached Baler at night and started to look for a place to stay. Glad we found one, but transferred again the next day. On our 2nd day, that was the time that we enjoyed Baler. We enjoyed the beach, as well as JD. If I were big that time, I would probably not be wearing a swimwear, I would perhaps be saying, "these plus size bathing suits" love me :D but the opposite, thanks my braces, I was thinner to wear the not for plus size bathing suit. Besides the beach, one of the most wonderful yet tiring experience was the trecking to Ditumabo Mother Falls. It took us more than 30 minutes of hike, the way was rocky and rough. Imagine I was carrying Jhaydii, that was too adamant of me to carry my 11kgs daughter. But thankfully, my legs and arams were strong to endure the hike. See below pictures too... Let these pictures tell you the whole story. Thank you Baler!

Till then,

Tagaytay

I should have posted this one before the Baler. I have been to this place many times, my first time was during our college recollection, the next important visit was during our 2013 team building, I know prior to this, I also went there however I couldn’t remember when it was, what I am sure is, we were there with colleagues. And then during David’s adventure, and recently, on August 22, with Jay and JD.

Tagaytay is one of the countries most visited places, due to a cool breeze as it’s located on a higher area (mountainous). It’s like a little Baguio. When I heard the first time that we’re going to Tagaytay, I was like, WOW! I felt like a tourist on my own country. This town is also where our country’s artists build their home due to the nice weather.

Enough of that. This place is now developed compare to what it was before. There’s now themed park to visit, the Sky Ranch. We David’s clan visited and stayed at the house of Tita Glo’s niece on April, hmmm….can’t remember the exact date. After some recuperation due to long drive, we went to Sky Ranch and took the chance of enjoying the rides. But because I have a little one with me, we only had the Mary Go Round. And then nothing after that. Unfortunately, I was puzzled why JD was throwing up the fact she is already used to traveling far. The vomiting continued the following day. I was also throwing up. That was exactly after our People’s Park in the Sky visit. I was thinking that it was due to the espasol that me and JD ate. It was hard when both of us felt bad, I was fainting, and JD cried a lot. I recovered, unfortunately, JD continued to feel bad even where going back home in Pampanga.

just arrived (I love the thinner me here)

at Sky Ranch

carrying jd at People's Park in the Sky

the kids - apo ni lolo Erning and lola Agang

Albeit we had a bad experience, we still can say we enjoyed the place together with David’s family.

Till then,

Positivity of a Palitaw Vendor and Tutor

It's been almost 11 years when I started blogging. And I must say that the passion in me when I was just starting to blog has diminished. I don't have the same urge now to write as before. Maybe because my niche is hard and I now find it hard to post something interesting. Even the many places I've been with were difficult to transcribe.. hmmmm and now I can tell you that it's not about the time because I have lots of it, just like now that I'm in a bus going home in Pampanga. The reason behind for sure is my laziness for not blogging, although I thought of many topics to post. Why can't I bring back the 4 posts in a day here? Please passion be with me again. Anyway, all I need is positivity. I have a positive outlook in life - for all the many blessings we've received, who wouldn't be? I've been through a lot of sacrifices during my childhood days in fact, but what kept my faith was my positivity and my family as my inspiration. I wouldn't be here if I was not hungry and thirsty for my ambition and dream. I've read an officemate's post about him as why he'd be a proud STI alumna.. And I was moved by his story, his dream and ambition helped him position to where he is now. It's because of his positivity. And I can somehow relate mine to him. Like him, I didn't care if I came not from a famous university but from a provincial college in Laguna. But I am proud I am one Canossiana, it helped me be me - sharer of God's love. And I was one lucky person because that beloved school was the only one I took exam with - and scholarship. And I was lucky to be granted full scholarship - because I was so sure that I will not be able to finish my college education - my father and mother were kakanin peddlers. Si inay ang nagluluto ng butse, pilipit and palitaw and si tatay ang nagtitinda. The income they were getting was just enough and sometimes not enough for our daily needs. Going through college was hard, being financially unstable - but at the same time an advantage for me as it served as my inspiration to finish my college ed and help my parents uplift our family's condition. To help me with my daily allowance, wherein I had with me 20 pesos, enough as my fare going to school. But how about toing home? Don't worry, I also had palitaw and sometimes yema to sell to my classmates. They knew my situation and they were kind enough to buy from me, so I have money na to go home!!!! I also tutored elementary students when I was in my 2nd year, that was the time I stopped selling palitaw na. I earned about 1500 per month - I think boarding house was 500 and the rest was my allowance. I sometimes gave some to inay pa. Ang saya ng life di ba? Kung tamad lang ako nun and hindi positive wala sanang nangyaring maganda ngayon, hindi sana ako si Dhynnes ngayon. Hay.... I will keep on reiterating this wonderf story of mine. Dati umiiyak pa ko kapag nagkekwento ako pero because I know how I am so much blessed, wala na ang madalas na pagluha. Mataba na sina inay at tatay, hindi na giri or tabingi ang aming bahay. May asawa na ako at may isang Jd at susundan ng isa pa. Walang marangyang buhay pero marangya sa pagmamahal ng kapamilya at kaibigan. My 2 brothers are in Saudi - salamat kay Jay at Kuya Andy. Now I'm at Xerox and proud to be here, turning 7 years on May 25. I also went through a lot here but positivity remains and will always be. I hope everyone does have positive outlook in life para naman peace on Earth is there.... 

