Outlook and Plans 2009: Doing MORE than What I Think I Can Do

In the homily of Fr. Raymond Arre, parish priest of the Parish of the Holy Sacrifice, in a
mass during the Feast of the Holy Family last December 28, he said that The Holy Family of
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph urges us to do more than what we think we can do in our life everyday - love a little more, forgive a little more, give a little more than what we did the previous day.

Using that message as an inspiration, I now start laying the groundwork for my personal
plans and outlook in the coming year 2009.

Admittedly, this is the the most disastrous year I have ever experienced in my entire life since the suffering I had in the first half of 2000. I lost a job (and had difficulty getting one), I exhausted all my savings, I had debts here and there, I'm undecided in almost everthing I want to do, and I'm not that confident in my future. I'm almost in the verge of a break down....

But now, after thinking things over, I decided to leave those things behind and start to create my plan for next year and in the years to come.

As a framework for my plans for 2009, my ultimate focus points for the next year will be:

(1) Find a secure job. This may not be necessary a teaching job, but may be somewhat related. An office job may do - I just REALLY need a job. I need to have one before the end of January 2009.

(2) Settle all debts. This might take a while but I plan to pay my creditors by installment
- even little by little (Well, sorry for two of my personal creditors - I just need to adjust my finances first). My goal is to be debt-free by April or June 2009.

(3) Maintain or find additional sources of income. I currently have two "side lines" and a possible one coming in by January, but I need to find at least one more before March 2009. A Multiply contact might help me through his "system".

(4) Save, save, save - and maintain the savings! As if I didn't do this before - it's just that I just didn't do it PROPERLY then. Based on the principle of "doing a little bit more", I need to save money and maintain MORE than enough just in case another financial crisis strikes me again.

(5) Take the Career Service Examination. Yes, if I decide to take a shot at a decent paying, REGULAR, and PERMANENT government position even without a Master's degree (as
opposed to a TEMPORARY Instructor 7 with a Master's degree), I need to take and pass the Career Service Examination administered by the Civil Service Commission. I need to take it by February 2009 to be eligible for a government job by March or April (just in case I don't have a job by the end of January).

(6) Take at least 12 units of Education subjects out of the required 18 units for the LET. This will lay the groundwork for taking the LET in 2010 to be able to teach in high school. The last 6 units will be taken in the summer or the first semester of 2010. Note: this may be optional, depending on the job that I'll have in 2009.

(7) Continue to serve the Lord through the LCG. Yes, whatever happens to my plans in 2009, I will continue my service to the Lord as a lector/commentator in the Parish of the Holy Sacrifice. This will act as my thanksgiving to the Lord for letting me live through the hardships in 2008. To God be the glory!

Unfortunately, the crucial decisions I will make next year entail many sacrifices. They may not be easy for me but I have to do them to ensure my security of tenure next year and
lay the groundwork for a future teaching career. Some of the possibilities are:

(1) Leaving a place I used to stay because - as I and my colleagues in the church see it - it might be the one weighing me down and hampering my well-being and career growth
(goodbye, "excellence" in math?)

(2) Related to number (1): Setting aside something I may not immediately use and concentrate first in earning money, paying debts, saving for the future, and getting Educ
units (Graduate studies, perhaps?). This might entail going to another college or institution (UP Educ or PNU, here I come?)

While the above plans may be plausible enough on my part, things may not be that easy
because of different factors such as the looming effect of the global financial crisis. However, I just have to up the ante a little and do a little bit more than what I did in the previous year. And I really need a lot of GUTS to implement them - this is now the the time to avoid procrastination and catch up after being sidelined for more than half a year. And of course, I will be needing a lot of faith and leaving everything in God's power to guide me through my plans and dreams. HIS will be done!

I hope that all my friends and colleagues (past and present) support me in my Herculean endeavor next year. Things may not be easy, but I'll get by through God's guidance and everyone's prayers and encouragement. Wish me luck... ^__^

And with this I wish everyone a blessed and fruitful year 2009!

Friends(ter) No More: Say Goodbye to Gibey's Friendster Account

For my Multiply contacts who are also my "friends" in Friendster, you will read this announcement in the Bulletin of your respective Friendster Accounts. This is regarding my cancellation of my account in Friendster. My other Friendster account supposed to be for my former students in UP will be cancelled as well.

Here's how my bulletin goes:


Good day and Merry Christmas to all my contacts here in Friendster!

This is to inform all of you that Gibey's friendster account (http://profiles.friendster.com/gibey) will CEASE TO EXIST beginning 3:00 pm of Wednesday, December 24, 2008, Philippine Standard Time (PST).

This may be sad for all of you but I hope for the understanding of everyone. This is just to free myself of maintaining a useless account that I myself cannot manage (unlike other people - especially high school students - who spend, err, WASTE their time tweaking their accounts with mundane reasons I do not know).

At any rate, I would like to express my gratitude to all those who bothered to add me as their friend/contact in Friendster. You can just visit my Multiply site (http://gibey.multiply.com) for personal updates or for some good reads in my blog, or just
e-mail me directly.

Again, have a blessed Christmas to everyone and see you around :)

Why Jesus Christ is Better than Santa Claus

Why is Jesus Christ better than Santa Claus? Read this message forwarded to me by my colleagues in the Parish. This will also help us reflect on the TRUE reason for celebrating Christmas....

REMEMBER:

Jesus is Better than Santa

Santa lives at the North Pole.

JESUS is everywhere.

Santa rides in a sleigh

JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.

Santa comes but once a year

JESUS is an ever present help.

Santa fills your stockings with goodies

JESUS supplies all your needs.

Santa comes down your chimney uninvited

JESUS stands at your door and knocks.. and then enters your heart.

You have to stand in line to see Santa

JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.

Santa lets you sit on his lap

JESUS lets you rest in His arms.

Santa doesn't know your name. All he can say is "Hi little boy or girl, What's your name?"

JESUS knew our name before we did. Not only does He know our name, He knows our address too. He knows our history and future and He even knows how many hairs are on our heads.

Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly

JESUS has a heart full of love.

All Santa can offer is HO HO HO

JESUS offers health, help and hope.

Santa says "You better not cry"

JESUS says "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you.

Santa's little helpers make toys

JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions.

Santa may make you chuckle but

JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.

Santa is a myth

But Jesus is the Truth, the Way, and the Life

While Santa puts gifts under your tree

JESUS became our gift and died on the tree.

It's obvious there is really no comparison.

We need to remember WHO Christmas is all about.

We need to put Christ back in Christmas.

Jesus is still the reason for the season.

Nagpaparamdam sa Malamig na Panahon...

Hello... Just want to let everyone know that amidst the drop of atmospheric temperature in Metro Manila, I'm still alive and kicking....

I just am not in the mood to discuss or blog anything significant. Besides, what's with me anyway? I just don't want to write anything dramatic like missed Christmas parties and all (especially the building where I stayed until May 31, 2008), don't have money even to go home on the holidays, and getting depressed because of not having a Christmas bonus.

Bottom line: I'm still out in the cold.

Hope that even with the January chill I can still be as warm and genki as always.

Merry Christmas to all - especially those with bonuses already.

Nagpaparamdam sa Malamig na Panahon...

Hello... Just want to let everyone know that I'm still alive and kicking.... I just am not in the mood to discuss or blog anything significant. Besides, what's with me anyway? I'm a bum, right?

Just don't forget me on December 25....