The Dubai water canal

The mannequin challenge

Social media has been stormed by this so called mannequin challenge.  Just like any other fad, this has gone viral all over the net world.  I myself did one with my prayer group also.  So, what is the mannequin challenge and who started it anyway?

Wikipedia:  Mannequin_Challenge

The Mannequin Challenge is a viral Internet video trend where people remain frozen in action like mannequins while a video is recorded, usually with the song "Black Beatles" by Rae Sremmurd playing in the background.^[1][2] The hashtag #MannequinChallenge was used for popular social media platforms such as Twitter and Instagram. It is believed that the phenomenon was started by students in Jacksonville, Florida on October 12, 2016. ^[1][3][4][5] The initial posting has inspired works by other groups, especially professional athletes and sports teams that have posted increasingly complex and elaborate videos.

When I first saw Michelle Obama's mannequin challenge together with Lebron Jamed, I got interested.  I searched and saw a lot of uploads.

Ellen De Generes White House Mannequin Challenge

Michelle Obama and Lebron James Mannequin challenge

Catholic priests mannequin challenge

And of course our very own mannequin challenge  I love my household mannequin challenge

Whatever we get from these viral video trends, make sure you have lots of fun with your friends.  Just for fun.  Stop hating.  Love to all.

The Marcos loyalist I love the most

Today, the late president Ferdinand E. Marcos was buried in the Libingan ng mga Bayani (Heroes' cemetery).  This cemetery is a dedicated resting place for military personnel who served the country, national heroes, national artists, national scientists and Philippine presidents.

The Marcoses at the late president FEM's burial

There were different reactions from the Filipinos when one fine Friday news broke that today is the burial of the late president Marcos.  The Marcos loyalists rejoiced.  On the other hand, the anti-Marcos were furious.  Some went to EDSA where the people power revolution happened to kick out the Marcos regime, some in Libingan ng mga Bayani and some in schools - even little children protesting.

The anti-Marcos rally 

I am not writing this to state my side or point.  The burial just made me remember about someone so dear to me who admired the former president Marcos so much that she stated when we went to Ilocos where the body of the president was kept, "Nakita ko na si Marcos, pede na kong mamatay."  True enough, my mother died in December that same year.  

Nanay in the Marcos mansion in Ilocos

My mother is a true blue Marcos loyalist.  When she was younger, she would go to Marcos rallies in different parts of the Philippines, showing her support and love for the president.  Maybe she saw something good in the person that the whole world tagged as the world's greatest thief of all time in the Guinness' book of world record. 

Nanay was like that, she saw something good in everything and in everyone.  She believed in me even when I lost my confidence.  She was the martial law of the family when my father was away to work abroad.  Most of all, she was thief who stole my heart.  She is the Marcos loyalist I love the most.  Rest in Peace Nanay Lucy with your most admired president, President Ferdinand E. Marcos.

Super moon 2016

At 5:32 p.m., the super moon manifested itself in Dubai.  I was off work at 6:00 p.m. and on my way home, i was able to see the nearness of the moon tonight.  My walking buddy, colleague and friend, Harold, joked that we should all be hiding from those people who has mental instabilities, those in emotional roller coasters and those ladies with menstruation he he he.

The supermoon is rising!
(Picture by Ahmed Ramzan/Gulf News)
Gulf News

What is the super moon anyway?

Super moon is simply when the moon is closest to the earth.  So, it looks bigger and brighter during this time.  The super moon is 30% much brighter than the smallest full moon and about 15% brighter than the average full moon.

For more detailed explanation, please go to Wikipedia - Supermoon

Here is my super moon shot tonight:


Super Moon in Dubai

How to cope up after thyroid cancer?

It has been a year since I was diagnosed, tested and treated for papillary thyroid carcinoma.  Life has never been the same.  Comparing post total thyroidectomy to post total abdominal hysterectomy that I had in 2003, having no thyroid is the worst.  Both may be responsible for hormones in my body but the changes are felt more after my thyroidectomy than when i had my hysterectomy.  Some of the things I regularly feel even with maintenance medication are:

1. Hot flushes - I did not even feel this when I had hysterectomy but now it is part of my regular self.

2. Hair loss continues but remarkably lesser.

3. Dry skin, yes.  I needed to use tons and tons of moisturizers and lotions.

4. Tiredness and feeling uneasy.

5. Mood swings are still there, sometimes worse but sometimes controllable.

You see, those are just few of the changes I am having after my thyroidectomy.  It has been a year and it's never been the same.  BUT I cannot let these symptoms get me down in life.  I have to control them, fight them if I can and even be friends with them.  How do I cope up with these symptoms?   Here's how...

