Save the Date Photoshoot

My signature shot? It just looks cute. <3

"Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame."
Song of Solomon 8:6

Who would have thought that I would be doing this PreNup Photoshoot part 2..tho technically speaking it is a Save-the-Date feature. Anyway they're the same for me, I categorized it under PreNup. XD

Now back to my story.. a friend of mine from SFC, sis Jaque (missyleeloo) has seen my shots from my cousin's (LINK HERE) and she liked it! Wow. That's a nice compliment for me. And of course I said Yes! So again, sis Rona (myjoywaterfall) who's in charge with the productions and I took this opportunity to practice our God-given talent once more (ahem). This was actually a late post since I sought permission from the couple first before posting it here and of course waiting for their official Save-the-Date announcement. By the way we took it last 23rd of January and I had edited all the pics below unless stated. Anyway..here it goes! =)

Edited image credit to: Jacque Gonzalez

Edited image credit to: Jaque Gonzales

I just love this shot.

Again, congrats to this lovely couple..and thank you for the trust to take your photos. =)

I am Beloved

I am a living proof of God’s victory.

As proud as it may seem, I am confident enough to say that I am. I'm only in my late 20s and haven’t really proved anything much to the world, but as I recount the years of my existence, I am 101% certain.

I've experienced joy, frustrations, heartaches, depression and betrayals. My life issues may not be as appalling, bold, tear-jerker and significant as the others but in my world, they are as big and horrendous as any problem can be. I even doubted at one point the reason for my way of life, but interestingly never felt uncertain that God existed. I'm a control freak and I like things to go my way. I've been rebellious at times but would always find my way back. I've got plans and have always dreamed of fame, fortune and pleasure. But unfortunately whatever I do, God never gave me what I wanted.

Instead, he would always give me what I need.

My decision to come to Kuwait came in a jiffy. My salary working in the Government sector is not enough but I'm about to be promoted permanently. My career’s doing great although my routine has turned dreary. My social life is also blossoming, with great people surrounding me. I've also got future plans to travel and do things that I've always wanted to do. But somewhere in my comfortable life..I felt lacking. You know that weird sense of emptiness that people at my age shouldn't be feeling.

Is that what you call mid-life crisis?

Dude, seriously?

I have absolutely no idea. I am happy and I know that I feel content somehow.. but the feeling of wanting to do something and be somewhere won’t go away. So when the chance of Kuwait came up, BAM! I’m out of the country in an instant. Sitting on the plane bound for Kuwait with my Mom in tow is not a picture I would want to remember for the rest of my life, more so convincing myself the reality that just dawned on me. I’m suddenly unemployed, broke, no social life and going to live with my parents for the next year or so. Convincing me of my new reality because of the out-of-the-blue decision suddenly came to haunt me.

Anyway I also do want to find a sense of adventure and something that’s out of my control right? But then you can lie to everyone but definitely not to yourself. So what’s the main reason why I did that?

Escape.

I want to be something else. To be livin’ la vida loca!

I want to have an adventure, to do the things what other people have experienced. I want to have a fun, roller-coaster-kind-of-life. Besides life is too short to waste on unimportant things and we obviously live once. Just like the old saying goes, Carpe Diem!

Fast forward more than two years from that plane ride I'm still stuck living in with my parents and only earning an income through my freelance online job. My idea of adventure didn't happen for things that I found myself lacking, financially so to speak. I'm also still patiently on hold waiting for a more stable work application that I have processed for the last two years and counting. Even though I've decided to give up for the nth time, but somehow when I'm on the verge of doing that small abrupt wake-up calls out of nowhere would overturn my decision to stick with it through thick and thin. It’s probably called divine intervention? No idea really, but I guess it’s a way that God tells me to be a bit more patient. Yes, patience. It’s a very big word that I have obediently been doing and applying to my life ever since.

But then, amongst the struggles that I'm still undergoing, I do however found myself going back to serving God - faithfully and sincerely. Of all places, why in Kuwait? I don’t actually know the answer but I just found myself going with the flow of things. I even developed a new kind social life that is centered with my Church friends and SFC community.

I obviously couldn't really afford expensive things with the very small income that I have, but interestingly I was able to buy myself a brand new Iphone, re-stabilized my wrecked savings account and even paid for this Dubai trip. I even found myself splurging on branded clothes, shoes, bags, accessories and eating at expensive restaurants without asking money from my parents at some point. Amazingly I was also able to help a cousin pay for his tuition from the surplus that I got from my freelance job. Yes, surplus from a very small income that came from a work unexpectedly. I even had the chance to do the things I found myself passionate about like photography and writing after letting myself be in complete surrender to the call of service.

But what’s more interesting? For the past 27 years, I never really found myself committing to any kind of relationship. It’s not that I am scared of love or being in love but I just probably never felt the need to. I thought I am content but then one day God gave me that unexpected gift that gives me joy – an answered prayer. Hopefully. 

