Ibyang
Ibyang

Vday Thoughts

I honestly didn’t know it was Vday today until last night. I was tricked into going out tonight by Ara (naisahan mo ako dun ha? :)) when she invited me to dinner saying “Let’s have dinner on Thursday” and I said “Sure”. All she said was Thursday. And I didn’t care about dates in the calendar as long as I know I’m free. I’m a bit hesitant when it comes to celebrating Vday, it’s not my thing, plus I don’t like the crowd in the restaurants–just too many people. But anyway, too late to back-out plus I thought, “Why not?”

And so we had a very nice, quiet dinner at Cafe Bello in Burwood. Chloe also joined in and it was all fun to be hanging out with my girlfriends on Hearts Day.

This was a first for me–to go out on Vday in Sydney and the verdict: *sigh* Vday is sooooo boring here. Parang hindi Vday kasi walang masyadong Valentine decors ang mga malls and restaurants, it’s so dull. Compared to the Phils, walang-wala ang Aussie pagdating sa mga celebrations na ganito. The good side of it though is that, at least occassions like these are not so commercialized here, it’s like you have the choice to celebrate Vday or not coz there’s not much pressure from the media that you have to spend and treat your loved one to a nice dinner or expensive gift.

All I can say is, Vday is a good day to make your loved ones know that you love them, no need for expensive gifts–it’s always the thought that counts. And if you don’t have a special someone, remember that Vday is for everyone–from your family to friends. There shouldn’t be any reason to be lonely today just because you’re unattached. Love comes in different forms and ways, love is all around you if you would only see it with your heart.

Hope you had a lovely hearts day today and may you make everyday a Vday for your loved ones.

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You Deserved To Be Loved By YOU

This Day of Hearts, I want all my girl friends to love themselves more than anything else. You deserved to be loved by YOU.

Here’s an inspiring message I received via email in 2004…

Woman to Woman Encouragement:

Someone will always be prettier.
They will always be smarter.
Their house will be bigger.
They will drive a better car.
Their children will do better in school.
And their husband will fix more things around the house.

So let it go, and love you and your circumstances.
Think about it.
The prettiest woman in the world can have hell in her heart.
And the most highly favored woman on your job may be unable to have children.
And the richest woman you know-she’s got the car,
the house, the clothes-might be lonely.

And the word says if I have not Love, I am nothing.
So, again, love you.
Love who you are right now and let God be your barometer.
Mirror Him.
Look in the mirror in the morning and see how much of God you see.
He’s the only standard and even when you come up short;
he will not leave you or forsake you.
Smile and may God continue to BLESS YOU Real GOOD!!

“I am too blessed to be stressed and too anointed to be disappointed!”
The shortest distance between a problem and a solution is the distance
between your knees and the floor.

“The one who kneels to God can stand up to anything.”

“Winners make things happen. Losers let things happen.”

To all my girl friends, know that you are blessed always! Have an enjoyable Vday!

photo source

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Prime Minister Kevin Rudd Apologizes to the Aborigines

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd apologized to the Aborigines today at the House of Representatives, Canberra. At exactly 9:00am all of us in the office were glued to the office television to watch this momentous event. We also made sure that all our training venues have the TVs on so all our participants can watch it.

The apology is directed at tens of thousands of Aborigines who were forcibly taken from their families as children under now abandoned assimilation policies. I was very taken at PM Kevin Rudd‘s speech, he is absolutely one admirable leader. I really hope this intervention would pave the way to a new and better Australia.

On the latter part of his speech, he said something that really INSPIRED me:

“Sentiments does not make history, ACTION MAKES HISTORY.”

photo source

Below is the full text of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd‘s apology:

“Today we honour the Indigenous peoples of this land, the oldest continuing cultures in human history.

We reflect on their past mistreatment.

We reflect in particular on the mistreatment of those who were Stolen Generations – this blemished chapter in our nation’s history.

The time has now come for the nation to turn a new page in Australia’s history by righting the wrongs of the past and so moving forward with confidence to the future.

We apologise for the laws and policies of successive Parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians.

We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and their country.

For the pain, suffering and hurt of these Stolen Generations, their descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry.

To the mothers and the fathers, the brothers and the sisters, for the breaking up of families and communities, we say sorry.

And for the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture, we say sorry.

We the Parliament of Australia respectfully request that this apology be received in the spirit in which it is offered as part of the healing of the nation.