1.  I always remember my reason for living.  My older sister would always tell me, "Our children cannot bury us this soon. You cannot die now!"  I live for my one and only son.  I am a single mother but I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  (Philippians 4:13).  And that is why I kept on living despite the trouble this thyroid problem is giving me.

My son in 2008 with my mother (RIP)

2.  Chocolates.  Who does not adore chocolates?  I love it to bits.  I can live without salt but with chocolates, NO WAY!  Chocolates are known to increase our happy hormones called endorphins.  Whenever I  feel down or stressed, I would just munch a chocolate and I am on my way to happy land.

Chocolate

3.  Community.  I am a member of the Couples for Christ Handmaids of the Lord (CFC-HOLD) community in Dubai, UAE.  They have been my family from the moment I said YES to the Lord.  It is not only a support group, it is a way of life.  If your way of life is to follow Jesus, then how can anything else be not doable.  I have all these beautiful souls to back me up when I need a push, to cry with me when I am down, to divide my sorrows when I fail and to share my joys in times of success.  This my friend is my community, my family that helps me journey with life - through good times and bad times.

Handmaids of the Lord 

4.  Hobbies and Crafts.  To destress, I do a lot of hobbies and crafts.  Origami, jewelry making, clay molding, paper craft, almost crochet (my hands are poor with needles he he he), guitar, scrapbooking, smash booking, etc.  My hobbies and crafts bring me to another world and I forget about the unpleasantness I feel in my body.

Going away paper craft

5.  Journal and prayer.  Nothing beats a daily conversation with God - be it in speaking, writing, dancing or singing.  Having a personal relationship with the Lord assures us that the future is already taken care of despite of what I am feeling in my body.  And that everything is just temporary.

It's been a year.  I call my self a survivor.  Thyroid cancer is loses.  I won together with the rest of the cancer survivors and sufferers...victory until the end.

How I fell in love with Armenia?

How I fell in love with Armenia?  How will I not?  I fell in love with this beautiful Caucasian country the moment I laid my eyes on the snow-capped mountains while up on the plane before we descended to Zvarnots Airport.  So, how did I fall in love with Armenia?

1.  The people.  Oh how I love the Armenians.  From the taxi driver who fetched us from the airport, to the homestay family we so love and the random Armenians we met along the way.  There is something about the Armenians that you get to easily love them - warm welcome and hospitality.

2.  The food.  We ate only fresh and homemade/handmade by Mama Nvard from Homestay Yerevan.  This is my vacation that I did not eat processed food but did enjoy one "junk" food - the Lay's Bacon and BBQ pork flavor, oh sooo heavenly.  We had the chance to taste also beer, wine, apricot fizzy drinks, taragon juice and the Armenian tea and coffee.  I love the gata and lavash.

3.  Historic sites.   Armenia is rich in history and culture.  From pagan temples, to monastery and of course museums.  Seeing these structures and knowing their history really make me fall in love with Armenia.

4. Love of the cross and Jesus Christ.  Armenians used to be  pagans but in year 301, Armenia was the first country to become  Christians.  Their  love and passion for the cross is evidenced by the khachkar, the Armenian cross that can be found everywhere in Armenia.  When I came to Armenia, I was undergoing spiritual dryness but the moment I saw the shepherd in one of our trips up the mountains, I felt God telling me, it's all about Jesus, the shepherd.  Rest from all your burdens and negativities and rest on Jesus' love.  The Armenian's passion for the cross inspired me to better love the Lord despite of all the negativities around me.

5. Contentment.  The once Soviet ruled Armenia seems to have moved on slowly to the recent times.  If asked was life better during the Soviet rule, answer would vary depending on the age group.  The oldies would prefer being under the Soviet Union but the young and new generations would prefer to be independent Armenia.  What's important is they are content with what they have at present.

Armenia is LOVE!

It's not how long

"It's not how long you have been in the community.
 It's not how less we have been together.
 The most important thin is we continue to
 keep the Lord with us as we grow in holiness."

These were my opening remarks during the anniversary fellowship of units C and D of chapter 3 handmaids of the Lord in Dubai.  It has been a year since they have completed the Christian Life Program or CLP of the Couples for Christ.

People usually ask what I get from joining a Catholic community.  I actually cannot explain.  I cannot explain the kind of joy despite the trials and tribulations of life I can bravely and happily face each and every trial.  I can't explain the joy I feel every time I see these women who like me are also struggling in life but they kept on fight for the sake of love, for the sake of life and for the sake of the Lord.