Thank You Mr. Lee Kuan Yew

This "Thank You"  card I made using Sizzix fold-a-long thinlits dies by Jen Long is dedicated to the man who made Singapore happen. Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, thank you Sir!

I am not a Singaporean but my heart is full of gratefulness to Mr. Lee Kuan Yew and to Singapore. I know that my family and I are here in this beautiful city for a reason. A number of beautiful reasons. I even want to call it God's miracles. A clear manifestation that He is a father who loves and provides for His children. 

Close 7 years ago, when my husband  told me that he will be transferred by his company to Singapore was also the very same time when our oldest son, Rujim was being observed to have signs of autism. It was such a dark moment for us new parents because we knew nothing about the disorder neither did I know much about Singapore. But when I googled both words... HOPE filled my heart. Singapore happens to be one of the best places in the world for Autism Therapy. It has many big schools for autism. World's best programs are available here! And when we eventually came here everything exceeded my expectations. From the kindest social worker who walked us through the process of everything we needed to do for Kuya to the very loving teachers and therapists to the world class facilities and therapy equipments and tools. One of my favorite is that Kuya loves swimming and there is a big pool in his school which he enjoys every Monday. All these and a lot more privileges make our challenging life bearable and many a times, comfortable. And these make me wish that all the families  with differently-abled kids around the world, most especially those from my own country, Philippines were able to enjoy the same benefits we are enjoying. This wish further led me to my current dream of putting up Kuya's Autism Therapy Centre Foundation in God's time. If God allows. I am very positive that it will happen one day and many kids and families will be helped. 

I shared this with a knowledge that there are also very good, services in the Philippines but the sad fact is, it is only available to the very few who can afford it. In Singapore, the services are for all the residents. 

That's just one of the many things I am grateful for being a PR in Singapore. Thank you God for planting us here. Thank you Mr. Lee Kuan Yew for what you have sacrificed to make Singapore what it is now! 

This card is a fold-a-long card. It's really a fun card so and easy to make. You just need to have a Sizzix Bigshot machine and a few Sizzix  dies and accessories needed which I will discuss in details later. 

In the photo above, I started by die-cutting and folded the card base with Ticket Fold-a-Long card by Jen Long in white cardstock. Sizzix sandwich should be in this order: Sizzix magnetic Platform + Sizzix standard cutting pad +paper + thinlits dies facing down + cutting pad. Just run the sandwich through my Bigshot and I folded along creased line. I had my card base ready. 

The next detail is super! It was my first time to try the Sizzix ink sheets and it's so cool. Imagine to use all your thinlits, framelits and triplits dies as stamps? That's really amazing and that's what I did to the front of my card. Let me show you how I did it in the photo below:

When using Sizzix Inksheets the sandwich is composed of (from bottom to top) magnetic platform + inksheets transfer pad + paper or chard you want to transfer the image to + Sizzix Inksheets + thinlits die + Sizzix Standard Cutting Pad. Run this sandwich to the Sizzix Bigshot machine and you'll see the magic!

There! It's already nice as it is but I just tried adding stickles for more texture. Look at the pretty glittery details! 

Once the card cover was done, it's time to decorate the ticket found inside the card. So I die-cut a beautiful "Thank You" using the same thinlits die I used to "stamp" the image on the card front. 

To cut this phrase, just follow the same process mentioned above when I die-cut the card base. 

The card is done. The thank you ticket can be attached to the flaps at the center of the card. 

And it looks like this! 

Finally, I tied it with a baker's twine to secure. It's just a very simple and clean card. Pretty much describes to how Mr. Lee is as a person. I admire his being frugal, simple and humble. I hope and I pray that his life will continue to inspire not just Singaporeans but people around the world. 

Again, THANK YOU Mr. Lee Kuan Yew! Thank you! Thank You so much! 

Supplies: 

Sizzix Bigshot
Ticket Fold-a-Long 
Magnetic Platform 
Sizzix Standard cutting pad 
Sizzix Inksheets

I love him!

First time I noticed as I watched him deliver his message was that, he seems very charming. Smiles a lot, jokes, and so humble that he asked the people to pray for him. And for the first time, unlike other popes and religious leaders, he speaks using very simple words! I liked him immediately so I googled more about him and these are some few things I found:

• He refused the papal car and chose to take the bus with the cardinals.
• He picked up his luggage from the hotel and paid his own bills. 
• During the dinner with the cardinals, he did not sit on the "raised" chair and sat instead with the cardinals.
• He responded to a toast with a remark: "May God forgive you for what you have done".  
• Humble 
• Simple. Very simple in his lifestyle, and even in speech!
• He kisses the feet of AIDS patients.
• He prays with prostitutes.
• Gentle but firm.
• Loving but fearless. 

It is with no doubt, I can say, that the Church is in good hands. It is with gratefulness to God for giving us a wonderful guy, the coolest Pope ever to inspire and help us in our journey of salvation.

My kudos, admiration and huge love goes out to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI for choosing to die to himself, stepping down so that others may live, truly following Christ's example. I believe he was anointed to make such decision knowing that in his advanced age and failing health, someone else is more fit to do the duty. It needs an extraordinary amount of courage and humility to do what he did.

... the Pope in a bus with the cardinals. He is so ordinary the "elite" and the "sosyalan" will hate him LOL :P 

... the 3 beloved Popes in my lifetime together in one photo! All 3 are supporters of the NC Way! I'm at the right track. A very narrow track though. 

On a personal level,  I am filled with joy to find out just this morning, that the Pope has always been very close with the initiators of Neocatechumenal Way, has always shown his affection and support to the way and has even celebrated the Eucharist with the community in various occasions. It double confirmed my hunch! I could feel it already. He seems to WALK the neocatechumenal way TALK: simplicity, humility, and love for the cross. 

