2010 Christmas Letter

Jojang & Matt

Dear Family and Friends,

It was a stormy day. In fact, the fog was out almost the whole day. People were advised to stay home.   We both chose to follow.

Matt tinkered on his computer, while I busied myself pottering around the house. Matt donned a long sleeve shirt and jogging pants. I, on the other hand, was wearing a pair of shorts and a loose t-shirt. I put the fan “on” yet in spite of the storm and efforts to cool myself, it still felt hot! If you are thinking what I’m thinking… yup, you’re right. Hot flushes! I turned fifty last March.

When I was a little girl, I thought that people who were fifty years old were ancient. Now that I have reached this age, I realize we’re not. In fact, we can be hip. And life can still be exciting.

Anyway, this is our usual year-end Christmas letter. Like, I said earlier, this year I turned fifty! As I look back on my fifty years in existence, I cannot help but see that the Lord has really been good to us. Amidst the trials and vicissitudes of life, He has always been with us. Guiding and loving us, every step of the way.

Matthew, on the other hand, struggled with his health especially during the first three quarters of the year. Having been hospitalized three times this year. Last July, Matthew and I stayed for three weeks in Manila. He remembered his grandparents that used to bring him to Manila (or Pampanga) whenever he would have very bad asthma attacks. And true enough, his health significantly improved. We were sure that warm weather helped (the Doctor said that oxygen is thin at high altitudes and thick at low altitudes).  But the very clean environment was surely a major factor too. We stayed at my friend’s place – thanks to Dave and Wawi Dellosa and family for the hospitality, generosity, warmth and loving kindness – where Matthew’s health improved by leaps and bounds. There, he was able to take strolls and even go to Mega mall. Something he has not done in years.

As the year ends, we look forward to the year ahead with hope in our hearts. We place our life in God’s hand. He has always been taking care and providing for our needs. And we believe that He will always continue to do so.

Wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas and a Grace Filled New Year ahead!

– Jojang

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2009 Christmas Letter

Matt and Jojang

Dear Family and Friends,

I would like to think that this year is an encouraging one for us.

True, we started the year with our continuous struggle with Matthew’s asthma since he had to be brought numerous times to the emergency again. And one time, he had to be confined. However during the latter part of the year, Matthew’s health was gaining ground. In fact, just a few weeks ago, it was exhilarating for us when Matthew was able to walk around SM, a mall here at Baguio City. Something he has never done in years. Slowly but surely his health is taking great strides. I know that sooner than we think, Matthew’s full recovery is on its way.

What seems to be a source of great excitement for both of us this year, is our blog. We never realized that in a span of a little over a year, we were going to get more than 18,000 hits! We both thought of coming out with one, as a sort of “therapy” for Matthew’s illness. We also wanted to have a venue where we could share inspirational quotes, excerpts, stories, and our writings. The blog was quite helpful for Matthew ‘coz even if he spends most of his time at home, he is able to be positively busy. However, little did we know that we were going to touch so many lives as well.

We look forward to the year ahead with so much promise. And we can hardly wait for life’s events to unfold.

Here’s wishing you all reading this blog, A Merry Christmas and A Happy New Year.

May the good Lord bless you and keep you. May He make His face shine on you and give you peace!

– Jojang

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.. because He has anointed me to bring good news to the poor…

Luke 4:18

I live in Baguio. And I must say that I love it. I go out to the porch early mornings, watch the sun rise as the fog slowly lifts up from the skies. And I thank God for the cold when I think about how the heat in Manila gives me a headache and I have to hang out in malls and other places that I know are air-conditioned. Because it is intrinsic in man to seek comfort.

Sometimes people visit Matthew and myself at our home to seek our counsel. And it can get uncomfortable because we’re losing out on rest or more time together. And it is intrinsic in man to seek comfort. But we choose to listen, because someone needs our love. Sometimes people approach us who are in dire need. And even if our allowance falls short of our budget at times, we try to share whatever little we have. We meet these challenges every day. But how can we not be generous, when we have a God who was first generous to us?

Indeed, it is intrinsic in man to seek comfort. But it is also intrinsic to give comfort, for we were born to serve.

– Jojang

Of BMWs and Classy Looking Women

I live in Baguio City. And Baguio residents don’t usually go agog over personalities that come over to visit. I see a lot of tv personalities, politicians, and other famous people go to the market, walk around the city and the people just let them be.

However, any famous personality will surely catch the attention of anybody.

I had that experience a while ago. I was standing in front of Matthew’s office, waiting for a cab. From afar, I saw this sleek, elegant looking, classy BMW car approaching. My eyes followed the car wanting to know who lucky fellow was seated behind the wheel. When it passed by me, true enough it was one of the younger single politicians in the country. Seated beside him was a very, very pretty classy looking woman. I got excited and exclaimed to my companion,

“Hey look! It’s ____ and he was with a very beautiful woman. Far better looking than any of the starlets we see on local tv. ”

Some people seem to have everything, I sighed. The esteem of his colleagues, a great car, and a classy looking woman beside him.

Then I looked back, and saw the adoration chapel. Matthew works full time for a Catholic community and a portion of the building is dedicated to a Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration Chapel. There, the Holy Eucharist is exposed twenty four hours. And people from all walks of life come and go to pray and seek refuge.

Then I felt it in my heart. I have more than everything. God loves me. He died for me. What affirmation can be more important than that. We don’t own a car nor a BMW, but when I come before the Lord in prayer, I know that I am transported into the throne room of God. And His majesty and glory is far better than any classy looking man or woman.

Indeed, I am grateful and content. I have more than everything.

– Jojang

A Stormy Day

A View From Our Balcony On A Stormy Day

We woke up to a stormy day. It’s cold, windy, foggy, and raining hard…

Fog

The fog comes
on little cat feet.

It sits looking
over harbor and city
on silent haunches
and then moves on.

– Carl Sandburg

Satellite Image of Typhoon Karen

WEATHER STATS

City: Baguio

Weather: Stormy

Temperature: 15°C – 21°C

WEATHER FORECAST

Northern Luzon will experience stormy weather while Central Luzon will have rains and gusty winds and the coastal waters along these areas will be moderate to rough. The rest of luzon and the western section of Visayas will experience cloudy skies with scattered rainshowers and thunderstorms while the rest of the country will be partly cloudy to at times cloudy with isolated rainshowers or thunderstorms.

Moderate to strong winds blowing from the Southwest will prevail over Southern Luzon and Western Visayas and its coastal waters will be moderate to rough. Elsewhere, winds will light to moderate blowing from the Southeast to Southwest with slight to moderate seas except during thunderstorms.

– Source: www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph