The One that Got Away

Recently, a love letter written by Philippine actor Aga Mulach for previous love team Lea Salonga circulated like wildfire in social media. This love letter entitled, “To The One Who Got Away”, embodies love not reciprocated, love never known and love never declared. This is the kind of love one has regretted but really never existed. 

I may have been talking about a person, but when it relates to me, I’m talking about passion. Each person has his own dream, but not everyone fulfills their dream. It can be marriage, financial success, or a love to last for a lifetime.  Most of the time, deep in our hearts, we have a dream that people around us normally don’t believe we can do. That is my story and I’m sharing a dream I have that I consider as the One that Got Away.




Three years ago, I joined the product development team of our company. I was a newbie when I joined the department but I was determined to know everything. I helped my manager with our e-learning development project, and eventually, I was given the chance to handle it myself. Most of our products are e-learning materials so within that span of time, I got interested with e-learning development, project management and most especially, instructional design.

Ever since after graduation, it is my dream to take a Master’s degree abroad. But I don’t know what particular field I’ll study. I’m interested to pursue a graduate degree related to instructional design, elearning development and product development but none of these are available here in the Philippines back then. 

So,  I upgraded my dream. I applied for slots in US and UK universities offering graduate degrees in Instructional Design, Interactive Design, Interactive Media and User Experience Design. I was able to get into the universities, but without a scholarship, I won’t be able to fully support myself. 

Hence, I consider this dream to study abroad as the One that Got Away. I have this dream but it seems it’s not meant for me, at least not yet. I still wanted to take a graduate degree so I think I’ll explore here first in PH. Maybe you also have your own version of the One who Got Away. If that’s the case, maybe you can also share your own version.

PS: You know what I did with this opportunity that never really existed? I accepted my fate. If we’re on the same page, here’s my suggestion:

Move on. Live life. 
Learn. Inspire. Flourish. Explore.

Learn from your mistakes.

Inspire other people with your stories.

Flourish where you are planted. Grow.

Explore the world around you. The world is a better place if we enjoy it.

Do You have a Pioneering Heart?

I have listened to the podcast of Brian Houston of Hillsong countless times about having a pioneering heart. I have taken notes, and at some point, got bored with it so I played around with words and colors. 

Who are the pioneers?

What are the characteristics of those with a pioneering heart?


Lastly, what’s in it for us if we have a pioneering heart?

10 Things About Me 

This is my 10th year blogging my heart out, but in the past ten years, I haven’t been faithful writing my thoughts and sharing it to you. (Blogging is really hard work, just like how you work hard for your relationships). 😄

So now, I’m giving you 10 things you might want to know about me:

10) I’m halfway through the year before I turn 30. 

Yes, I do not look like it, but I already have lots of experience in terms of love and life. Might I say I have a colorful past, I’m enjoying nevertheless my last few months of being 20-ish.

 

9) I have been a mother to babies with names that end in y, and I love them!

If my memory serves me right, I’ve been a friend and a mother to Smarty, Globey, Spotty and Lassy. I guess that obsession with letter Y never leaves me.

 

8) I am fond of watching Kdramas. 

Filipinos are fond of watching Kdramas and I’m just one of them. I remember back in the university when I would ask for copies of Kdrama after our exam period. I have a hard time remembering their names, though, I mostly like the storyline of most Kdrama series.

 

7) I have sweet-tooth.

I am fond of eating chocolates, cakes, ice cream and anything sweet. These foods make me hyper and giddy, as well as it serve as my brain food during intense brainstorming.

 

6) I love reading books!

I don’t have the talent to finish 400-page book in a few hours, but I love the feel of turning the page and learning about the characters in the story. Christian fiction novels are my favorite!

 

5) Forest or beach? Forest please!

And anything that comes with it. Falls, mountains, and nature are my element. I feel so relaxed, calm and peaceful whenever we have mountain trips.

 

4) I am a certified e-learning enthusiast.

For the past 7 years of my career, I have been exposed to the e-learning industry. I had trained teachers and students on how to use our e-learning product and now, I have been developing content for our e-learning system. This industry is one that is just booming in the Philippines so I am excited to see what’s in store for this industry, especially in the education sector.

 

3) Jollibee Chicken Joy and Mini Stop’s Fried Chicken, Peach Mango Pie and Dunkin Donut’s Choco Butternut are my comfort food. 

Whenever I feel so down, stressed and super hungry, I usually look for these food. These, for me, are heaven here on earth.

 

2) I have an on-off relationship with my bed. 

Yes. I’m single and during most of my free time, you would find me in my bed reading books, munching some junk foods, writing in my journal and sleeping for a normal of 10 hours. If I get so busy in a week which means I only get to sleep 2-3 hours, then after a day or two of continuous sleep deprivation, I would get sick and my body will force me to sleep for more than 12-15 hours. Abnormal? I do think so. I guess I still have this appetite for sleep like a teenager.

