Thank you series: More old friends from Manila

I had a blast last week. Why?

1. Because I felt Christmas and had a pre-celebration
2. Because I got to spend 5 great days with one of my bestest-bestest friends
3. Because I found a community

It's just 3 months since I left Manila and I'm pleased to see one of them here. It's also funny how my friends never got to meet each other since I left. Isn't it ironic that I met one of them first, in Macau, when all of them are based in Manila. :) Gosh these girls!

Anyway this was truly a blessing from God. Last month, I was chatting with my friend Jill. She was saying how she wished she could go to Macau while I was saying I wished to have a community ( a way to serve God). Guess what about three weeks after our chat she buzzed me again to say she had to go to Macau for an event. Even better, she asked me to help her. What a blessing! Truly God's ear and heart is BIG to hear us always :)

So there we were, serving God while enjoying the time together with our husbands and a community.

Here are some of our photos during their visit.

BFF's


BFF's near a Temple


Pretty Jillie :)


Jill and Jon (cable ride)


Kuya Obet and I (Cable ride)

Surfing!!!

Jill, Jon and an ... anchor

Me with my baby on event night.


Christmas Tree of Pledges


Group Picture :)

Thank you series: One day budget trip in Macau

It's my second time to visit Macau and at the rate I'm going, I'd probably be visiting Macau once every month. Last October it was to celebrate my birthday, this time (November) it was to be the tourist guide of our friends who are here on a business trip. On December, I expect to go there again to attend a Gawad Kalinga event.

Anyway for our trip my hubby and I prepared a packed day for our friends. We only had one day and we had to make sure that we make the most of their visit. I'm just glad that they enjoyed amidst the hot sun and aching leg muscles. According to them, it felt like 'Amazing Race' but it was all worthwhile.

Check out our itinerary. (Consider that we came from China mainland and that we only had a day. We also opted to make this as cost efficient as possible so we opted NOT to stay overnight although we were very much tempted to stay the night so we can do some shopping the next day :) ).

7:30 am Left our houses to catch the bus.
7:45 am Arrived in Fuhua hotel and bought our bus tickets. We took the bus ride from Zhongshan to Zhuhai/GongBei. Cost per person is 20RMB per person

9:00 am Queued in China immigration, exiting China.
9:15 am Queued in Macau immigration, entering Macau.
10:35 am We exit immigration and ... arrive in Macau. We began taking pictures! Incidentally it was the day of Grand Prix Eliminations. :)

10:40 am Took the number 3 bus and headed for San Malo. Cost per person is 2.5Macau Pataca per person

10:50 am We arrive at San Malo. After a few minutes of deliberation we decided to eat lunch at Pizza hut.

11:10am Lunch is served!

12:00noon Began our sightseeing in San Malo. Visited Ruins of St. Paul and the Macau Museum.

1:30pm Took the number 33 bus to Taipa. Cost per person is 3.3Macau Pataca per person
2:30pm Got a little lost but we found the Venetian eventually. It was ok though since we got to take a few more photos of the streets of Macau.

3:00 to 5:30pm Time spent admiring Venetian (inclusive of idle/rest time. We just had to sit a while to relax our aching feet).

5:45pm Left Venetian via cab going to Macau Tower. We opted to skip the 'free bus ride of Venetian' to maximize the time. Cost of cab ride for 4 people is 50 MOP from Taipa to Macau tower (Not bad eh :P )

6:00pm Arrived in Macau Tower. We also visited the stores Toys R Us and Warner Brothers. As always shopping and photo moments took a little longer.

6:45pm Arrived at New Yaohan mall and had our dinner at Sakura Tei. Yummy! :)

7:30pm More sightseeing for us at Wynn and Lisboa. We enjoyed the bright lights and the 'Dancing Fountain.'

8:30pm Tired to the bones, we now decided to go home. We hailed a cab who brought us back to the border. Cab ride to border from city for 4 people costs 50 MOP.

8:45pm Now we had to exit Macau immigration and enter China immigration.

9:30pm Done with immigration. Less people when it's late so queue was faster.

10:05 Now time for us to take a cab home. No more bus at this time so we had to take a cab. Took us 10 minutes to negotiate with the cab for a ride from border to Zhongshan City. Cab ride home for 4 people costs 200 RMB.

