Another year has started and before I fully leave 2019, I thought it would be good to look back on what transpired in my life.
What hightlights me the most was about going through the pain of business failures, broken relationship, betrayal in the workplace and health problems . It was not a great year for me , but nevertheless it was a season of learning more about myself and life. I guess, I went through with what we call as "Midlife Crisis" as what other people called it.
Overcoming of all those challenges was not really easy, but I thank the Lord for giving me the grace and strength to slowly overcome it. Because of that season, I find myself getting into rediscovering the within me and focused on learning new things towards personal growth.
With that, allow me to share the 7 questions I ask daily that helped me figure out exactly what I need to find myself again.
Getting Ready for 2020
Y2019 was full of losses, but it was full of learning experiences. As I get ready for 2020, 2 things that set me now.
“Those things that hurt, instruct.” —Benjamin Franklin”
As what John Maxwell said, "Sometimes You Win, Sometimes You Learn. " Life is full of ups and downs , but it can be better and more fulfilling if If I look at negatives as a way to learn and grow.
Failure was there to give me the change to rise up with full force for one more time. And if I have to choose a word for 2020, it's EXPLODE. Explode the power within me.
I am so excited for Year 2020 and praying for all the breakthroughs we all deserve.
How to overcome betrayal in the workplace? This has been the question that I have pondering for the last few weeks because I can't believe and I can't accept that I have to go through trust betrayal. But what is trust betrayal? According to Merriam-Webster, it is "to do something very bad and hurtful to someone that causes a loss of respect". Betrayal is a state where there is intentional actions or omissions of a trusted person. Betrayal affects the brain that may include but not limited to the following: damaged self-esteem, self-doubting, shock, loss & grief, and anger. On my end, I eat up all the anger within me that I wanted to rant in social media so I could just release my anger but I know it's not proper to do it. I wanted to move on but I cannot really help it. There is so much pain and moving on is very difficult but as these days passed by, I am reminded with few things.
1. I have 3 choices: Define me, Destroy me, or Strengthen me.
2. In your ANGER do not SIN.Do not give the devil a foothold. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful of building others up. Ephesians 4: 26-29
3. For a man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. James 1:20
4. Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21
5. I will not cause pain without allowing something new to be born says the Lord. Isaiah 66: 9
As I look into the question on how to overcome betrayal in the workplace?
1. Be still. Let Go and Let God. Psalm 46:10
2. Even if that person wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, you must forgive. Luke 17:4
John 16:33 says, In this world, you have trouble but take heart I have overcome the world. Looking back, I overcome the world
when I was diagnosed with ameloblastoma (jaw tumor) check it here.
As of this writing, yes, I am still in pain but I believe and by the grace of God, I know I can overcome the pain of betrayal. Moving on with a better perspective in life.
Good news! The Rural Impact Sourcing Program (RIS) has been shortlisted as one of the nominated projects for the UN-ITU’s World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Prizes under the Capability Development Category.
RIS, is a project of digitalPH, that aims to provide access to economic opportunities to Filipinos in rural communities by introducing them to ICT-enabled jobs, and help them participate in high-value economic activities by providing them with inclusive lifelong learning opportunities. These individuals are typically people who lack access to traditional employment.
The Rural Impact Sourcing program provides selected individuals a technical training that develops/improves their ICT skills and capabilities and uses what they learned not only to find employment but even into entrepreneurship.
Last year, I was given the opportunity to be one of the RIS Trainers in the province of Talavera, Nueva Ecija and Mabalacat, Pampanga. The RISTT Scholars were trained on E-commerce and Digital Marketing for 10 days. The RIS Scholars are trained for 10 days to help them find freelancing jobs and help the local business owners set up their website and generate sales through digital marketing.
Talavera TrainingMabalacat, Pampanga Training
Happy to share with you the websites trainees setup:
Finally, after going through rigid training, their fruit of labor !
Mabalacat RISTT GraduationTalavera Graduation
What's next for them? Their freelancing and entrepreneurial journey begins. It's up to them on how they will maximize the skills and the learnings they got during the training. They are ready and equipped to soar high on whatever path they choose to continue. Some choose the freelancing path, others the entrepreneurial journey. Whatever it is, what matters most is their desire to take action.
Taking on the next step some of our graduates moves forward by giving back to the community what they have learned and share to others as well.