 

1) I’m more likely 70% introvert, 30% extrovert. 

I’ve improved, you know. Before, I would go inside my shell whenever I need to interact with people. I highly value my personal space. When I make friends, I make sure they’re just few but our relationships last longer.

When we grow older, we meet new people and we adjust to situations. That’s why there’s that 30% extroversion. Now, when I need to communicate with other people, I have that confidence to go out of my way and introduce myself.

So there. I hope you can relate with 10 little things about me. 🙂

Coron Escapade

Back in February 2016, I had one of the most memorable vacation in my life. It was when for the first time, I traveled with my family for a 4-day, 3-night bonding.

 

Day 1

We arrived early at Coron and were picked up by the crew of the hotel where we stayed for the duration of our stay. Originally, our tour package included a city tour around Coron which involves trekking to the City’s hilltop. Thinking my mom would have a hard time doing this activity, we changed itinerary: 3 days for island hopping and then a day for rest in the city. 

So there. By 9am, we were ready for our island hopping. I forgot the names of the islands we visited, but one thing is for sure: they have pristine white beaches, and untouched beauty that one would be so giddy to explore. 

In the afternoon, our tour guide stopped in the middle of the sea,  only to join other boat guides in their party showdown. Loud sounds and a party playlist exploded in my senses. The other guests were also hooked. This was just the 1st day and I was enjoying my stay.

Day 2

For most of the day, we visited the shipwreck sites and had some snorkeling. We also made some new friends along the way. 

Here’s some of our sumptous lunch that included fish, seafood meat, and veggies.


Day 3

Our last day for the island hopping included some trekking at the Kayangan Lake, and another swimming exercise at the Lagoon. We didn’t forget to have the famous shot by the sea, though. 🙂

This is by far my favorite groufie shot. 🙂

The tide was high and we had rough seas here. Yet, we managed our winning smiles in both photo.

Lastly, when you see a pig by the beach, you’ll know your stay will be an enjoyable one.

Our Coron escapade was really an enjoyable one. If you happen to visit the Philippines, don’t forget to see those world-class beaches and islands in Busuanga (Coron), Palawan. Aside from island hopping, you can also do a Safari Tour and a City tour if you’re the nature and forest type of person. 🙂

Happy Father’s Day

Today, in the Philippines, we celebrate the father’s day, along with all the goodness, protection and discipline they’ve imparted us. For today, I want to honor both my father and my mother. 

10 years ago

 An opportunity came for Papa to work in General Santos City. It was a hard decision for him, but he went anyway to provide for his family. At that time, I was just a sophomore in college and my sister just entering the university. 

Then, the unthinkable happened. All communication and financial support were cut off. We were left in the dark. We had to support ourselves. 

My mother took on the role of being a mother and a father at the same time. She worked on several jobs: being an insurance agent, a realty agent and being the father we needed the most. She disciplined us, loved us, helped us, and for that, I wanted to honor her today. 


5 years ago

When I got the opportunity to work in GenSan, I know I’d be facing my greatest fear and longing at the same time — my father. 

I’m afraid that if we met, I’ll be blaming him for all the difficult times or I’ll have bad news instead. I’m longing because as a daughter, I still wanted to have that father to call. 

Needless to say, we were able to meet and reconcile as I’ve written in this post. That was one of the best decisions in my life — forgiving my father and freeing myself from the baggage all these years. I admit, after our reconciliation, it’s as if a heavy burden is taken away from me. 

After a year of this reconciliation, I was able to bring my family to GenSan so they can have their own independence as well. In the photo was my family gathered together after several years of separation. 🙂

So, for all the fathers out there,

Happy Father’s day! You rock! Thank you for providing and loving your family. 

For the mothers, guardians, and grandparents who became that father-figure for all those children lost with one, 

Happy Father’s day! Your unconditional love is what keeps children like us going in this journey.

For those men who just become fathers, 

Happy Father’s day! Be the kind of father your child will look up to in the coming years.

For the fathers and soldiers who are fighting the war to protect their country and their loved ones, especially those in Marawi, Basilan and Sulu,

Happy Father’s day! We appreciate your sacrifices to keep the children of the country safe. Thank you for making the decision to love the country and fight for us.

And lastly, I wanted to honor my Father in heaven for loving us unconditionally and giving His one and only begotten son to die on the cross to save us from our sins,

Happy Father’s day, Tatay! Thank you for your unconditional love. Praying that I’ll be giving glory to Your name wherever I go.