11:00pm we arrive at the Zhongshan. Now we needed another cab who will bring us home. Had to hail another cab who knew Zhongshan better.

11:30pm Arrived home. Cab ride home for 4 people costs 50 RMB.

A few things to note:

• In Macau, HK dollars are accepted by stores but I do suggest that you have your money changed to MOP (Macau Pataca). This will help you save a little more since HK dollars is a little higher that MOP.
  
• Venetian is such a big place, you need at least 1 whole day to visit it's every nook and cranny. However you can prioritize what you want to see. Maximize the available touch screen floor plans found at the lobby. There are also free maps for you to refer too.
• Gondola rides in the Venetian cost around 105MOP per head for adults and 60MOP for kids. It's cool, romantic with live singing from the boat drivers.
  
• Venetian is also in Taipa island so best to group your visits. (Example: Taipa island = Venetian. Macau island = St Paul Ruins, Macau Tower, Grand Lisboa, Fountains of Wynn etc)
  
• The area of Grand Lisboa and Wynn are best visited at night. The lights are amazing so day trips are suggested in Macau tower, the Museums, St. Paul Ruins and the shopping area.
• Cost of activities in Macau tower are: Bungee jump = 1700MOP Skywalk= 780MOP Entrance fee to enter the tower = 100MOP
  

Thank you series: Congratulations Simon!

I'm very lucky to have very creative and talented friends. From video editors, animators, designers to composers. One of them is Simon Peter Tan. I've witnessed how his career flourished and how he has made it a point to share his talent. With him, God always comes first! That's why he is also greatly blessed.

Anyway, last year he composed the summer station ID of GMA network, and recently he also put music to GMA Networks 2008 Christmas station ID. I like the song, it's simple and very refreshing! Just right for the modern, materialistic and cluttered world we live in. Congratulations Simon!

The GMA network video can be watched in YouTube. (sorry couldn't embed so I just linked it here)

He has also been very nice to me and my hubby. He worked on our wedding theme song by putting music to my words. Simon, and his wife, Jacque, also sang the song for us. Here is an AVP, I made using the song.

Thank you series: Paskuhan sa Gawad Kalinga in Macau on Dec 2008

God is truly great!

Yesterday I got to chat with my childhood friend Jill. She told me about the upcoming event of Gawad Kalinga in Macau next month. I'm just so happy and ecstatic that my tears welled up as soon as I read the news. It's just amazing how God knows our needs and our heart!

Lately I've been missing my service and friends. Also been experiencing a little drought in my spiritual life. I do pray and read the bible daily but I miss the church and community that I had in Manila. So you see, her news was just so timely for me. Best of all I will have the chance to spend time with one of my bestest-bestest childhood friends, Jill. (Of course we will be with our hubbies this time! :) )

Jill and I in 2005.


Old pic with friends. Now 4 of 5 are married.

Anyway for SFC and CFC members, Filipinos or anyone interested, the GK event 'PASKUHAN SA GAWAD KALINGA', will be on Dec 6, 2008 in Macau. Sorry don't have the exact details yet, but will post it here as soon as I do. There will also be a GK forum on the eve of Dec 5.

God bless you all and Happy Friday!

Sunnysideup perspectives: The seasons of our lives

I'd like to share a very inspiring video by Bo Sanchez. It's about the seasons of our lives. When we experience growth, failure, change and end. I can relate so much especially since I'm in a moment of many changes in my life.

This is also very timely since we just had All Souls day and Halloween. Reminds us of our need to grow and move on. Plus it's a great way to start our week. A blessed Monday to you all!



Got this video from Youtube, uploaded by Annasamovar.

Thank you series: Praise God!

Today September 21, 2008, we attended Sunday mass online. Thanks to the Internet, my hubby and I got our weekly dose of spiritual sustenance. We also had a very intimate and rewarding reflection and we talked about the gospel and our realizations. It's amazing how He is working in us, molding us and preparing us for greater things.

Truly God affirmed me today through this mass and the gospel. He has consoled me once more and I know that I need not worry because I am exactly where I should be.

All I can say is Praise you Lord, I cannot thank you enough for all the blessings you have showered me.