My Prayer After the Meeting

Almighty Father, you are the source of all good and the origin of all we are and do. Lord our God, receive our humble thanks and sincerest gratitude for all your gifts. Enable us to respond to your will and loving kindness with the generous commitment of our lives to the service of your Kingdom. We ask this through Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Handog para sa Aming Mahal na Patron na si San Francisco ng Assisi

Here's my first ever post in Filipino... so excited to launch and discuss this Talumpati to Grade school students. Good Luck, kids!

Isang Panawagan para sa Inang Kalikasan

Sa diwang Pransiskano, hayaan ninyong ako’y bumati: Kapayapaan at mabuting gawa!

Marahil batid nating lahat na iginuhit ng Panginoong Dakila na si San Francisco’y maging pintakasi ng mga taga-Meycauayan. Kung kaya’t taon-taon siya’y ipinagbubunyi’t inaala-alang lubos. Ipinagdiriwang ang buhay n’yang sadyang banal at huwaran.

Galing sa isang mayamang angkan doon sa Assisi, isang maliit na bayan sa Pransya, sumibol si Giovanni Francesco Bernardone. Tinalikuran ang ningning ng yaman at kasikatan, si Francisco’y yumakap sa karalitaan at abang pamumuhay upang sundin ang kalooban ng Maykapal.

Sa kanyang pamumuhay at mga aral, napatunayan n’yang ang mga nilikha ng Diyos ay nararapat lamang na ituring bilang kapamilya at sadyang isapuso ang pagkalinga sa mga ito. Subalit ang masaklap at nakagigimbal na katotohanan ang s’yang nararapat na pagtuunan ng pansin at bigyan ng natatanging pagtugon.

Halimbawa na lamang sa ating bayan, ang ilog ng Meycauayan ay ibinilang sa prestihiyosong listahan ng limampung pinakamaruruming ilog sa buong mundo. Ito ay isang tunay na kalapastanganan sa ating ibinibidang pintakasi. Basura’y nagkalat, mga puno’t halama’y naglagas na tila ba’y tuluyan na tayong nawalan ng disiplina sa ating mga sarili at higit sa lahat, respeto at pagmamahal sa mga nilikha ng Maykapal.

Nakakalungkot mang isipin subalit wala na tayong iba pang dapat gawin kung hindi ang tugunan at hikayating kumilos ang sambayanan. Pagtulungang muling buhayin at ibalik ang dating anyo at sigla ng ating kalikasan.

Taon-taong pagdiriwang… Ano na ang kinalabasan ng mga panawagang ipinagsisigawan: Simulan ang kalinisan! Ingatan ang kalikasan! Ibalik ang ganda ng Meycauayan!

Sa aking munting pamamaraan; Ako mismo ang kikilos. Magsisikap na isabuhay ang pamantayan ni San Francisco. Kalinisan… Pagmamalasakit sa inang kalikasan… Isang sumpang idiriin sa aking puso’t isipan…Di lamang ngayon kundi sa darating pang mga taon hangga’t di nagkakatotoo ang adhikain na ito sa ating bayan.

Whenever I’m Next to My Hubby...

I feel...
Safe.
Secured.
Strengthened.

Relaxed.
Refreshed.
Replenished.

Happy.
Overjoyed.
Overwhelmed.

Appreciated.
Motivated.
Inspired.
Blessed.
Perfectly In Love.

Most of all, I am so blessed to have you, sweetie.

My dear Rainier, thanks for being the simplest and the smartest man whom I can simply rely on, run to, cry and laugh with, and have my pillow talks for a lifetime.

Thank you! Indeed, this is a lifetime commitment. God bless our family with our Leo Antonio and our soon-to-be unica hija, Reanne Francesca!

How Hard It Is To Lose a Grandfather

Quotes on Loving and Losing the Greatest Granddad…

Perfect love sometimes does not come until the first grandchild. ~Welsh Proverb

The reason grandchildren and grandparents get along so well is that they have a common enemy. ~Sam Levenson

A child needs a grandparent, anybody's grandparent, to grow a little more securely into an unfamiliar world. ~Charles and Ann Morse

A grandfather is someone with silver in his hair and gold in his heart. ~Anonymous

The best place to be when you're sad is Grandpa's lap. ~Anonymous

One of the most powerful handclasps is that of a new grandbaby around the finger of a grandfather. ~Joy Hargrove

Granddads…
Grandfathers are fathers who are grand,
Restoring the sense that our most precious things
Are those that do not change much over time.
No love of childhood is more sublime,
Demanding little, giving on demand,
Far more inclined than most to grant the wings
Allowing us to reach enchanted lands.
Though grandfathers must serve as second fathers,
Helping out with young and restless hearts,
Each has all the patience wisdom brings,
Remembering our passions more than others,
Soothing us with old and well-honed arts.