I’m hoping in one way or another,  you’ll say a word of thanks to your father. That appreciation will definitely go a long way. 

What is God’s Purpose in your Life?

As I was reading my Bible, I am reminded that whatever plans I have, if it is not under God’s will, it will not prevail.

As what is said in Proverbs 16:1-4 (MSG),

I realized four things just reading this verse:

1. It will be useless to start planning and executing everything if we don’t put God first.

There will always come a time when we will feel so tired doing projects, expecting gains from our investments and constantly rendering overtime to work for our dreams. We are humans and we cannot do everything at once. What is more disappointing is if you’ve invested so much effort then at the end of the day, you’ll never get what you worked for. This is for this reason King Solomon wanted us to put God first in everything. Why? Because God has the last say, and if that is the case, we might want to plan with the person who has the last say in mind.

 
2. We dwell on the outer circumstances, but God focuses on our intentions. 

I always say yes to those that I see are right, or those that would benefit me. But then, He digs deep to our intentions. Why are you doing the things you do right now? For attention? For recognition? For things that are temporary? He knows. But He cares.

 
3. Putting God first in our plans will allow us to see God’s hand move on our behalf. 

This becomes an assurance for me that I don’t always have to worry if after all the planning and executing I’ve done, the results are not what I expect to happen. Nor will I worry too much on how to execute the plans I have determined in my heart. Why? Because I know, at the end of it all, God will put everything in place.

 
4. God has a purpose for the small and big things that happen, even for judgment.

Everything is planned for and has consequences. It could be that appointment you received to sell your house that gave you a blessing you haven’t expected. Or that phone call you received to visit your parents because that could be the last time you’ll see them. Whatever it may be, God is giving us an idea that we are all weaved together for His plans, for better or for worse.

As I remember in another verse:

Romans 8:28 (NIV)

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

 

We may have different likes and interests. My chosen career may be different from yours. But definitely, where your heart is, there your treasure will be as well. If you learn to put God as the caretaker of your treasure, I’m sure He will guard it, make it grow and shine more, and lastly, give glory to His name. Afterall, we are created for His glory. He created us to give Him glory in everything we do.

That, I believe, is the purpose of my life and yours.

My Letter to You 

Hello, everyone! 
I would like to reintroduce myself to you who have been following me since the previous years. I am Yza, and my name is pronounced as Wyza; hence, the name of this blog. 🙂 

Year 2007 when I had this dream to have my own blog and write about anything I can share to anyone. I was still a student then, yet that desire to hone my writing skills and share a bit about me started growing and growing. 

If you browsed my archive, you might have read some of my petty posts about love, family and life. I have also shared a bit of what I do as my career, so you might have an idea that I love anything about eLearning. But even after 10 years of writing about bits and pieces about me, I feel the need to share more about what I’ve learned, what I feel, and what I do everyday that would help inspire other people. I still have lots of things to learn, but this time, I want to include you in my journey about love and learning about life. 

Join me as I explore more about life in my next set of posts every week. I will be sharing about my thoughts about love since 10 years have passed and I know better. I will be opening my journal to you so you’ll have a glimpse of what God has done in my life. Lastly, I will be writing letters to the One I have yet to meet so you’ll be witnessing a love story I believe God will write for me. I know, in one way or another, you have same thoughts as mine. 

I’ll be starting each post with a verse from the Bible. I believe that holding on to something will keep me from falling for anything. I hope you don’t mind me sharing those verses. 

If in one way or another you have questions or ideas you want to share, don’t be afraid to comment as I would really appreciate it. Who knows, your thoughts may also help other people. 🙂

So now, let’s journey together in this road called life.
Your life companion,

itswyza 

Are You Content in your Present?

Has there been a time when you have been working your ass off just to level up in your career? Or you have this ambition you want to reach whatever it takes. Yet, this verse says you have to be content.

So be content with who you are, and don’t put on airs. God’s strong hand is on you; he’ll promote you at the right time. Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you.

1 Peter 5:6-7 (MSG)

 How would that really sum up?

In the last six years, I have been working as a rank and file in the corporate world, with just a meager income to get me by. For so long, I have prayed to God that He’ll promote me because I know I have the skills and I can do any tasks given to me (too confident, I must say). But then, I do not get my prayers answered. My question back then was,  “why”?

Year in and year out, I’m seeing myself working as I can but I am not yet promoted in my workplace. So one day, I asked myself, what does promotion really mean? Does it indicate selling an idea to gain approval towards it? Or does it mean seeing yourself in a higher position than any of your colleagues such that it gives you self-worth?

The Bible says to be contented with what we have and what we are.
It does mean to accept whatever has been given to us and use those resources make the best product. It does mean that where God has put us, we should be working to the best that we can be, without expecting something in return, without demanding more than what is provided. 