For the future we take heart; resolving that this new page in the history of our great continent can now be written.

We today take this first step by acknowledging the past and laying claim to a future that embraces all Australians.

A future where this Parliament resolves that the injustices of the past must never, never happen again.

A future where we harness the determination of all Australians, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, to close the gap that lies between us in life expectancy, educational achievement and economic opportunity.

A future where we embrace the possibility of new solutions to enduring problems where old approaches have failed.

A future based on mutual respect, mutual resolve and mutual responsibility.

A future where all Australians, whatever their origins, are truly equal partners, with equal opportunities and with an equal stake in shaping the next chapter in the history of this great country, Australia.”

via: http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=379056

other sources: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/02/12/world/main3823869.shtml

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Relationships Meme

1. Are you serious when it comes to relationships?
– on a certain extent yes.

2. Are you afraid of commitment?
– yes, i am—i was never fond of commitment of all forms may it be to family, friends or work…but once i’m in, i’m loyal and i never turn my back on them.

3. Are you a risk taker?
– generally speaking yes

4. What can you say about long distance relationships?
two things i’d have to say:
(1) long distance relationships are only for the strong hearted. if you think you can’t do it, let it go. if you’ve tried it and it doesn’t work, let it go.

(2) it’s up to the couple to make life a little bit easier for each other while they’re apart. if the long distance relationship is bringing out the worst of both parties, let it go—it’s not worth it.

5. Can you love a person who doesn’t love you?
– i loved someone who didn’t love me back and all it did was bled me dry and i kinda lost
my self-esteem along the way too. after that, no way, i’d rather be alone
than be with someone who doesn’t give a damn about me.

6. How can you say that a person loves you?
– when he brings out the best in me and tries his best not to hurt me.

7. Are you good in handling relationships?
– with my last boyfriend (who is now my husband) i think i became good at handling relationships

8. Willing to give everything?
– in a logical sense yes

9. Best thing you have learned from loving?
– that love should start from you–love yourself first…then the rest will follow. you don’t give up what is important to you in the hopes that a guy will love you–you just don’t! if you love yourself, you will find someone who has the same values as you.

10. Do you demand your loved one to change into someone you like to?
– no

11. Would you let go of someone you love?
– yes, love lets go.

12. Is sex important in a relationship?
– yes, i believe a couple should also be sexually compatible

13. What is the major reason of a break up?
– loss of respect from either one of the parties involved

14. Most important ingredient/s in a relationship?
– sense of humour, appreciation of even the smallest of things, friendship, teamwork

15. Ever regret loving someone?
– no, everyone i’ve loved will always be considered a friend.

16. One thing you hate about love?
– that sometimes it blinds you

17. One thing you like about love?
– that it inspires you, that it brings out the best in you

18. Worst thing you did to a loved one?
– hurt them??? i know i’m vague but i haven’t really done anything catastrophic to hurt someone so bad.

19. Are you in love?
– yes

20. What do you feel right now?
– happy and inspired

21. Do you flirt?
– of course, but only to my man

22. Cheated/have been cheated on?
– yes to both questions hahaha

23. Does the person you love knows you love him?
– yes, he knows very much how much he means to me

24. Have you been caught red handed?
– no, i’m smart hehehe

25. What attracts you most?
– on physical attributes, it’s always the man’s eyes that gets my attention. but as a whole, i’m usually taken with someone who’s fascinatingly fun, smart and creative.

Photos via http://www.inmagine.com

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Little Lenten Sacrifice

10 February 2008 0 Comments Category: Projects of the Mrs

ASPIRE NOT TO HAVE MORE, BUT TO BE MORE – Archbishop Oscar Romero

Caritas Australia 2008’s Project Compassion is giving out Lenten Sharepacks (thru our Parish) wherein you’ll find six envelopes, one for each week of Lent. Each week, the relevant envelope should be returned to the parish containing your donation.

The first week envelope is for the Philippines:

The other five envelopes will go to Australia, West Java (Indonesia), Kenya, Brazil and Fiji.

My little Lenten Sacrifice this year is to save my lunch money for the week (no lunch out or buying lunch at work) and instead bring lunch from home every day. The money I’m able to save from not buying lunch for six weeks will go into these envelopes. It’s not much but as the Caritas envelope says “It only takes a little to make a big change”.

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