heartwarming haiyan images

So yes, Haiyan.  In the midst of all the turmoil and the drama, there are a lot of things that made us smile.  I know everyone's probably seen all these by now, but I still want to compile them and re-share them.

* None of these images are mine; they've mostly been nicked off social media sites.

Relief goods with notes of inspiration. 

(Image: Bianca Gonzales)

Some 400 tourists stranded in Coron, Palawan who decided to help out and pack relief goods. 

(Image: CNN iReporter Arnold BillSo)

The story of the poor old lady who donated the only thing she could afford - a half-full packet of Bear Brand powdered milk.
(From Talk.ph) 

As told by her neighbor:  Naiyak ako sa kapitbahay naming matanda (byuda, labandera, pobre). Kahapon nag-house to house ako hingi tulong pangdagdag para sa koleksyon namin ngayong sabado...  Tinawag niya ako...  Meron siyang inabot nakabalot sa plastic. Pagbukas ko, isang pack ng gatas na naka-open na. Sabi nya: "Pasensya na yan lang talaga maitulong ko sa taga Leyte. Walang wala talaga ako ngayon. Pero pwde mo yan itimpla sa mga bata doon. Magugustohan nila yan dahil BER BRAN yan". Di ako nakaimik. Tumulo luha ko sa harap nya. (From Talk.ph) 

Students from Sendai (survivors of the 2011 earthquake + tsunami) send their love.

Two American girls raising funds by selling lemonade. They made $200, which they gave to UNICEF.

Six-year-old Shoichi Kodoh giving his piggy-bank savings to the Philippine Embassy in Japan.

P. Diddy's kids setting aside some of their clothes to donate to the survivors 

(Image: TMZ)

The colors of the Philippine flag in New York.

And in Houston.

JL8 Comic.

The first baby born in the Israeli Defense Forces field hospital after the storm. His mother named him "Israel".

Anderson Cooper keeping it real in Tacloban. 

Japanese rescue worker Shihegiro Matsuda, who speaks impressively fluent Tagalog. 

(Rappler.com)

US Marine Maj. John Orio came to Manicani Island, Eastern Samar to distribute relief goods, and he was welcomed with local treats - fresh crab and coconut.  That's Pinoy hospitality for you.  

(Photo: Philippine Star)

A rainbow over Tacloban, some days after the storm. 

(Image: Dr. Greg Suarez)

And another in Ormoc. 

(Image: ABS-CBN / Chiara Zambrano)

And a rare double rainbow in Eastern Samar.  

(Image: Abdel Elecho)

Survivors in Tacloban take their mind off their troubles by building a basketball "court" from the rubble. 

(Image: David Guttenfelder)

And these guys made a boat out of salvaged refrigerator parts so they could go out and catch fish.

Staying strong. 

(Image: Ernie Penaredondo)

To everyone who helped out or are still helping out, a big thank you.

1 Peter 3:8 (MSG)

Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that's your job, to bless. You'll be a blessing and also get a blessing.
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what's in your wishlist?

I thought about making a vain post about what I wish to receive this Christmas as I usually do every December, but I found this thought-provoking image floating around cyberspace:

I know don't really need a new android phone, or  that DVD player with the USB port, or a whole new wardrobe.  I don't really need to spend money on gifts, on thingamabobs and space-eaters to give to friends who may or may not be my friends after five years.  I really don't.

Dear loved ones of mine: instead of buying me something I may or may not like, please give something to someone who really needs it.

If you truly believe that it's better to give than to receive, go extreme this Holiday season.  Instead of spending on stuff that people will probably forget about after January, how about giving to people who are really in need?

You don't have to go far to show kindness to the needy.  Every city has homeless people, orphans, widows.  And no matter how broke you feel, remember that there will always be someone poorer than you - your house helper, the manong vendor, the security guard at your office building.  Go beyond relief goods give them brand new, high-quality food and items you would be glad to receive yourself. Why not, right?
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OSLOve

"If one man can express so much hate, think about how much love we all can express together."

From here.

girls talk: work-related plans and love-related ones

I'm doing two entries in one today since I missed last week's girls talk.

work

It's been nearly four years since my last day of working in an office setting. Between that time and now, I have cheerfully concluded that I am not the kind of person who would flourish in rigid office-type job and I should not work at an office again, hahaha.