Being contented means being happy with having little as with much, working for others like working for oneself, and accepting our fate as one that will build us, not enslave us. 

It is a test of my character to be contented when there are times that I see my colleagues living the life they’ve dreamed of — traveling abroad, marrying their chosen mate and working the job they’ve dreamed of while being paid handsomely. It is a test of my character to accept my situation where I just work to provide for my family, and I have to save up for a year just to have 3-day, 2-night out of town vacation with my family. It is always a test of my character to stay where I currently am and not reach for my dreams. 

But the Bible also says be contented with who you are. 

So, it does mean that if I am ambitious about something, I have to go get it, work my ass off without demanding and expecting something in return. It does mean I have to wait for the right moment, and instead enjoy my present duties — love every bit of it — such that I won’t think it’s work. 

Being contented means being passionate with who you are as a person, pursuing your passion, loving life, and sharing kindness where you are planted. 

And when you least expect it, God will uphold you in His hand and level up the field. As having equipped you with the skills and character during the testing season, you will be prepared to take on a new role. You will be prepared to soar higher than ever before, but this time, you won’t fall because you have failed many times that you know what to do next. When God promotes you, there’s no minute wasted, you will be doing something greater that would impact the world — all because at one point in your life, you’ve accepted your fate and instead shared your happiness with them. 

I have Questions and God Answered 

Every year, my spiritual family in Victory (globally known as Every Nation) gathers to participate in a week-long prayer and fasting (P&F). It is the time where instead of choosing our desires, we choose God. 

This year’s P&F is special for me. Our topic is “Knowing God” intimately. This is the year I’m also believing God, more than all the answered prayers for the upcoming months, that I’ll be able to hear God’s whisper during my quiet times. 

My most memorable times are the ones I’ve believed and claimed in faith to happen, and indeed, God fulfilled those faith goals. As what Hebrews 11:1 says, “Faith is being sure of what you hope for and being certain of what you do not see (CEV).”

During this year’s P&F, here are some of my decision questions I’m praying for and indeed, God answered them one by one after only three weeks into 2017. 

1) Career: Will I have another opportunity with another employer or will I stay at my current company? God knows I’m vying for career advancement. 

2) Emotion: For one year, I’ve been attracted to this guy friend that I have, yet he does not know my feelings and I have no idea if these feelings I have for him will be reciprocated. 

3) How can I be effective in sharing Jesus to other people?

4) Love: How will I know the man I’ll marry? I’m already at that marrying age and I’m still waiting. 

These are personal questions I have with Jesus and during my quiet times, he answered it one by one through the book of Ephesians:

1) Career: Stay and be excellent.

Ephesians 2:7 Now God had us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 6:5b-8 Don’t just do what you have to do to get by, but work heartily, as Christ’s servants doing what God wants you to do. And work with a smile on your face, always keeping in mind that no matter who happens to be giving the orders, you’re really serving God (MSG)

2) Emotion: Love him like a brother. Love without expecting something in return.

Ephesians 5:1-2 Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that. (MSG)

3) Sharing the gospel: Though I’m not qualified, God will equip me. 

Ephesians 3:7 This is my life work: helping people understand and respond to this message. It came as a sheer gift to me, a real surprise, God handling all the details. When it came to presenting the Message to people who had no background in God’s way, I was the least qualified of any of the available Christians. God saw to it that I was equipped, but you can be sure that it had nothing to do with my natural abilities (MSG).

4) Love: He will be a husband in qualities to you. That way, you’ll know He’s the one. 

Ephesians 5:22b-28a The husband provides leadership to his wife the way Christ does to his church, not by domineering but by cherishing. So just as the church submits to Christ as he exercises such leadership, wives should likewise submit to their husbands. 

Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church – a love marked by giving, not getting. Christ’s love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. And that is how husbands ought to love their wives (MSG). 

Indeed, it is just weeks into 2017 and God has already been answering my questions. He has given me peace with the decisions I’ve made and I just know He will never leave me nor forsake me. I know 2017 will be an amazing year for me.  

The Beauty of New Beginnings

Another year will come in a few days.
For those whose 2016 is a hard time, 2017 will be a breather. And yet, those who enjoyed and celebrated 2016 are hoping 2017 will be another good year.

There is beauty in a new beginning because it will be a chance to correct mistakes. It will be a chance to take a different route. A chance to hope for a better life.

There is beauty in a new beginning because it will be an open door to closed minds. An eye opener to new experiences, an honest and humble approach to things we don’t know.

There is beauty in new beginnings because it allows us to see in horizon what we could become, even if the process is still unknown.

Lastly, there is beauty in new beginnings because it signals hope; it signals light, and it signals anything we could become by a leap of faith.