There's still a lot of things to do but my excitement to see these graduates achieve their goal through freelancing and entrepreneurship is worth pursuing and supporting them in their journey. Changing lives, improving community is what Rural Impact Sourcing Program is all about.
Transitioning from the corporate world into a home-based career can sometimes be scary because there are no health benefits. Unlike when you are in the corporate world you get health benefits with the HMO plans provided by the company but that's okay because you can actually get one even as a freelancer. I was looking for an affordable health care option plan that suits my financial capacity and I was able to come across with a prepaid health insurance, MaxiCare Prepaid Health Cards with no requirements for approval.
The MaxiCare EReady Prepaid Health Cards is a one-time medical emergency prepaid health card that covers injuries and illnesses that require immediate medical assistance. There are 2 plan types Titanium Php549 and Platinum Php749 and I opted to purchase the Titanium Php549.
Here are some of Getting a Maxicare EReady Card Titanium Php549 of the features, benefits, and coverage:
Some of the features, benefits, and coverage of Maxicare ERady Card Titanium Php includes
One-time coverage of Php15000 for medical-related emergency cases but you can get 2 subscriptions for a year for 1 person.
The card is valid up to 1 year upon activation and eligible from 15 days old to 65 years old
If you want to know more about an affordable health care option through MaxiCare EReady, check out MaxiCare website here.
For the registration process, I registered through text and here's I got. This can be used for emergency purposes but as always, I don't want to use it 🙂
Getting a MaxiCare EReady Card for Php549 for a value of Php15000 coverage is worth buying for
🙂 .
P.S. By the way, I can't help but share that I won Php5,000 gift certificate Maxicare EReady Balik Eskwela.
How about you? Want to try the Maxicare Prepaid Heath Card?
Transitioning from the corporate world into a home-based career can sometimes be scary because there are no health benefits. Unlike when you are in the corporate world you get health benefits with the HMO plans provided by the company but that's okay because you can actually get one even as a freelancer. I was looking for an affordable HMO plan that suits my financial capacity and I was able to come across with a prepaid health insurance, MaxiCare Prepaid Health Cards with no requirements for approval.
The MaxiCare EReady Prepaid Health Cards is a one-time medical emergency prepaid health card that covers injuries and illnesses that require immediate medical assistance. There are 2 plan types Titanium Php549 and Platinum Php749 and I opted to purchase the Titanium Php549.
Here are some of Getting a Maxicare EReady Card Titanium Php549 of the features, benefits, and coverage:
Some of the features, benefits, and coverage of Maxicare ERady Card Titanium Php includes
One-time coverage of Php15000 for medical-related emergency cases but you can get 2 subscriptions for a year for 1 person.
The card is valid up to 1 year upon activation and eligible from 15 days old to 65 years old
If you want to know more about MaxiCare EReady, check out MaxiCare website here.
For the registration process, I registered through text and here's I got. This can be used for emergency purposes but as always, I don't want to use it 🙂
Getting a MaxiCare EReady Card for Php549 for a value of Php15000 coverage is worth buying for 🙂 .
P.S. By the way, I can't help but share that I won Php5,000 gift certificate Maxicare EReady Balik Eskwela.
How about you? Want to try the Maxicare Prepaid Heath Card?
One of my bucket lists is to travel in South Korea. Guess what? Someone invited me for a 3- 5 days trip to Seoul and experience the cherry blossom season. Whoah! My excitement is up in the sky, ha ha! But wait, the problem is I don't have a passport yet so I checked on dfa.gov.ph and check on how to applyfor passport.
On my first attempt, I set for a DFA appointment through thislink but was so frustrating that all slots are full until the end of March. Well, I heard that there's an issue about it and I give up. Good thing someone told me that DFA is reopening the slot and I have to get it ASAP if I want to catch up.
The system is really slow and there are times that I have to repeat the process. Good thing, I was able to get the appointment after an hour of trying it.
I checked the appointment email (let'see if I really read it 🙂 ) and prepared the following passport requirements :
Printed Application
NSO Marriage Contract
NSO Birth Certificate
Photocopies of Marriage Contract, Birth Certificate, and ID.