Grandfathers are the mountains we call home:
Rugged, rock-faced remnants of our souls,
Alps far grander than our hills and knolls,
Now sheltering the fields through which we roam.
Dare we understand what they have been:
Fathers of the children of our dreams?
As we knew them, bathing in their streams,
They were the wakers of the gods within.
How beautiful they stand, though far away!
Each the guardian of a long lost child,
Reached alone by those whose love has smiled
So happily it danced right through their day.

With all acknowledgment to all those great minds behind these words. Thanks!

The song you'll see or hear below left an impact… Bye, Bye (by Mariah Carey)Hoooh, I can really relate to it. I just do hope people, who love listening to this, know the real meaning behind each line, each word. Such a wonderful message… I’ll share it with you, peeps!

This is for my sweetest granddad, my dearest Lolo Leovy…


Bye Bye – Mariah Carey Music Code

How Your Guardian Angels Can Help You

Do you believe in miracles and angels as well as having your own guardian angel to save you from any harm and protect you to the best that he could? Do you know your guardian angel? Do you know how he can help you live your life to the fullest as he lights your path towards Him? Well, read on and realize how your guardian angels consistently stay with you and amazingly guide you twenty four hours a day, seven days a week.

We all have our own guardian angel to protect and guide us all through out – day and night. However, not all of us are aware, who is our own guardian angel and how he can help us in many different ways.

Our beliefs that there are guardian angels can actually inspire us to do, think and feel good about ourselves and among other people, our fellowmen. If we have been touched by an angel, for sure, it has also changed our lifestyles as well as the way we see life and its wonders.

Guardian Angels: Helping Us in Many Ways

I’ve mentioned earlier that our guardian angels play a very vital role in our life and in our spirituality. When we are in the womb of our mothers, we already received two great blessings: the gift of life and the gift of an angel. Supported by Biblical scriptures and other reliable references, the existence of guardian angels has become recognized by Christians around the globe since the early 5th century.

In today’s modern world, we can always count on them for immediate guidance and spiritual assistance whenever we think we are on a struggle, a test of faith, or a tough time. Our guardian angels, our invisible protectors are also believed to keep us not just away from any harm but also from any temptations, giving us the protection and the strength that we need. Most of all, our guardian angels make us believe that God truly exists.

My Experiences and Journeys

On a personal note, I consider my guardian angel as my security blanket, my spiritual confidant and my very best friend. Being with me since birth, I have been confident enough to be at my best and be that someone God intends and designs me to be. If ever I have done wrong or felt depressed and stressed out, in my quiet time, he suddenly becomes my medium to come closer with my Creator and my Savior. With him, I know that I am well-guided, protected, safe, secured and blessed.

After saying my prayers and my intentions, I can perfectly admit that I am intellectually recharged, physically replenished and spiritually rejuvenated; only through praying I can feel and experience this one in a million total make-over. From there, I can regain my strength and enhance my wisdom.

Take a peek to this traditional Catholic prayer to one's guardian angel as I used to say this when I was a kid along with my other classmates, playmates and friends.

Angel of God, my guardian dear
to whom His love commits me here.
Ever this day/night be at my side
to light, to guard, to rule and guide.
Amen.

May your life be always touched by an angel, then, today and forever. Have a peaceful and wonderful Christian life to live. Let us also not forget to see the angels in other people, angels in human disguise – I think that’s the most important.

It is Eieo’s Birthday!

On the 14th day of August, this coming Friday, our child will turn One! My hubby and I are both excited to celebrate this one big special day for our very own little prince, Baby Eieo!

Lately we have been so busy doing these tasks: organizing this big event, preparing all the party needs and planning everything.

Take a peek to his sweet B-day party invitation.

Eieo learned to laugh and squeal, sit and stand.
Now, he can walk if you hold his hand.
But the fun has only just begun.
Look out world, Our Little Prince is turning ONE!

Leo Antonio Carluen Policarpio
1st Birthday and Our Family Thanksgiving Mass
August 14, 2009, Friday at 4p.m.
St. Francis of Assisi Parish

Come and celebrate with us. See you there after school!

Isn’t it cute, sweet and unique? Hubby and 1 really tried our very best to make it appear and sound so different, extra special and so personalized. We wanted all the best for our son, for Eieo.

