Lessons from Mister Stingy!

Every moment should be an opportunity to learn something new...yes, very true but hopefully not on the days when you are expecting to pamper and reward yourself with extra 'goodness'! Not on the days when you are ready to ignore the status quo for the sake of enjoyment. Not on the days when you just wanted to relax and free yourself from all worries. But that moment was unstoppable, the opportunity was so clear and was meant to take place.

It was an awkward yet a remarkable experience for me and Dennis in Singapore several months ago. Our supposed to be 10-day great Singapore experience turned into an unexpected miracle eye- opener for us. It wasn't the beautiful city or the awe-inspiring sites that made us remember Singapore. Ask us again about Singapore and we will untiringly tell you the lessons learned from Mister Stingy!

I call him Mister Stingy-- he is a full blooded Pinoy and lives in Singapore with his wife and daughter. He has been there working for nearly 10 years to support his family. His lovely wife stays at home taking care of their daughter who now goes to primary school. Mister Stingy doesn't rent a house, rather he owns an old but decent three-bedroom flat. It was sold to him by his previous landlord  by installment and currently pays reasonable monthly amortization to the bank. He has managed to lease the spare bedroom which now gives him additional source of income. He has also acquired properties in the Philippines and saved something for his early retirement. He doesn't really earn a lot ... just enough to take good care of his family. But he takes care of his finances very well, far better than any accountant (including myself!) can do.

So what's the magic key to Mister Stingy' s success story? LIVING SIMPLY! He lives a very simple yet contented life! A life of no waste, no excess,  no unnecessary add-ons! Just enough for everything. When he travels, he travels light. He always tries to fit things in one suitcase if possible. And it works well on him most of the time. The bottom line here, all of us can start  living responsibly by starting where we are now and what we currently have. No need to wait for a job promotion or a bigger salary to start saving for our future. If we want to be truly blessed, we just have to learn how to manage God's blessings responsibly and live LIFE simply.

If Mister Stingy made it, why cant we? Good luck to our new journey towards voluntary simplicity!

What Kind of Spice Are You?

Friends who really know me can easily say - "Chill cannot survive in her kitchen all by herself because she cannot really cook!" It's a shame but that's true! Cooking is not really my cup of tea. Rather than putting my apron on and dipping my hands on the sink, I think Dennis would prefer me calling our favorite restaurant for a quick food delivery. At least, we are all assured that we will not starve for the day. Good thing, we always have Kathy to save our hungry tummies.

But despite of my cooking deficiencies, I am not putting my hopes down. I have promised myself I will be learning how to cook the best way I can.In fact, I started my lesson last week with various spices and I would like to share some interesting thoughts on it.

Have you ever thought that spices are pretty much like us? Read below some of my favorites and decide for yourself:

Every kitchen has this - Black Pepper. It has a sharp, penetrating aroma and with a woody, piney flavor. It is hot and biting to the taste.

Cilantro has the "indescribable" bold flavor - it has a mixture of sage, parsley, and citrus that adds pungent flavor and sets apart many dishes.

Cinnamon (my personal favorite)is characterized as woody, musty, earthy, and sweet flavored spice. It is warming to the taste. Cinnamons can be whole, sticks, or ground and can be used in spiced vegetable dishes as well as in sweet baking dishes.

Paprika is the "garnish spice" that contributes brilliant color and sweet pepper flavor in light colored dishes. It is often used in French dressing and a popular addition to many rubs, marinades and sauces.

For no good reason,most of us can be like Mr Black Pepper - sharp and woody and hot tempered (and bite like a dog when being annoyed!).

Boldness that sets apart -now I can call this "cilantropic attitude". Looking at the positive side, cilantropic people can inspire us with their creativity and boldness in all their endeavors.

Speaking about Cinnamoners, I think everybody would want to be like them -- warm, good natured souls. They are down to earth and can hang out with people from all walks of life.

The Paprikans are people gifted with brilliance that can illuminate a gloomy atmosphere. Their mere presence can inspire and spice up one's life.

And of course, who can ever forget Mr.Salt? No further words required, but no cooking can survive without a pinch of salt.

So what about you? Have you thought what kind of spice are you?

Create a difference, spice up your life with love and goodness!

When Life Makes No Sense...

Oasis in the Desert…

That Thing Called....PURPOSE!

Surrender to Surprise...

Life is Beautiful ...

Life is full of amazing surprises…Sometimes it makes you shiver and cry…Sometimes it brings you joy and laugh on high…Sometimes it says nice hellos …Sometimes it bids painful good-byes…Life is full of hopes and wondrous graces…Sometimes we see it, sometimes we don't…Sometimes we just sit and wait for our stars to come out…Sometimes we just close our eyes and let the day pass with a sigh…Sometimes we lift up everything on high and say let it be…But life goes on beyond laughters and tears, hopes and wishes…Life awaits hopeful beginnings to those who can truly accept painful endings …Life treasures long friendships to those who can endure agonizing distances…Life moves mountains to those who can struggle weak knees and fretful hearts…Life brings forth a beautiful journey to those who really believe and make life beautiful.