I've been working odd online tasks, but I've been thinking about really working again this year. I definitely would like to have a more stable income. Though I can boast that I can successfully manage my time, I'm not very good at managing stress, so I want a kind of job I can enjoy, preferably a part-time one.

I am glad that these days, due to the boom of jobs online, I have the options to work from home. Just this week I submitted an application for a part-time English tutor. It looks fun and practical enough. The pay isn't that big but it's at least bigger than what I make now, and more importantly it's regular income. I'm hoping and praying I get accepted (hey, maybe you can pray with me too ^_^ ). If I don't get accepted, I intend to look for something similar.


love life

The Hubby and I will be celebrating our tenth wedding anniversary in June (I think we're old now, but I don't feel we're old, so I guess that's okay). We haven't really planned anything for the anniversary date itself , but we've been scheduling some trips this year.

Love isn't just in the big celebrations; it's also in the little day-to-day things. I therefore intend to do small, simple but deliberate gestures of showing my affection and appreciation for the Hubby every day. It's as easy as writing a random but purposeful note, or cooking some fruits into his oatmeal to make it special. I got this idea from Diana Hagee's book, The King's Daughter (a good read for every Christian lady); she calls it "one way every day". The point is just to intentionally show love in at least one way, every single day.

girls talk: purple

Being a non-fan of purple, I always thought I didn't have any purple things -but when I went around the house to look for one I realized I had quite a few. I picked the most interesting one for this week's Girls Talk.

This here is a stuffed animal with a bit of sentimental value. It was given to my by the Hubby ten years ago when he was courting (in his words "trying to get to know me better").

It's a Snoopy doll that was distributed at McDonalds to commemorate Peanuts' 50th anniversary. We and a bunch of friends used to have weekly after-church dinners at McDonald's, and the Hubby (formerly known as the Boyfriend) would get me the promo toy if I thought it was cute.

It was very slightly annoying that he kept giving me all these cute-but-useless things, but I thought it was really, awesomely sweet of him.

It's faded a bit and caught a lot of dust, but couldn't get myself to get rid of it yet. I've already thrown away or sold a lot of our unwanted stuff, but Snoopy stays. It's been with me for a decade now, so it might as well stay forever. ^_^

i am his north star ^_^

Time-lapse photo of the North Star, nicked from ScienceBlogs.

The Hubby told me that I am his North Star. ^_^ And that is definitely a happy thought.

The North Star for centuries now has been Polaris in the constellation Ursa Minor. It's the one at the tip of the handle of the Little Dipper. It is the only star in the sky that stays in a (relative) constant position since it is fixed directly on top of the Earth's North Pole (there is a South Star too, but it is too faint so it is hardly considered). The North Star since time immemorial has been used by mariners and explorers as a reference point to aid them in their journeys.

To be told by the Hubby that i am his North Star - particularly after a trying time, and especially from a guy who isn't very poetic - is not just a sweet thing; it's an honor to know that in his life, I am his constant, his reference point. And of course, it tickles me extra because I'm a geek over stars and deep space objects. ^_^

how sweet it is to be apologized to

I love the feeling of receiving a sincere apology, especially one that is expressed in an effort to save a valued relationship. When the sorry is sincere, there hardly is any need for explanations.

Which is why I post a little celebration in receiving one of the most sincere apologies I've received in a long time. Salve of joy. It's so healing, especially after wearing a stake through my soul about it for a long time.

unconditional love

Found this sweet passage on a box of perfume I received.

philosophy: consider the opportunity to love the greatest of all blessings. the love you give is the love you get and it i all good no matter where love takes you. let the ability to love another belong to you forever and ever because real love stories never end.

word.

i'm a do-gooder and i like it

It's been the past week's hot topic. Typhoon Ondoy, the massive flooding, relief operations, the various hero stories.

The desperation in the situation roused something good and noble in me. Though knowing that the problem is immense and overwhelming, it didn't matter how seemingly insignificant my contribution could be; I knew I could be part of the solution. This past week I got myself involved in volunteer work - repacking, preparing food, visiting, delivering goods.

It makes me immensely happy to love in action. I'm far from being anything like Jesus, but I feel blessed. It makes me happy to know that I'm reaching someone somewhere somehow. This is the effect that people call "better than receiving".