All of these blessings suddenly poured unexpectedly. Things I never really thought would come amidst the choices and sacrifices I made prior to deciding to follow His call. Before I may not really know their significance or why these hardships have occurred, but today I am proud to speak out my realizations -that they are God’s victories, my victories.

Honestly, I could go on a different way. I can keep a deaf ear to His call for patience, faithfulness and service. If I hadn't been obedient to His call, I wouldn't be here. I still would have been stuck in my old life where I thought I was really happy with. But life is all about changes and these changes are inevitable. Even though I didn't get the things that I planned for and the dreams that I have always dreamed of, I know God is leading me to the path where I'm supposed to be not where I want to be.

Every day is a challenge but every day is also a victory from God that I would be proud to cherish.

Practice Prenup Photoshoot

"I found the one my heart loves." - Song of Solomon 3:4 

I'm a self-confessed freelance noob at photography and certainly not good at doing photoshoots for other people. I've never even taken any special course for learning Photography..though I did remember having basic Photography 101 during my Art class in College but that's it. I do know the technical terminologies in using an SLR camera but my experience with my babyniko (Nikon D5100) only goes as far back as when I bought him on May 2011 during his first release in the market. I also covered a couple of events from seminars to conferences to gatherings to weddings to festivals but usually only around friends and community people (CFC/SFC and PYMSK) only. Add that I also kind of limit my creative skills to landscape views and yes, according to my mood since my hormones seems to overpower my supposed artistic skills. Though, I do aspire to be a pro someday.

Anyway, as a practice for my so-called future other profession (ahem ahem), I was contracted by my cousin Kuya Daryl and his lovely fiancee Ate Sassy to do their Pre-Nuptial Photoshoot here in Kuwait. Their official and actual photoshoot would actually be covered in Bacolod City a few weeks before their wedding on September 21st. So since the preparation for this practice Pre-Nup shoot was only a day before the pictorial, everything was done in a cram. Funny thing, the night before we even went to Ate Sassy's bridal shower and I only had 4 hours of sleep. But the day was a blast and the photos.. I found them totally amazing! Well maybe I was feeling too proud of myself for being able to accomplish something but like what I said "it's a labor of love".

Location: Al Kout Mall in Fahaheel

Mood: Sudden burst of inspiration out of nowhere :D

Tagpuang Disyembre

Tagpuan is a Tagalog word which when translated in English would mean "place to meet". Tagpuan Disyembre is an event organized by a couple of young Filipino professionals from the different sectors in coordination with Fr. Ben Barrameda, one of the few Filipino priests stationed here in Kuwait. It was said that this was one-of-its-kind although other Filipino communities usually organize sleepovers for different purposes but being the first of its possible many succeeding events in the near future, this overnight youth activity centralizes on a solely Filipino target audience with a theme - "Meeting Christ: Leaving the world behind".

In its entirety, it was a kind of retreat but with a less dramatic platform with the topics discussed that touched more on a generalized issue - answering to His call, understanding the different vocations, career and forgiveness. The topics were delivered in a comprehensible manner that would gain the listener's immediate interest, granted mainly that the talks were presented by Priests and a married couple as guest speaker who gave insight to their own married life and how they answered the call that they're meant to seek that vocation.

It was indeed a fruitful event, with lessons that although I have heard multiple times before but somehow left substantial reminders about the calls that I might've disregarded or failed to take notice.

Essence of Christmas

For the past two weeks, I have been utterly busy preparing for the presentation to represent our unit - Salmiya. Although we only had 3 days to do everything from brainstorming for a good concept, creating dance steps and getting people to participate with us -- everything facilely fit into place as the event draws near.
The event was jam packed with creative juices, showcasing different talents from acting, singing and dancing. Our performance turned out a success with a spice of comedic act when we did our version of the Grinch's story but what amazed me most was seeing the release of SFC Kuwait's station ID were I, luckily, became part of. (NOTE: Since Blogger can't seem to upload the video, I'm putting the link here: Christmas Is About Love Video)

Then, after only a few days when I thought it's high time for a vacation from the community, came another colorful event that I thought I definitely wouldn't miss for the world, even though I'm currently attacked by the flu monster -- the Pasko sa Embassy 2011 organized by SFC Kuwait's Social Ministry aims to share the spirit of giving to the hundreds (250+ to say the least) of female distressed OFWs staying in the Philippine Embassy to feel that they're not forgotten. The basement of POLO office were filled with different faces of Pinays who have different stories to tell. But for a short while, when the affair began, all you could see were happy faces filled with glee and laughter that would remind you that Christmas is really here.

Although it's unfortunately sad to think that this would be the very first Christmas that I'm away from my family and friends back home, I somehow came to realize that what's more important is not the presence nor the material things but how we understand the true meaning of Christmas through the celebration of the spirit of love, joy and sharing.