Everyone has his own creative way of starting a new year. I started mine dusting up and recollecting my old memory files. As far as I can remember, those memory trinkets I have kept were ten or fifteen years ago but it seems like the words and the memories are as fresh as those good old days. I should have created my own memory museum to capture and preserve all of these. Would you imagine our happy childhood days when love letters are finely written in sweet scented stationeries and cards are well crafted with beautiful words and sincerest feelings of love and friendship? And who can forget the smiley faces, the beautiful collection of scents and stickers, the secret pen names, the poetic words, and heart-warming flatteries? Ahhh…those were the days of great adventures…carefree moments of creating dreams and wishes…and literally, an era of simplicity and hopefulness.

Yes, sometimes it’s good to think of happy memories when you are bombarded with uncontrollable spills of life. It clears your perspective and somehow, makes you feel not all days are bad and this one will soon pass. Perhaps, some of us went through days of faltering faith, tormenting nights of tears and worries, and unending race to nowhere. I did, and I still do from time to time. There are times, when I just don’t know how to pray and say thank you. There are times, when I get so impatient and too confident to do things on my own. There are times, when I expect too much and ended up so distressed with my expectations. There are times when my own race of life becomes meaningless and exhausting. But despite these low tide moments of my life, I realized, life is, and can always be beautiful if I choose it to become beautiful.

Would you believe, there is always beauty in every detail of our ordinary existence? There is beauty in the failure of our dreams…it motivates us to get up and learn and start again building new dreams. There is beauty in the parting of lives…it brings us to another beginning and a time to begin a fresh new life. There is beauty in being heart broken…it restores our hearts and makes our soul strong after the wound has healed. There is beauty in not having enough money…it makes us contented in living a simple life. There is beauty in patiently waiting for our destiny… it makes us realize even if the waiting takes a lifetime, everything will be worth the wait. There is beauty in being restless…it makes you cling to a great God and yearns for his protective embrace.

Indeed, there is beauty in love and pain…in high tides and low tides… in success and failures…in joy and sadness…in hellos and goodbyes…in certainty and ambiguity…in life and death. And remember, life can always be beautiful if you make it so.

Because She Is A Mother….

This is a tribute to my wonderful Nanay, and to all those brave women who would be soon become mothers.

Because she is a mother…
She watches over you when you go to sleep
She wakes up every time you open your eyes
She worries when you shed out tears and cry so hard
She laughs when you show her your first tricks
She dances with joy when you call her ‘mommy’

Because she is a mother…
She senses the touch of your hands
She feels the silence of your pain
She knows the surprises of your life
She dreams the sky of your happiness
She embraces the whole of your being

Because she is a mother…
She wishes… you embrace her so close in your heart
She yearns… you shower her with everyday kisses
She prays… you appreciate her uncomplaining love
She hopes…you make the very best out of your life
She dreams…you fly high yet have your feet on the ground

Because she is a mother…
She endures…she suffers…she forgives.

Because she is a mother…
She cares…she trusts…she loves with all her heart and soul.

Your Sunniest Day!

The sunniest day should be yours today
Because the sky is clear and the clouds are happy

The sunniest day should be yours today
Because the birds are singing and the sea is breezy

The sunniest day should be yours today
Because the flowers are blooming and the butterflies are busy

The sunniest day should be yours today
Because your world is blessed and your smiles are plenty

The sunniest day should be yours today
Because I found you and that make you lucky.

The sunniest day should be yours today
Because my heart says I love you and that extends to infinity.

Land of Haste...

I was browsing my old files, and i found this piece...i wrote this when i was just starting my new life in this new place. I didn't know the "Land of Haste" i used to call, would be my new found home. I'm glad not only I've come to learn the rules in this land, but also I've learn to found love in this place.

Land of Haste...

I was only here in this new place for a week but it seems like I was cruising an eternity of haste. “Culture shock” may be a strong term to describe what I was undergoing, but somehow some events caught me unprepared, which undeniably gave a “little shock on my nerves.” This kind of ‘rush life’ is never new for most people here. But if you are a “fragile soul” and are used to a serene, organized way of living, then you will be like “a hermit being deprived of your seclusion and thrown in the middle of the noisy and crowded world.”

But there’s nothing wrong about living a “rush life”. In fact, it amazed me to see how these people could thrive in this defiled, busy, and crowded environment. Or how these people--young and old alike--run after buses as they commute everyday and cross the speedy express ways and skyways. Or how these people endure outrageous traffic jams everywhere on the streets and tolerate the smokes and gases emitted on air. Or how these people ordinarily anticipate floods when it rains. Or how these people amazingly survive in this “land of haste.”