 Till then,

 

Welcome Dhina to California!

Utah - July 2009, Dallas Texas - February 2014 and for the third time, California on October 2014. These were the states I'd been through for a business training, one of the perks or benefits (I consider) bestowed on me when I join ACS (now Xerox). So on October 2014, I together with the two co-employees flew to CA for a 3-week training. We flew by the China Airlines - yes China but the service was okay. Ehem, and this post will require a lot of reminiscing as it already has 2 years passed. Good thing I posted a lot of pictures in my IG account - will help me remember things then :) Oh, and I'd rather grab a shot of 'em and post them here, they have caption though, sort of telling what happened then ;) Enjoy the photos!

   

 

I posted it without editing - it's last 2014 pa

 

yey, window seat!

 

Welcome to LAX

 

 So that's our long flight :) Been used to going through the US Immigration na din. And I had a funny story pa nga here because the Immigration Officer asked me if Ralph (my guy companion) is my boyfriend daw, although I told him that we're on a business trip. His way of tricking me perhaps. To post later are;

• Our Visit to Universal Studio
• First Time in Walk of Fame
• I've Been to Golden Gate San Francisco

Okay okay.... And besides traveling to US, I would also want to travel within Asia now with my family. First on our list is at Hongkong, but doesn't know yet when it will happen. I want my kids to experience HK Disneyland as much as I did when I went there with my officemates :) I enjoyed a lot, and it surely means that my kids will do enjoy as well. Besides wishing to visit Hongkong, I also am looking forward to visit Singapore. I have a lot of friends working there, and honestly, I was also dreaming to work there. Singapore is known to have a disciplined people, and stable jobs. But of course, along with this is the high cost of living. And so now, I would want to visit this country for pleasure, with my family and of course we would need to find for a place to stay in while we are there. So many hotels to consider, and would want to try the cari hotel di singapura. I will just ask my friends where best to stay at during the wished Singapore stay with family.

 Till my next CA and travel posts ;)

Barneys Burger in Pampanga

Last Sunday after the 9:30 AM mass, my husband drove us to I thought going to SM 'coz we're going to have our groceries. But he just passed by the SM Pampanga and I was puzzled where were going. I told him "San tayo, S&R?" - he then replied, "Bat tayo mag S&R wala naman tayo bibilhin dun?" I again asked him "Dalaw tayo kay Ninang Zeny?" he replied "Lalabas na nga, dadalaw ka pa" Hmmm, so I had no idea where we were heading. Then after few minutes, we stopped at a familiar place, at Barneys Burgers! Haha. It was our 2nd time there.

   

 Barneys Burgers is located at Dolores San Fernando Pampanga. Menus are yum and at very affordable prices. They offer of course burgers - regular, cheese, TLC fully loaded (the one that I've always order) that range from Php80 to Php135, inclusive of fries. They also have rice menus - chicken and meat, steaks, short orders like spaghetti, pancit, carbonara and other pasta, they also do offer tidtad (dinuguan), ceasar salad and many more. All in affordable prices satisfying your taste buds. Look at the placemat below and be guided of what they offer.

   

 Here's JD enjoying her popsicle worth Php55.00 after having her glazed chicken meal. And here are our collage photos - documenting our moments together ;) The Fully Loaded Classis Burger at Php115

 

The Lamb Steak and Tidtad for my husband[/caption] Barneys Burger is a perfect place for couples, friends, families and singles :D So when you're in Pampanga, don't forget to visit this place and try their tasteful luscious offerings. You will surely enjoy it! 