Here is the list of our priorities before his big day:

Setting up a party theme: Ordering and buying Sesame Street Characters, stuffed toys (Elmo for Eieo).
Completing our guests’ lists.
Meeting with the events organizers, coordinators and caterers as well as the clowns, magicians, waiters, etc.
Purchasing all the necessary party needs, stuffs, decorations and accessories.
Venue, birthday cake, chocolate fountains, bubble machines, ice cream and food carts, party needs and souvenirs reservations.
Photo and video coverage.
Invitation lay-out, printing, packaging and distribution.
Party banners and tarpaulin lay-out and printing.
Birthday food taste test.

His Party Needs:

Party and loot bags, party hats, balloons with different shapes and sizes, pop-ups, prizes for games, assorted candies and lollipops, toys for all ages, stuffs for palayok, piñata and pabitin, kiddie and adult sets of chairs and tables, including all the other catering services.

All these must be enjoyed by our 200 guests. Ren and I are keeping our fingers crossed that this will be a successful, fun-filled and exciting event.

We do hope that his first birthday celebration be next to perfection. GOD permits.

See you there!

Mommy Mai and Daddy Ren

Pictures were taken when he was only 11 (at the studio), 7 (in his high-tech walker), 6 (dad made him reach the ceilings of SM the block, one of his mall tours) and 4 (playing and hiding in the blankets) months.

Our Love on a Cake

Personalized and extra special, our wedding cake was one of the things we listed on top of our wedding planning and preparation priorities. We wanted it to look and appear so unique that’s why we had a couple on top of it with a very unusual character to project. That was the same as our love, imperfect but so unique and special – incomparable and irresistible.

As we tied a knot last December 16 of 2006, we were so grateful and overwhelmed to live as one, be blessed by GOD and be loved by His people after all the things that we had been through – trials, struggles, tests of faith. Our love is definitely tested by time and handed over by destiny. (so sweet!)

We thanked GOD then, today and forever… as His will and plans always work well and turn out to be the same as ours, we are so grateful for all the graces and blessings we have.

In our 7-year of relationship and a decade of friendship, our Little Prince, our dearest SON, Leo Antonio (Eieo for short) is the greatest gift we’ve ever had, the most rewarding experience, and the best accomplishment and achievement.

As more and more people would love to willingly help and support us by all means, all the way, we've sincerely and religiously pledged to always pass the good deeds on.

We are happy, thankful and overwhelmed; and forever, we will be – I’m sure.

May we continuously have a fruitful, happy, successful and blessed married life. Let’s keep the love burning, sweetie.

To God be the glory…

Wedding Cakes…

Wedding cakes are essential parts of any wedding ceremony around the globe. These sweet, tasty and mouth-watering treats have long been a symbol of the newly-wed couple’s good luck charm for a happy marriage. Although the size, shape and contents of the wedding cake have changed quite drastically through the centuries, the tradition of the cake itself remains constant.

Although its appearance and style may continue to change and adapt in years to come, the wedding cake will always retain its ancient symbolism and honored place at all wedding receptions.

Rainier and Myraine

We Humbly and Sincerely Pray Oh GOD

A Good Leader with Genuine Leadership...
Leadership is hard to define;
Let us be the ones to define it with justice.
Leadership is like a handful of water;
Let us be the people to share it with those who thirst.

Leadership is not about watching and correcting;
Let us remember it is about listening and connecting.

Leadership is not about telling people what to do;
Let us find out what people want.
Leadership is less about the love of power and more about the power of love.

As we continue to undertake the role of a good leader, let us be affirmed by the servant whom we witness in our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Let us walk in the path He has set and let those who will, follow.

Let our greatest passion be compassion.
Our greatest strength, love.
Our greatest victory, the reward of peace.
In leading, let us never fail to follow.
In loving, let us never fail.

This can possibly happen if we think, act, work and pray hand-in-hand.

Here is our family prayer for the future Philippine President:

Almighty Father,

God of power and might, wisdom and justice,
we praise and thank You for the gifts of life, peace and love.
We humbly beseech that You assist us with Your Spirit of counsel and fortitude.

Bless the next Philippine President and other government leaders and officials
that they may always seek many ways of righteousness, justice and mercy.
Grant that they may be enabled by your powerful protection to lead our country with all honesty and integrity.

Give us, O God, leaders whose hearts are large enough to match the breadth of our own souls and give us souls strong enough to follow such leaders of good vision and wisdom.