There are actually a lot of things in here that I, and probably, some of you out there, would not dare doing or would not bear undergoing! Surviving is never easy in this land of haste, much more, to survive with every piece of your heart, mind and soul still intact. Probably reason why, toughness rather than tenderness sparks from these people. Everything ,whether how tough it is, they do just to survive gracefully in this land of haste.

But despite of its negative side, it is still exhilarating to know a world like this exists. I knew it does but I never actually realize it would be like this. Certainly things didn’t happen overnight for these people. They must have undergone tough moments as well as long and arduous adjustment period before they finally set their nerves in place.

Finally, here’s another lesson I got in here:

“Life is a battlefield and every man is a soldier. If you are weak, you die, if you are strong, you survive. And the strong should command, should lead, should dominate.”

Hopefully, I’ll soon learn the rules in this land of haste.

Love's Fascination...

I found love when I was not searching
I sought faith when I was not faltering
I saw destiny when I was not looking
In God’s perfect plan, I found love
In God’s perfect love, I found you.

I’ve been into places, seeing different faces
But I haven’t found a face I wanted to dream at night
I’ve been up there above the clouds, soaring the sky
But I haven’t gone-sky high the way when I’m with you

Love takes wings and soar me on high
Love carries me at the far ends of the earth
Love creates all higher possibilities
Love gives me the greatest miracle I’ve ever imagined


a love poem for Neil and Jenny....

A Beautiful Soul...

He is there to wake me up each morning…
He is there to fill my day with joy and anticipation…
He is there to create beautiful sketches in my sky…
He is there to sprinkle water when I’m suffering from life’s parchedness…
He is there to patiently listen to my hundred and one story…
He is simply there to remind me of God’s amazing love.

Thank you, Oh Lord, for such a beautiful soul you put in my world.

When you marry...

marry her statistics and your love shall be measured.
marry her mercifulness and you shall be spared anxiety.
marry her success and you shall find yourself competing with her.

marry her passions and you shall easily outgrow yours.
marry her vitality and you shall always be charging your batteries.
marry her practicality and you shall expect drought in your pocket.
marry her simplicity and you shall soon try to escape from monotony.

marry her sensibility and you shall lose your whimsical tendency.
marry her strange and subtle ways ,
and you shall become more ordinary.
marry her charm and beauty,
and your love shall cease when beauty fades.
but marry her heart and soul, and you shall grow old with her.

To Where You Are...

To where you are, there I will be…
Holding your hands and protecting thee…
Watching you grow and making you see…
Life is more beautiful when you came to me.


To where you are, there I will be…
Giving you strength and loving thee…
Sharing your dreams and letting you be…
The light and love that will always sustain me.


To where you are, there I will be…
I will find your soul and start my journey…
I will reach the sky and follow my destiny…
It is You…and only be You throughout eternity.

A wedding poem for Vey and Joey...

Thoughts...

Thoughts that linger, it keep my mind to ponder.
Thoughts that shiver, it urge my heart to wonder.
Thoughts that breather, it put my soul to slumber.

Thoughts from nowhere, recollect the bits of laughter,
Reminisce the pains of a tear,
Overpower the pangs of a dismal year,
Anticipate the joys of forever.

Thoughts may break of rectify me,
Thoughts may curse or bless me
Thoughts may make me an angel or a devil,
Thoughts may bring me heaven on earth or earth on heaven.

Thoughts let me live.
Thoughts let me die.
Thoughts will always be my precious bead.

THANK YOU...

Thank You…When someone utters these words spontaneously and with all sincerity, my heart dances with euphoria. When I give someone a gift, a favor, Or a portion of my precious time, I ought to have something in return. But that something doesn’t have to be an expensive gift, a remarkable favor, or a return for my precious time. All I need to give you back to me is your sincerest thank you.

It’s not actually the idea of expecting always something in return, but it is the remarkable feeling of joy that I get from being appreciated and thanked for. For I understand, the spirit of giving does not end with the gift being given to you. Rather it continues when you give thanks and make another person feel good.

You see, if the human race knows the importance of thank-yous in our lives,we could have prevented thousands of people from being miserable and distressed. We could have put a spark of hope in their lives,by simply thanking them for creating a difference in us. We could have move mountains and lift a soul by our simple whisper of thank you. And perhaps, if all of us take time to make it a habit to say that simple thank you, we could have created heaven in the middle of the world.

That is why, if there’s one word left in the world, I want it to be…THANK YOU!

Roller coaster...