Till then,

 

I Applied in Qatar Airways

I was looking for a better opportunity, a greener pasture and wishing to work abroad. I felt I was stuck in a position for so long. I felt impatient that is why I tried applying online in Qatar Airways as a Senior Financial Analyst. Months had passed, I forgot already that I had a pending application there. Until one day, I received an international call, it was a phone interview by the Qatar Airways recruitment staff. Sounded a Chinese staff because of her accent. I was at home in Tiaong Quezon and the signal wasn't clear so the line was cut. I thought she wouldn't call me anymore, but she contacted me again after few minutes. Thank God! And then again I waited for more weeks. No feedback. Then the awaited prayer came in, I was promoted yey! I forgot everything about Qatar Airways because I was happy that my prayer was granted. I was sent to Dallas on February 2014, then at California on October 2014. Who wouldn't be happier right? When we were in California with my two staffs and was drafting the DTP of the processes we captured from Disney peeps, I received an email from Qatar Airways. I was shocked and happy :D I didn't realize that I will still be considered because it already was long time ago. They invited me for an interview in Doha Qatar. Yes, you read it right, in Qatar itself. My husband was an OFW in Qatar too so I was so excited to inform him about it that i will be able to visit him if in case. Hindi matanggal sa isip ko if it's really true, that I would need to go to Qatar just for an interview. And then I replied that I am open. So the recruiter gave me instructions to process my visa and other related documents at JS Contractor - and I did, that was late 2014. All was set. I had my visa which lasted for a month, I had my airfare sponsored by Qatar Airways of course and my hotel which was at Plaza Inn. 

 

Visa and Air Ticket... Okay lang ipost - expired na

 

I flew to Qatar on January 23rd, 2015. Pano ba idetalye... it was 2 years ago and I can vividly remember everything pa, when I arrived at Hammad Airport it was already night. Hindi ako dumaan sa regular na daanan ng mga passengers, I went through a different custom and had my visa stamped. I was escorted na din to the waiting area, meron kasing susundo sa amin. I saw a girl also waiting like me. And wow she's a Filipina- was an applicant also but for an HR position. We talked while we're walking nung dumating na service from the airport to the hotel. And she's Analene Ocampo - from Arayat Pampanga. She flew all the way from Maldives, she works there kasi. There's wifi connection as you know in the airport so I kept my husband updated of where I was. We will meet kasi :) :) :) . And when we departed from airport ayun the connection was lost. And my husband was waiting for me in front of the hotel ng matagal na (ang lamig pa naman that time), it's okay hopefully if there's burswood acoustic guitar. And finally we reached the hotel, the first thing I asked was the wifi password because I need to contact my husband to know where he was. Sigh! And yes, I contacted him, he's just few steps away from the hotel. He was allowed to stay naman with me \m/ The following day was my interview- January 24th. We were three na sinundo in the hotel. Analene, me and the Chinese girl who's applying for a pricing position.

   

 And at the Qatar Airways, I saw a lot of Filipinos, and I liked it there na. Analene was called, the Chinese girl was called at ang tagal na hindi pa ko natatawag :( It was already 12nn or I think 1pm when a girl approached and informed me that the one interviewer had a family emergency and won't be able to push through the interview without him. So she sent me to the hotel. Before I leave the Qatar Airways office, the receptionist handed me an envelope, it contained my allowance hihi QAR150/day. I went to the hotel and told my husband that I wasn't interviewed yet kaya ipinasyal na lang nya ako sa City Center... Here are the photos ;) Scroll down to see them...

    

Bank of Doha

 

 And the next day, my interview. Shocks I literally felt the difficulty in answering. They were three to interview me. Hirap na hirap ako pagsagot. I even told them " I am sorry, I wasn't able to answer your question correctly ". And because of that, alam ko na ang result. But I was still praying baka kasi maghimala haha. They told me they'd inform me via email about the result. So I went back at the hotel and prepared my things because I will be going home at night.

 

Hammad Airport

 

Days, weeks, months and now it's exactly two years, I never received any feedback haha. Hello asa pa ba ako? But it was a nice experience. Parang pasyal na lang na libre di ba? San ka pa. Bihira kaya yun! I was able to meet and be wih my husband pa di ba? With free allowance, free hotel accommodation and airfare! Kaya okay na din kahit hindi pumasa. The experience itself is a prize na. Ayun... I've been to Doga Qatar. Tamang tama ang tapos ng post ko, Balintawak na ako and bababa na. Till next time readers! Apply din kayo sa Qatar Airways ha :)