Give us the hearts to choose the leaders who will work with other leaders and together will sincerely serve the Filipinos with all their heart – no self-interests, no ulterior motives and no personal desires.

Give us leaders who lead this nation to virtue without seeking to impose our kind of virtue on the virtue of others; leaders those who can differ strength from power, growth from greed, leadership from dominance, and real greatness from the trappings of grandiosity.

Give us a government that provides for the advancement of this country and stability of its economy without taking resources from others to achieve it.

We trust You, Great God, to open our hearts to learn from those to whom You speak in different tongues and to respect the life and words of those to whom You entrusted the good of others – in all nations.

We beg you, Our Dear Father, give us the vision as a people to know where national leadership truly lies, to pursue it diligently, to require it to protect human rights for everyone, everywhere.

We ask these things, through Your Son, Jesus Christ, Our Lord, and Our Blessed Mother, Mama Mary with minds open to Your word and hearts that trust in Your eternal care.
Amen.

Myraine, Rainier and Eieo



COPY STARTS HERE:

Copy these rules including the logo above and paste in on your blog as is:

1. Write a short, sincere and meaningful prayer, (in your own words and according to the customs of your religious affiliation) about asking God in guiding our country and fellowmen in choosing the right candidate to vote for in the coming 2010 Philippine Presidential Elections. It can be in your own vernacular, and can be short and long as you please. Remember, the goal of the prayer is not only for Peaceful Election but most of all “for the guidance of choosing the right Presidential candidate to vote in the election”

2, Publish the prayer for everyone to Read in your blog.

3. Go to the Blog Prayer Brigade Main Page which is located here, and get one of the badges or banners for the brigade. Place the badge or banner in your Sidebar until the 2010 Presidential Elections commence.

4. Make an oath by filling the blank below with your handle/or name

I, Myraine Carluen - Policarpio, support the cause of the Blog Prayer Brigade for the election of the Future President of the Republic of the Philippines and I do solemnly promise to recite the prayer, which I wrote, in my own convenient time and regularly as possible until the 2010 Presidential Election commences. Let it be written, let it be done.

5. Tag at least 7 Pinoy bloggers you know who haven’t done this before so that the prayer will spread wherever there is a pinoy blogger present.

6. Keep you promise of praying for the Presidential Election so that God may guide us in choosing the right leader for our country.

7. in January 2010, we will gather all the names and prayers of each participants and publish all their prayers in one Blog. We will also feature in the blog the most beautiful prayer ever composed in this project.

COPY ENDS HERE

A Tribute to OUR Dear Madam Cory Aquino

Who she was, she is and she will always be…

A passionate and caring wife to Sen. Benigno "Ninoy" Aquino.
A loving and understanding mother to her children.
A sweet and thoughtful Lola to her grandchildren.
A trustworthy friend.
A creative artist, a painter.

A religious and meek Christian.
A prayerful and grateful fellow.
A devoted prayer and democracy advocate.
A woman of prayer, dignity, principles, integrity and empowerment.

An influential people power icon.
A considerate and supportive politician.
The first lady president in the Philippines and in Asia.
Our former president.

Famous. Rich. Loving. Kind. Blessed. Grateful.

Farewell to OUR Beloved Former President… Mrs. Corazon Cojuangco – Aquino…

Your works, words and service to mankind, your legacy will live forever in the hearts of the Filipino as well as those whom you have touched their hearts and changed their lives.

As she joins her Creator in Heaven… her death.

At the age of 76 on August 1, 2009, 3:18 a.m., at the Makati Medical Center, Mrs. Mrs. Corazon Aquino died of cardiopulmonary arrest after complications of colon cancer. She was diagnosed with the disease in March 2008 but kept up public appearances this year. A religious Catholic, she regularly attended weekend Holy Mass until shortly before being admitted to hospital in late June.

All Roman Catholic dioceses had started requiem masses for Aquino, after they held "healing masses". Meanwhile, the government declared a week of mourning for her death. Political figures both in the local and international arena claim that the Filipinos have just lost a mother and a guiding voice of the people.

Also, many individuals around the globe have extended sympathy and expressed their grief; we along with other people from different nations have truly admired her extraordinary courage, determination, and moral leadership, which serve as an inspiration to all and exemplify the best in the Filipino nation.

Again, we thank you. We'll let the yellow ribbon live on, generation to generation.

We pray for your soul – eternal peace and serenity with OUR Creator, Almighty Father.

With Love and Prayers, Myraine, Rainier and Eieo