Great, I prepared everything and arrived on time with confidence (lol). DFA South is on 4th Floor of Metro Town Center Alabang. As you enter, the guard (on the escalator entrance to 4th floor ) will check if you have the DFA appointment and that's when you come up to the 4th floor. Another person will ask on your time of appointment and you will be grouped in your respective schedule. When I arrived, I was the 20th and was advised to wait first. After 5 minutes, we were asked to fall in line to start the processing.
Upon entering, another guard will check if you have brought all documents. I never thought that this is going to be my big problem, the guard was asking for the barcoded application form. I was confident and insisted ( yes, because I know I always follow instructions) that this is what I received. Of course, the lady guard insisted, she knows the rules 🙂 ! I was advised to go downstairs and ask for that bar-coded form.
Wait, I realized why will go back downstairs, it seems there is something wrong, so I opted for another way and since I saw someone roaming around checking the applicants, I asked the person instead. She advised why would you go downstairs when the Information is there. That feeling of gigil over myself and to the lady guard on why things go wrong when you know you prepared everything beforehand and the lady guard with mislead information.
I asked the lady guard to let me step in and ask the validating area ( this is actually the 1st step of the whole process) and again I insisted that I received this "blank application" and I just write on it.
Oy my, I found out my mistake, yes I downloaded passport application form but that was not the link I am supposed to download and I failed to notice it. With this one mistake, it cost me more time and work since I have to look for an internet cafe where to print the said form. Anway, after that trouble I was able to get one and proceeded to next step.
I went back to the document verification section and documents were verified.
What's next? The processing section. I was asked if it's my first time, a little on the personal info and on the processing time. There are two options : (1) Regular - 7 working days for 950 (2) Express - 15 working days for Php1,200.00. I opted for regular and was given a slip for the payment.
Next Step: The Cashier Section. I paid for the Regular Processing fee of Php950.00.
Next Step: The Encoding Section. This is the process where all your information is encoded and take photo. You will be ask to take off colored contact lens, eye glassesand earrings. You will also be asked whethere you want to pick up the passport or you want it to be delivered. I opted for delivery.
Next Step: I paid for the Courier Delivery which is Php150.00
Okay, everything is finished and it took me 2 hours to process everything.
That's it, there's always the first time what matters most is I learned from my mistake. I hope you learn the basic steps on how to apply for passport, know the passport requirements and yes, sometimes you will need patience.
Hurray! I am still waiting for my passport and I am excited to visit South Korea soon when God permits 🙂 .
It's already 33 days with no freelance project! With consistent applications, lowered the rate and even shortlisted, still, no project closed. If I think about it, I have qualified skills and have a lot of value to offer to clients, but at this moment there are no projects coming.
As we go through this season, a new trial comes in, my mother-in-law is fighting for her life. Oh, how she loves to sleep; she has been sleeping for 5 days.
Facing trials can be frustrating, tiring, painful and we tend to ask "Why Lord", we tend to ask for answers. But in this moment, how should we really respond to such circumstance?
Let me share how I responded to endure the tests and trials through God's grace:
I cry out to God to ask for more strength. I know for a fact that trials will help develop my character and that he desires for me to have that strong dependence on him.For me to fully learn how to depend on him and that he alone is the source of my strength.
Give thanks. Yes, I still praise God and thankful to him that even in our difficult situation he has never left us. God has given us favours to our day to day living and even provision on my mother-in-law's hospitalization. Yes, it may be difficult to give thanks but through his grace, I am still able to say thank you, Lord.
I continue to TRUST in HIM. I may not understand the reason behind it but I am still believing in God's goodness.
In this season of our lives, I have a God who is my refuge, a God of Comfort and a God who will not forsake me.
A righteous man may have many troubles but the Lord delivers him from them all. - Psalm 34: 19
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. - Psalm 46: 1
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous hand. - Isaiah 41:10
In this season of our lives, trials are not meaningless and God will always remind us that he is a big God.
Give thanks in all circumstances, for this God's will for you in Christ Jesus- 1 Thessalonians 5: 18
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. - James 1:2-4
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. - 2 Corinthians 4:17
Be still, and know that I am God. - Psalm 46:10
My friend, if you are reading this and you are going through something, Cheer up :). Even when life is difficult, there's always a big reason to smile because of God's love to you and me. His love for us is so great that he sent his son Jesus Christ, to die for our sins. Isn't that great?
