RubyCumba

I’m coming home…this time with 12 dutch young people to show our way of life, our culture, and most especially our people. I am a Filipino and I am proud to be one. I have high hopes that this would be another success story just as it was in the 1st and 2nd group. I look forward to a very memorable experience not only for me but most especially to the youth. Building houses for the poor at Gawad Kalinga, interaction with Cebu youth, group discussion on relevant issues, and taking care of abandoned children are our main activities.

As ever, excited to be home again.

It’s nearly getting to be a routine, this time of the year i am again busy with preparatory activities for the youth exchange program.This time we have 10 very active young dutchies to participate in the immersion program in cebu and i have high hopes. so far this is the smallest group nevertheless the most enthusiastic, active and well motivated. i hope this will be another success story. building houses for GK, caring for abandoned children at batang pinangga and interacting with cebu youth on issues that concerns our community. Interesting is  since i joined this program as an adult leader i came to understand more of what’s going on in our country, why people must stay and not leave.. there i have some guilt feelings but somehow tryng to compensate with developmental work- the least I can do for my country.

On February 24 2008 Cebu city celebrated it’s charter day and awarded a few individuals an achievement award for the services rendered to the city of Cebu. I was greatly honored to be one of the recipents of this prestigious award. Together with 5 other awardees we received the award on May 2 on a special ceremony in Haarlemmermeer, the sister city of Cebu.Vice Mayor Mike Rama and 4 city councilmen came over to the Netherlands to personally present the award to the awardees. Being the only woman and the only Filipina among the awardees I felt a sense of pride having done something for my city and my fellow Cebuanos.I considered it as a crowning glory of my involvement with the sister city relationship between Haarlemmermeer and Cebu.

When I joined the board of the VHC, it was purely my choice, later it became a commitment. A commitment I made to myself being a Filipina living outside my dear Philippines.It is the least i can do for my country.

I dedicate this award to my late father, truly a Cebuano and needless to say I am proud to be one.

I wish to say "Daghang Salamat"city of Cebu for this honor. I will cherish this award continue to be of service to my people with God’s help.

It’s great to see family members!  Especially when they are far from you. I’m in the US to be one of the Ninangs of my cute little nephew Nathan. I’m happy to see my cousin glow with pride with her bundle of joy. My uncle and auntie couldn’t be happier! Their first apo! I remember when I had my first born child, I was overflowed with emotions and wishing my family was there to share that moment.

Thanks God for my family!

The past few weeks has been a very hectic period. The Pinoy youth immersion is nearing to an end and in my opinion it has been a successful endeavor. 38 young people from Cebu had their share of culture shock, braved the bitter winter temperatures, and experienced Christmas away from home.  I can only admire their enthusiasm and dedication in their pursuit to build a better place to live, and to gain insight into other people’s way of life.

It was worth it… I would surely do the same again and hoping that someday they will become our future leaders.

just came back from a trip to the US. It was great to see my family and friends altogether. I love reunions and most especially when two people in love decide to spend the rest of their lives together. Mark my cousin and Debbie exchanged vows in a lovely wedding ceremony in San Diego and promised each other > to love and to cherish, for better or for worse….<   One of the most interesting quotations I heard from the officiating priest was when he said " remember a wedding is just for a day, marriage is for a lifetime… I wish them all the love in the world and may they live happily ever after.

My Arizona adventure was so much fun too, although the 7 hour drive from LA to Phoenix was sooooo boring. The sand dunes and rocky mountains were interesting though.

Hopefully I’ll be back soon.

Today I lost a very dear friend. It has been very tough but God’s will be done…..

Lately I’ve been confronted with a very sad development. One of my dearest friend is seriously ill and it pains to see her suffer.  I can only help her with prayers and a listening ear. May God help her through this and may she find the strength to withstand the difficulties coming with her illness. I believe in the power of prayers and hoping for a miracle!

Soon a new year will come… new hopes new promises and new perspectives. I bid goodbye to a fruitful yet turbulent 2006. It was a year full of stress, emotionally and physically. It was also a year of fulfillment in some ways. I travelled a lot, yes a thousand miles away from home. I’ve seen places and faces, I did things I never thought I would do in my life but anyhow It was such a great experience and I will not hesitate to do it again given the chance.

I had a lot of shortcomings but a lot of successes too. To recollect, I was in my homeland the Philippines three times and each time with a different goal and with God’s help I reached the finish line. My vacation with my two boys in Spain last summer strengthened my bonding with them despite all obstacles ( lost luggages, delays ..).My trip to the US  to visit my relatives was a revelation. Somehow that visit was an eyeopener for me for other alternatives. Blood is indeed heavier than water.

I am looking forward to a more progressive and active 2007 and hope to have as much willpower and energy as I had in 2006 if not even stronger.  When I was dining with my cousins in Mississippi in a chinese restaurant, I got this in my fortune cookie:

"Good timber does not grow with ease; the stronger the wind, the stronger the trees."

Indeed.