Renewal of Faith

I grew up in a strong Catholic community wherein my mom initiated us into the service. I remember I was in 3rd grade when I first attended a Couples For Christ Lord's Day celebration where all the ministries gathered together in joyous acclamation of their faith to the Lord. Back then, I honestly couldn't understand all the hype although I had been enrolled in a parochial school. It must be because back then, all I cared about was interacting with my fellow kids to play games while all the adults were raising their hands high up in the air, dancing spontaneously, singing Christian songs and mumbling odd sounds.

My Mom definitely kept the spirit alive. She was really an active member of the community and it's already a common scenario to see people coming to our house on a monthly basis to do their so-called Household activities. Obviously, my brothers and I were immediately included in the community, specifically in the Kids for Christ group, even though we didn't really know its relevance in our young lives.

The summer of my junior year in College, I joined the Youth for Christ group, another ministry of the CFC Family that caters to those in their teens. Just like how I ended up in the KFC group, it wasn't because I wanted to but for sake of writing a report for my Theology class. It was quite selfish, I'm aware of that, but who would blame me if it was the only choice I've got to pass that boring class? CFC was the only Christian community that I am familiar with outside of my Catholic school since the once strangers who'd regularly come to our house were now like my second family, calling the oldies Titos and Titas. I was really confident that writing a report about the community is not much of a big deal, since I know the basics, thanks to my technical Christian background and from the fact that I grew up knowing what these people do even though I didn't care much about it.

But what happened during that 3 day Youth camp was something that I know can't forget. My two high school best friends were with me that time and we all felt something we thought were only the creations of the imaginative mind. During that night when I was being baptized, receiving the Holy Spirit so they say, I honestly swear that I felt there was a moment that I had somewhat been blinded by something. Oddly enough, my eyes were shut tight during that time and on my palm, I really felt something hot like all the energy in my body were being centered there. But that experience only lasted for a few seconds but for me it felt like I could just die at that moment. The feeling was really, really, really weird.

After that experience, I suddenly found myself being more active in the service than my Mom. I would spend most of my free time with my new YFC peers, going to different schools spreading the faith and evangelizing other doubtful teens like me. I joined the Music ministry as a backup, learning, singing and loving all the songs that I once felt were only good for routinary dull Sunday masses and also finding myself doing the odd ways of raising my hands in the air, dancing spontaneously to any rhythm and mumble sounds that I don't really understand but only because I felt like my tongue were just doing it by itself (Tongue worship) that I once thought were quite odd as a means of praising the Lord. I don't know what strange force acted up on me to be like that, but everyone that knew me in the community never felt happier to see me participating more eagerly than I used to.

Good things seems not to last, because after my schedule turned hectic, I then felt myself being pulled away from the service that I'm starting to know better. Unfortunately, I wasn't that strong back then and the support system that should have guided me, one-by-one disappeared due to different conflicts. It only took me a few months to bounce back to my old stressful reality, slowly diminishing my intimate personal connection with God and only seeking him whenever I 'm in need.

Years passed by, after quite a number of changes that occurred to me, I found myself being called unexpectedly into the community once again. Interestingly, not with familiar faces that I grew up with but in a land far from where I never imagined being at in the first place. More so, this time I volunteered sincerely to take part in the 12 long weeks of the Singles For Christ Christian Life Program without anyone telling me to do so. Since I'm obviously not fit anymore to partake in my previous ministry's activities because of the current needs differences, I thought it's about time to accept the call once more and be matured about it - no buts or anything.

And just like one of the bible verses that caught my attention -- "For many are invited but not all are chosen (Matt 22:14)", I felt that the CLP experience as a whole was a wake-up call for me. I've had my fair share of trials in the past and there were moments in my life I felt God was being unfair, always questioning him, believing logically that life is always and will be unfair, but due of the teachings that were shared, I'm now slowly realizing that God only answers prayers in three ways: Yes, No and Not yet time. Although I'm still in the process of accepting the things that I cannot change or is still seeking the wisdom to discern the happenings in my life, I realized the need to view them in a different perspective, more as blessings from God to help me become a good follower. With this understanding that God never ever fails, I'm now a firm believer that all we have to do is to sincerely ask Him and in time everything will be given.

Green Island Picnic

This is my first Eid Holiday and luckily we were invited to attend the CFC Kuwait Family Ministries' Picnic held at Green Island. It was a whole day affair with tons of activities to do. This social gathering reminded me of the ones we have back home. What makes it more awesome was that majority of the attendees were Filipinos.

During break time, I wander around the area to check out what the place has to offer. Guess what? Jet skis! I was excited to rent one when the owner told me that the water was too low. I kind of forgot that it's obviously low tide. So maybe next time... T_T