I'm just so happy! it feels like Easter came early :) 

Long live POPE FRANCIS!!! 

Negros Walk!

"Negros Walk is a walk for health. This is a historic 661-kilometer walk around Negros on foot to be initiated by  Jimmy A. Badilla, a 60-year-old granddad who believes that good health can be achieved through walking."

Jimmy Badilla (in the above photo, with my mother Flor Badilla) is my father :)  Today is his birthday and it is his birthday wish to stop smoking and live a healthy life. Thus, the Negros Walk. Initially I and all my other siblings were in doubt of this but we eventually supported him seeing this makes him happy. And since I'm a million miles away from them, the least I could do is to "walk" with them via my cross trainer! An hour each day till this cause culminates. Today is my second day :) Loving it! Please help us pray for my parents as they walk for their health. Thanks heaps!

Happy Birthday Papang! We love you very much!

You may send some love and encouragement by visiting Negros Walk in Facebook It will surely inspire my father! Thank you!

packing our things ...

We will be moving to a smaller but definitely, for so many reasons, a better place for us.... one is, it's nearer to Kuya's early intervention center which will open in May. God really makes everything right. If we just let him take over.

*see the LBC boxes? those are for Mommyla, Lolo Papang/Lolamamang, and another box full of toys for K and B's cousins! :) It feels great to pack goodies to be given away to loved ones. I can't wait for them to open these :)

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Wordless Wednesday: Melason Fever!

Congratulations Efren!!!

A Filipino made it! He is this year's CNN hero! I voted for him! Did you? :)

Efren Penaflorida, CNN HERO!

Today is our last chance to vote... vote as many times as you want!

which is which

pacman-cotto fight? or made with love 6th bday party? aaaaarrrrrghhhhhhhh! so difficult. but in the end, pacman always wins so here i am, (in my 'las vegas' shirt!) with BB, Kuya Ed, Din, Mae, and my bugoys... anticipating another victory! GO MANNY GO!

trivia: i once won from pare odick a huge pack of prokids diapers betting for manny. was pregnant then with my first bugoy :) hehehe!

great news!!!

Im so happy today! Just got home from strolling with my Baby Miguel.. we also went to the supermarket to buy some fish and more. The day started so well. Was singing praises to God while breathing the fresh Singapore air. I thought the day couldn't be better... until I opened my facebook and saw the Minyononline post abour Father Sinnot! He is free! SO HAPPY!

"After one month of captivity, Irish priest Father Michael Sinnot, has been released by his captors early Thursday morning in Zamboanga City, the military said."-Mb.com

Father Michael is an Irish priest who turns 80 in December, and has been based in the Philippines since 1976. He has been running a school for children with hearing difficulties for the last four years. I don't personally know Father Michael. But my sister, Anne, works for Misyon. A mission awareness magazine, sponsored and published by the Missionary Society of St Columban. It gave me the chance to meet some of these very cool "bisaya" speaking priests. One is Father Sean with whom my hubby and I had our sacrament of penance the night before our wedding (and we're so honored because he came to our wedding too!) I also cannot forget Father Martin of Cebu. I also want to make mention Father Niall O'Brien, for me he is a hero. I love all Columban priests. I honor them for the work they have been doing in our country, Philippines.

I have been praying for Father Michael since the day he was captured. It just feels liberating to hear about his freedom. Thank you so much Lord! Your love is everlasting!

Ipagpapatuloy ko!

Prayerfully witnessing President Cory's interment via tfc. Her life is truly an inspiration. I greatly admire her for being a great leader, but most of all I honor her for being a great wife and mom. May her legacy remain in our hearts always

rock with you by: michael jackson

I just love love love love this song of MJ. Dedicated ni sa akon crush :)

farewell francis

i believe francis will be remembered not only by the things he achieved in the industry but also by his being a loving dad,a sweet husband, agreat friend, a down to earth celebrity, a very patriotic, talented Filipino... etc.... i am one of the followers of his blog since way way back. before he was diagnosed..

you may also wanna know more about him ... from his very own point of view. just click this ---> FRANCIS M BLOG.

`Hey look, it can be done, it oughta be done,'

Yahoo news says here, Angelina Jolie breastfeeds her twins. I'm glad she does. That will make breastfeeding more cool than it already is. Breastfeeding is one of the hardest thing a woman can do most especially during the first two weeks! (My nipples bleed. I cried. I thought it was never possible! Thanks to Rujim's pedia who doesn't take no for an answer. I even detested her for really insisting I continue to breastfeed even if there wasn't milk) But it can also be one of the most rewarding experience a mom can have. The endless eye-t0-eye moments with your child, the peace of mind of not having to go to the doctor often :) my two sons seldom get sick :) thank You Lord!

The secret is NEVER give up! I am really happy I didn't. I'm proud to survive the worst days of there's-never-any-milk-and-my-baby-keeps-crying-so-i-have-to-give-him-formula days. Thank God for the blessing of breastfeeding!

To know more about why breastfeeding is good not only for our babies but also for us moms, click here.

twit twit twit!

... so busy for the big transfer. which gives me no time for blogging. meanwhile, im giving sentence-long updates through TWITTER. at least to release some excitements, rants, and whatnots thank you guys for following! please include us in your prayer. God is in charge!

i can't believe this!

please let us pray together. the enemy is desperate. and it's so sad he got oprah. so disappointing. but let's not be afraid. Jesus already said: "It is finished." No matter what the enemy does. No matter who he gets, he will never be victorious! :) Bleeeh!