Roller coaster is unpredictable. You get in, you sit down, and you’re strapped on. You’re there for the ride. And then you go up, then you go down, and your stomach feels like it’s falling out of your body. It’s so exciting and you’re scared and you don’t know where you’re going and you don’t know what’s happening next. It just goes around and around and around.

Life is like a roller coaster. You just get on, and you’re there for the ride. You go up, you go down, you make mistakes, you get praises, you feel good, you feel bad, you tell the truth, you tell lies, you get a slap on your face, you get an honest reward, you win some, you lose some, you love today, you will be out of love tomorrow.

Like a roller coaster, everything in life is uncertain. No one stays on top no one remains at the bottom neither one clings at the center. It may not be given as a choice but everyone can have the chance to have a good ride in the roller coaster of life.

Ring of Fate

It’s amazing how events take place and link people to follow the course of destiny. Sometimes, we think why certain people are put in our path and unconsciously transform our lives. Sometimes, we don’t understand why bridges are build to mend broken relationships. Sometimes, we need to cry but we hold back those tears from falling and we ask, why can’t we cry? Sometimes, to forgive seems so easy but to forget is really tough to remember. Sometimes, we question why it has to be this way and not that way. Sometimes, we wish things didn’t happen. Sometimes, we wish things happened. Sometimes, we wish a lot of things. Sometimes, we don’t wish at all because we’re tired of wishing. Sometimes, we doubt whether destiny is real or not. Sometimes, we don’t know if we are living towards our own destiny or going somewhere else. Sometimes, we falter on our faith and slowly cease on hoping. Yet, sometimes hope never totally abandons us. With a tiny spark of hope left within us, we let fate takes its own course because that’s the way life should be. Like the ring of fate, we carry strongly in our hearts the faith that, one day we will all reach the place destined for each one of us.

In Its Own Time...

Perhaps the best way to achieve freedom in your life is to know and decide when and where you want to put your own hole in the sky. Luckily, I’ve seen myself thriving in this dimension. I may had exerted an ordinary effort, or spent an ordinary time, or found an ordinary place, or make friends with ordinary people, yet the learning I’ve had weren’t ordinary at all. Each of us goes through a transition stage. We don’t exactly know what we want, where we should be or what we see ourselves to be. Perhaps, I am passing through that time now. There is this feeling of wanting for more, of giving another best shot, of harnessing what I believe is there to cultivate, of taking risk, of learning more . There are a lot of things I want to do... there is my passion to publish and author a book... there is my vision of seeing myself as a great speaker and trainer... there is my hallucination of being a psychologist... there is my hidden cry to become a nun... there is my desire to be like Ally Mcbeal, the lawyer... there is my fervent prayer of becoming an angel in heaven... so many things I want, so many dreams I wish...thank God, dreams and wishes are freely given! Yet I found myself gasping for air, breathlessly confused of where I am now. It seems like life offers me with so many beautiful things, yet I keep on craving for other things...and I’m afraid to see myself holding with nothing!

Opportunities, I said to myself, are not circumscribed to one soul and so is bad luck. Everyone must have his own chance of taking a win or a loss in the gamble of life and so am I . I know I won’t have it all at the same time but I can have those things in its own time. As the maxim goes, ‘do one tick at a time.” And the flower will die or bloom in its own time...and the bird will rest or soar in its own time...and the waves will rise or fall in its own time...and love will hurt or inspire in its own time...and life will perpetuate or cease in its own time... for everything has its own season, every season has its own dimension, every dimension has its own reason, and every reason has its own time.

So I won’t let that moment slip through my fingers, it may not come to me again. Rather, I would savor its presence while its there. I would take time to smell the roses, or see the butterfly flies, or appreciate the moon and the stars as they shine at night. I would rather talk less and listen more to what the experience is telling me. I would say more ‘I love you,” and more “I am sorry,” even if the circumstance does not require. And mostly, I would give my best shot at life, seize every moment, look at it and really see it and live it and love it --- for it will never come back!

Images Of Love...

I never knew love could be a teacher...it can patiently transform the minds…it can persistently teach the heart with values…it can continuously enlighten the path on life’s highways…it can eternally create marks on our lives.

I never knew love could be an activist…it can confidently cry out to the street his lamentations…it can bravely fight for his dreams and convictions…it can explicitly uncover his pretensions…it can certainly express his noble intentions.

I never knew love could be an artist…it can do charcoal portrait of pains, jealousies, and hurt…it can fill the canvass of the heart with different shades and hues…it can simply draw beautiful sketches of love’s memories…it can interpret the unfathomable ways of love with its abstract.

I never knew love could be a saint…it can bear all sufferings without hesitations…it can endure all pains without questions…it can give without returns and conditions…it can give up his life for his faith and convictions.

But most of all…I never knew love could be you. And that I could love the way I have loved and will always love you!