Coincidence?

There is no such thing as coincidence.

Last Friday, I met up with one of our advertisers from Bali, Indonesia. She flew all the way to Singapore to attend a gala event, so we decided to meet up for coffee at the shopping center near my office. I hadn’t seen her in person prior to the appointment, but we would usually chat over the phone once in a while so there was already some sort of familiarity and camaraderie between the two of us.

We met up at Coffee Bean, and she was already there when I arrived, having her doze of caffeine and sweets. She’s very friendly and has a nice smile, so it was quite easy getting comfortable with her with no hint of hesitation. We then started to chat and talked about the magazine. (For those who still don’t know, I work for a travel magazine here in Singapore.)

The meeting was supposed to be all-business, and my primary purpose was just to do my job and talk business with her, but I dunno what happened next and how it happened: we started talking about deeper, more personal stuff.

During the meeting, this may sound freaky to some but there was a voice inside me telling me to talk to her about my Christian life and my so-called ‘calling’. I know it’s a no-no (Apologies to Sir Donald Trump.), but I just gave in to that voice. I actually forgot how it started but suddenly I wasn’t talking about business anymore: I was already sharing about my faith to her! Our advertiser! A client!

Firstly, I shared with her about my so-called ‘calling’. Remember my previous post? Where I mentioned about a prophecy and posted a question about being bound to do greater things? Well, I also shared those with her, including my recent baptism, my church activities, and some views and opinions regarding religion and spirituality.

And guess what?

After this bold reckless initiative, she immediately told me that SHE's a Christian as well, and then she HERSELF started sharing her stories and experiences of being a Christian!

The so-called ‘business meeting’ lasted almost two hours.

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When I got back to the office after the meeting, I immediately sent her an email:

"First of all, let me just say that it was amazing meeting you in person. I wasn’t really expecting us to talk about too much non-work related stuff especially those personal ones like Christianity. Thank you for that wonderful coffee conversation, and also for taking time to meet up while you’re here in Singapore."

And then I got a reply from her:

"Yes. I feel the exact same way! How wonderful... I say it was no coincidence. I woke up this morning feeling a bit plain and almost bitter because the hotel failed to get an award last night but then after our conversation, I think it reminds me to be thankful in whatever situation. Not always easy. Keep in touch for both work and Christianity fellowship."

Amazing. Truly amazing.

You know what the best part is? My client is also a blogger.

Randomization

• I lost a total of 8 kilos in the span of a month. Yup! Ang dating ‘Obese 1’, ngayon ay ‘Overweight’ na lang. LOL! Friends have been asking me how I did it, but seriously, it’s all about lessening your food intake and eliminating those no-good eating habits (like those big bags of Cheetos, Doritos, Lay’s, etc.). Haha! It was tough at first, but you’d get the hang of it eventually. Wala pang exercise ‘yan! But to those who really know me and/or probably have been ardently reading this blog, you know that I’m not really dieting and there’s a totally different reason for this weight loss.

• Speaking of exercise, one of my resolutions for next year is to start engaging in marathons. Yep! Same as in the Philippines, marathons are also a big craze here in Singapore. One of my churchmates has been encouraging me to start training for it. Tamad Busy lang ako lately sa work and other stuff, but I will definitely find time.

• I just enrolled myself in a music school and will start having vocal lessons. This has been long overdue, and I think this is the perfect timing for this. You see, I’ve been a member of the Worship Team of our church for months now, and I’m a bit struggling because they put all guys in Tenor, and I’m not really a Tenor as my voice is too LOOOW to be a Tenor. I feel that I need some training and learn some of those ‘singing techniques’. C’MON!

• I went back to being active again in couchsurfing. Last week I hosted this guy from Poland for a day. He was on his way to meet up with friends and explore Yogyakarta in Indonesia, but decided to visit Singapore first. It was instant camaraderie, and I served as his tour guide. We explored some tourist attractions like the Esplanade, Merlion, Marina Bay Sands, and Clarke Quay, and devoured on some local nomnoms like stingray and chili prawns. I had some pretty good conversations with him also, and hopefully I could visit Poland one day.

• I’ve been really preoccupied with work, church activities, and other stuff lately that I don’t get to spend time anymore with some people I used to hang out a lot with. One is ‘The Eurasian’, so last week we decided to meet up and do some touristy stuff together. It was all fun! Later on we also met up with her cousin and all took the Hippo Tour Bus that roamed around Singapore.

• Have you ever felt that you’re bound to do greater things? I’ve been feeling this lately, and it’s like I’m being called for something that never in my entire life I would think of doing. It started with a prophecy (YES! A PROPHECY!), and I’m still reflecting on it and praying for discernment. I will discuss about this more in the future.

• Malapit na ang Christmas Party ng mga Pinoy Bloggers in Singapore! Woot! We've been planning it since that time I can't remember when. We already have a date and a venue, at marami pang kailangang asikasuhin like food, program, games, awards, etc. Hopefully maging successful, of course with the support of the other bloggers. So if you're a Pinoy blogger based here in Singapore, make your presence known! JOIN US!

• I need your support! Join my contest! It’s quite easy, and you have a chance to win cool prizes. CLICK HERE. :)

One of Those Days

10 AM

Nahihirapan ako.

May mga panahong gusto ko ng sumuko. Kagabi lang sobrang pagod na pagod ako. Pagkagising ko kaninang umaga pagod pa din ang naramdaman ko. Pagod na nga ang katawan, pagod pa ang isipan. Ayoko na sanang pumasok, pero alam kong hindi puwede dahil marami pa akong kailangang gawin at tapusin na trabaho sa opisina.

Ang mahirap pa nito, kahit anong gawin kong pagsisikap sa trabaho, parang wala pa ring magandang resulta. Nauunahan na ako ng mga kasama ko pagdating sa ‘sales performance’. Kahit gaano kadaming proposals, sales calls at sales meetings ang gawin ko sa araw-araw eh parang wala pa rin. Pinanghihinaan na ako ng loob. Kailangan kong makabenta.

3 PM

Tuloy pa din sa pagta-trabaho. Hindi na ako sumama mag-lunch sa mga ka-opisina ko dahil hindi naman ako nagugutom. Kailangan ko ng mas maraming oras para mas marami akong ma-trabaho ngayong araw.

Pero naisipan kong magpahinga muna kahit sandali lang. Nakita ko ang Bibliya ko at sinimulan ko itong buksan at basahin:

"Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished.” (1 Chronicles 28:20, NIV)

Nagulat ako sa nabasa ko. Saktong-sakto sa kalagayan ko ngayon. Ramdam na ramdam ko na kinakausap ako ng Diyos.

Salamat po, Lord. Alam kong hindi mo ako papabayaan. This is just part of your Grand Plan, at kailangan ko lang na patuloy na manalig at manampalataya sa Iyo.

***************

Gusto kong magpasalamat sa lahat ng sumali sa munti kong patimpalak. Salamat kay Hartlesschiq, Kritikong Kiko, Jepoy Dee, Kuya Bob, PB Dela Paz, Iya_Khin, Lyzius, at Ahmer dahil sa kanilang pagtangkilik.

Puwede pang sumali! Kung gusto mong manalo ng 1TB Western Digital Portable Hard Drive, CLICK HERE. Salamat ng marami sa suporta. :)