Wishlist... Fulfilled

I finally got my new camera. A Canon EOS 450D Kit. It comes with a... a... a... (lemme get my box)... an EF-S 18-55 IS Lens -I figured IS means Image Stabilizer. I bought it at this place along Pasong Tamo named JT Photo World (from Buendia, it is a little after Inquirer. Got it for Php 40,000 with 0% interest payable in 6 months (not bad) and I am having a blast.

Last night, Chezka and Jay took turns taking shots, showing the result, and explaining to me what they did... "oooh... oo nga no?" (which roughly translates, "I don't see it. They all look the same to me")

So I took a bunch of photos last Sunday (filled up the 4GB card quickly because I set it to RAW+Jpeg which makes two copies of the same shot (not a wise choice since I do not understand SH*T of what a CR2 file does yet) - I was almost convinced to head off to a CD-R King store and get myself one of them 16GB SDHC babies which I already have the money allocated for. Hehehehe

I'll be posting my noob shots in Facebook as soon as I figure out why Facebook keeps on rejecting them.

Next stop, lenses, a Tamrac camera bag, and a Gorillapod tripod.

Oh btw, I also got my self a DiCaPac waterproof camera holder so that I can take pics while on the beach. All I need now is another nifty reason to go to the beach (other than the camera).

Aral na itoooohhh!

A mom's letter to her Daughter

Exactly a week ago, November 30, 2008. My sister, Chezka, got married to her BF for 8 years, Jay. It was a very emotional time for the three of us since we just lost our dad to Cancer last March.

My mom wanted to read this to her on her wedding day but felt that she was not ready then so she asked me to post it on the web through any means possible. I figured that since my blogs are being read constantly and that it is also linked to my Multiply account, this should be the best place to start. I'll then post this in my FB and FS accounts.

Here we go...

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Chezka,
I meant to give you a tribute during your wedding because God had been reminding me to do it and what could be the most appropriate time to do it but on your big day, except that somehow in the stress and the busyness of the day, I failed to do it. Well, I’m not going to stay in that ‘I failed to do it’ state, so here goes.

You graduated from elementary at the age of 10, from high school at the age of 14 (because we purposely slowed you down) as the salutatorian. When you took the entrance test at DLSU, we received a letter from them telling you that you may skip Eng 1, Math 1 and Computer 1, because of the result of your entrance test. Dad did not let you. You finished college at the age of 17. When you graduated(with honors) you were chosen to represent your batch by delivering the thank you speech to your professors. I remember you telling them, “thank you for the scoldings, for the rebukes, for the disciplinary measures, even for the harsh words for they were the irritants that brought out the pearls in us”. I salute you for that, anak. Not many people will be grateful for those. Right after graduation, at least 3 multinational companies called us up and offered you managerial positions if you joined them. Of course Dad and I said no. What wisdom would a 17 year old manager have? Or so we thought. Of course I know now that if we allowed you, you would most probably still have done it right and excelled.

To protect you, Dad and I demanded that you teach in Shekinah for at least 3 years and be a little more mature before you work for the ‘outside world’. As you would always do, you obeyed. You were a very good teacher. At any given time, you knew the pace number of each of the subjects or your students, and the page on each pace that they were working on. But, when you turned 20, you told us that you want to work in a company where we knew no one. You said ‘’ I want to make it on my own. I want people to stop thinking that I am doing well in Shekinah as a student and as a teacher because you are there. We reluctantly agreed. I thought ‘’ Well now, a more powerful part of me will be with you anywhere you go: My prayers.’’

After we said yes, in barely 2 to 3 days, you got a job at HSBC, as a senior assoc. Less than a year on the job, you broke traditions by getting promoted and being sent for a special training in London. Your bosses respected you, your colleagues admired you, your subordinates loved you. You made a difference in your place of work because you brought your faith with you, and people saw the it. As what you have gotten used to doing, you put your heart, mind and soul into whatever you do. You always wanted to do things right to the glory of God.

When Jay started courting you, you told it right away to your confidante: Me. When you wanted to answer him, 2 years after, you told it to Dad and me. Despite Dad’s opposition to the idea (‘’You’re too young’’), you stood by what you think is right. ‘’I am not going to say yes to him unless you allow me. I want your approval, I want it to be legal. I don’t want to hide it from you. Please let me.’’ Then, every rule I gave was followed. (You will only go out on Saturdays, your curfew is 10:00 pm, no out of town trips or dates, etc…) You and Jay did everything by the rule, and so how can we say no, when Jay asked your hand in marriage (one beautiful evening in Dec, accompanied by his family and grandparents.) Even then, you obeyed when Dad moved the date of the wedding by six months (from June to Dec). We all settled for Nov. 30.

There is no grain of hypocrisy in your person. Whatever you did for yourself or for others, you did them sincerely. During strifes, you always chose to be the bigger person: deciding to be humble, forgiving and being forgiven. You are beautiful inside and out. And, this is coming from a mother known to many as “very strict”.

Your wedding was exactly what we prayed for: FABULOUS. Despite the chronology of events that I have enumerated, we both know that we do not DESERVE anything from our God. Whatever He gives us, is given to us, out of His sheer mercy and grace.

But let me tell you this. All your life, you have done nothing except honor Dad and me. And the Bible is very clear, honoring your parents is the secret to long and well lived lives. I’ve seen Jay do the same. The blessings will always be there, protected by God Himself, for you. I am proud of how God has saved you, reared you up, trained you, looked after you, hedged you in, and how you have always acknowledged Him.

I declare, therefore, in Jesus’ most powerful name that God will always bless you both with the desires of your hearts. And He will give you children who are like yourselves: loving and honoring their parents so that the line of blessings will continue. Be happy for the Lord is good all the time.

Mom