Day 13: March 21, Monday –  Today is black out day. Blessed be to God! 

Day 14: March 22, Tuesday  - You know when you're back to reality and each day seems to be a succession of routines and new endeavors you need to traverse you seem to just wanna step back and make sure this is the reality you want to live your life with. The rains have come and gone, come and gone, and sometimes the loneliness sinks in when you either have no umbrella to shield you from the rain or if you have one but none to share it with. Work's challenges have almost taken its toll and then I find myself searching for meaning - for why I am here. Somehow I try to find the answers from the people I work with, I talk to and share occasional lunch with. Somehow they seem to throw away pieces of the puzzle you need to put together. For sure, after the rain, there will be bright light shining ahead of us. Again, another blissful day, praise God!

let there be light

Day 15: March 23, Wednesday  - When it's midweek, you'd think to slack off but no, not in this business with a lot to juggle in your hands. The days just seem to squeeze in to snugly fit into my long list of planned and unplanned activities for the whole week up to a month or so. Something excites me over the weekend. Blessed be to God!

light just one

Day 16: March 24, Thursday  - A news from a distant messenger had caused me to postpone many things for later. But that doesn't stop my hectic scheds to unfold one after the other. May Thy good will be done always... amen.

yep, lunchmates they are

Day 17: March 25, Friday  - Another black out day for me, but something I keep with the closest of loved ones and with the Lord. Blessed be to God!

it is better to light just one little candle than to stumble in the dark

Day 18: March 26, Saturday  - On a weekend at work after having missed out for a day, having reunited with my team gives me a sense of belongingness for a while. It's always pleasurable sharing hefty meals and casual conversations with the team. After that long day and as the sun was about to set, I was torn between traveling to the mountains or to El Salvador so I rode on a jeepney later to Lumbia but when it turned to a curve, I took off and shode back to SM where I instead bought my gift to myself and my camera buddy - UV protector and cleaning set. :)

 :) Perhaps the adventure should be for tomorrow. :) Thank you Lord for this day!

Day 19: March 27, Sunday  - I started the day with the supposed right food for the body. I never knew I would get more blessings of food for my soul. Perhaps for your soul, too. :)

num num junks and non-junks on a lazy sunday morning

Today of all days must be the most enlightening in this whole 40-day process, because as I wish to discern, angels come to me for aid and He provides answers to my long-yearned questions. After simultaneously reading a wonderful news of repentance, forgiveness, faith and salvation. It opened my eyes to the wonder of God's glory and love for all of us sending us a message that it is never too late for a sinner to change. 

cast your merciful eyes upon us, oh Lord

Lord, I admit I am a sinner and I fully take responsibility for all my actions. I ask for strength to forgive those who have ailed me because only then I know will I be forgiven. I am a mere vessel of your good news though I am not worthy. Let me be clean again so I can be worthy of your love and your salvation. Let those that I touch be touched by you. Let those that you love love you back through my love for them. I beg of you Lord, take my sins and wash them away so that I may live my life as you will it to happen. I love you Lord. 

i am a sinner... heal me Lord

Then, in answer to my longing to visit the Divine Mercy Shrine in El Salvador, Misamis Oriental, I took on a driver-Q&A-direction route to the place even without knowing how to get there. From jeepney rides to motorella rides to aircon bus rides and habal-habal rides, I reached the place in no time. 

aircon buses are a better but more expensive ride

habal-habal towards the hillside

Good thing I knew of the dress code from my read on the internet, hence, I knew exactly what to wear on this sunny Sunday. So I put on my maxi dress, long sleeved black shirt over it and my strappy sandals to complete the get up. 

read it carefully before you enter

dressed from head to foot

After walking some hundred steps up, you'd notice the scenery changing from just trees and rough hillside you could see the wonderful view of the Misamis Oriental bay area and the silhouette of neighboring island Camiguin and its Hibok-Hibok Mountain from the distance. 

yes, I took the long route up

Camiguin Island at a distance

the second plight up

Once reaching the peak, you  could see the magnificent statue standing almost 100 meters tall overlookiing the Northern Mindanao seas as a watch tower to guide the voyagers. It must have been a feat to put it up there in all its grandeur. This is our reminder that the Almighty is above us all to watch over us in all times of our lives. 

the spectacular towering image of the Divine Mercy atop the hill

climbing up to the Lord

After the short but eventful journey, I seemed exhausted but satiated. Though, not too exausted enough to drop by the Panagatan bay side port for another breath of fresh sea breeze and some shots while the sun is radiating its rays on me. I know, sunscreen, and not to worry, I was using one. 

sea, catch me

Then the invites for Christian's son, Chad, who just turned 3 today

kuya and bunso

Chad, birthday boy blows his candle the nth time

we were all watching the same movie

The plus factor was that one movie I could almost relate to (as if) but that perhaps might have just drawn me emotionally into that super cheesy yet heart-breaking series of dialogues from both John Lloyd and Toni. And I thought I was the only one whose eyes were fixed on the tube! Just look at my movie mates! 

yup, my movie mates

Thanks for the wonderfully spent Sunday evening Carpio family! :) Had a blast digging into your dishes tonight plus the free movie (My Amnesia Girl) I had to fix my eyes on for almost two solid hours! :) God bless your family always!

mga bisita ni Chad :)

kani ang mga boys... tagay nga pahipi!

Day 20: March 28, Monday  - I was already up past 3 am hoping to catch on a team I thought would leave by 4am. Whew! I was too early in fact. The lack of sleep didn't stop me from doing what I had to do before the clock ticks to a stop. Almost completed my updates before the OM group reports and had a great learning session this morning. I had completed the survey results needed and then almost halfway through the TC performance evaluation data collation before I had called it a day. Before that I got to interview one applicant before I wrapped everything after a long 13 hours in the office. Blessed be today as always, dear God. Thank you!

food for the eyes and soul

Day 21: March 29 Tuesday  - As it is already half-way through my 40-day spiritual journey and realizations, a lot of compromising situations in the recent past have made me consider correcting my decisions and align them according to what is right and moral. I had one of the most heart breaking conversations over the phone this morning that made me realize I was going the right way this time. I had to heed their call, their plead, especially since they are close to my heart. No amount of tears shed could cleanse what I've stained in the past months but I know they know I was sincere when I apologized, and my God knows my heart is bleeding each time a day passes and I've not done anything to correct that mistake. Sometimes, the mean does not justify the end or perhaps the end does not justify the means, whichever way is applicable. 

for the first time... Marlon in the house!

So then my consolation is a bucketful of crispy fried chicken shared with angels of some sort!:P LOL! Hurray for the glow-in-the-dark tumbler cover and bucket lid! Thanks guys for listening to a broken record, and for the hearty lunch!

constant counsels...

busy SMEs... busy eating...

Day 22: March 30, Wednesday  - It's midweek and there are plenty of things to be excited for today! Aside from the gorgeous sunrise which signals a beautiful day and one of the reasons I wake up to my shift early morning, there's a new batch to welcome today!

morning sun!

It's Pierre's welcoming party and I'm glad to have the OMs and TCs and SMEs and QAs on board to join us! Glad to have Sir Karl and Sir Will too with us. May this small but terrible (in a good way) team prosper with Mommy Mitch's leadership!

welcome Pierre!

light moments with Sir Karl

Then it's time to fulfill our promises - awarding 100 pesos to our best-dressed in sports wear last Friday - Jen from Team Spartanburg, for sporting her kimono to work! Hurray Jen! More theme days to come soon! Thank you for the wonderful day Lord!

congrats sporty Jen!

Day 23: March 31, Thursday  - I could not believe but it's almost my time to do the MOD for the first time!!! That's tomorrow. So before I get too stressed out, especially after our program updates meeting, the guys and I went on a Jollibee spree for lunch. 

Seriously eating huh?

Ya, smile sad gamay oi

That's after a half shift full of work because we know that when we come back to the office it's another half shift more of labour and love. :P 

my crispy hot and spicy chicken meal

And who eats lunch without dessert? :P I'm binge eating I guess, I don't know why. But thank you Lord for the gastronomic blessings!