Mary Jane Veloso's case: truly a miracle?

Filipinos across the globe are rejoicing for letting Mary Jane Veloso live for her death penalty case was reprieved. 

Mary Jane Veloso, a 30 year old single mother was arrested and sentenced to death for smuggling heroin into Indonesia in 2010. Her case sparked international commotion because she was spared from the nearly death penalty in the last minute.

She was reprieved because the alleged human trafficker, Maria Kristina Sergio surrendered to the police and Veloso will be the witness in court to prove her innocence on the said case.(Philippine Daily Inquirer)

Her mother couldn't believe that her daughter was still alive and she said that it was indeed a miracle.

What would you feel if you were in the shoe of Veloso, sitting in the room  and waiting that you're going to be executed through a firing squad. Then, all of a sudden a phone call from your country comes informing you that the human trafficker surrendered to the police authority admitting the crime which he kept for five years and you were suddenly pulled out from the place where you must be executed.

This is truly a

MIRACLE!

I was left stunned and  speechless when I read the news that my fellow OFW was spared as I thought that she was going to be executed because Jokowi rejected her clemency.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/asia/68114615/firing-squad-8-killed-including-bali-nine-pair

This is another testimony that prayers are so powerful and can truly work miracles. Filipinos all over the world showed their public support through mass prayers. The government exhausted their effort in order to save her. As a result, Mary  Jane is still alive trying to prove her innocence.

I declare my firm support on her innocence not only by the fact that she is my fellow citizen but I also believe that justice must prevail and truth will set her free.

 I pray that she will be given a fair trial and let the world know about her story and her struggles. I also pray that she will never break and believe that for as long as there's a gleam of hope, she must never fail to hold on to God's promises.

AMEN.

The Blogger's Wish

Yes!

It's my birthday today!

How old am I?

That's not important. What you should know about is it's really my birthday today!

 

If you're asking me whether I had a blast on my birthday or not....Well, congratulations! It was a super happy birthday! Though I am feeling under the weather, the people around me made me forget about it and just made me focus and enjoy my birthday.

Thanks to my girlfriend who has always been creative,passionate and hardworking to give me a pleasant surprise. She made a video clip which I came to watch the people so close to me deliver their speeches of greetings and blessings for me here and abroad. My heartbeat stops for a few seconds while watching with amazement thinking how she did piece everything together. It was a very intricate task which takes a whole lot of patience in order to make such a moving video clip. 

Well, that doesn't end there. I had to go to the hospital for a medical check up because of the severe flu I am bearing. Then, it was immediately followed by a dental check up. After that,  I, together with my girlfriend, my brother and his family and a close friend, had our lunch at a steak restaurant.  Then, we went to another place to have my hair cut and had our tea time. We chatted and laughed together cherishing the old times and wondering how are we going to be like a few years from now. Finally, we headed home to have our dinner. It was a long worthwhile day. I wished that I could have more time to spend my birthday to the other people close to me, but unfortunately, I was really unwell so I had  to reach home and have a night rest.

 

I am so glad and thankful for the countless blessings that I received for this year. I can't even remember all of them one by one. My highest thanks to Lord Jesus Christ who never cease to amaze me every single day of my life with his wonderful touch and unparalleled grace that overflows upon my hands. I thank Him for using the people around me who continually inspire me and show how beautiful things are in all of my endeavors.

If I could have only one wish, it would be that the people I care and love so much about would receive the bountiful blessings and genuine happiness so I could see the priceless smiles on their faces which will in return bless me as well.

=)

My thoughts about 'The Maze Runner'

This is my very first book review that I have ever made in my blog. Pardon me for swerving a little bit but  I couldn't help myself to write my thoughts about the book, because it excites me so much. Given a solid one day holiday from school because of the Asian-African Conference Celebration and Commemoration, made me read and post this.

Thanks to Scott who owns this book

Finally, I was able to finish reading the first book from the Maze Runner series after a couple of weeks! Well, I actually prefer to watch it on a big screen rather than reading the book because I don't have the luxury of time at home. Besides, I am not really into reading books. But this one really caught my attention, so I decided to read the book after watching it. hehe!

Anyway, my thoughts about the book! Well, as what we usually expect, it was way different  and way better than the movie. I felt the Grievers more intimidating in the book. The precision of language created a vivid picture of what was really happening. James Dashner's wild imagination triggered mine which made me feel like I was in the maze with them. The plot was unpredictable and gripping. At the end of each chapter leaves you hanging that itches your fingers to flip on the next pages.

My favorite part of the book is when Thomas kept on making seemingly stupid and yet heroic deeds that left the characters astounded. He kept on putting his life on the line of death just to save his comrades. Thomas was unselfishly passionate and brave about savings the strangers' lives in spite of what they had treated him.

Upon reflecting and collecting my thoughts about him, a name suddenly popped up of nowhere. Thomas reminded me of Jesus who willingly put down His life on the cross just to save us. He knew what's going to happen, but He never backed down and gave up on us.

Jesus, for me, is still the most inspiring and the unsurpassed hero of all time.

Embrace your limitations!

"Mr. Noel, this is so hard!"

"Can't do it."

"How to do it?"

These are a few of the heart aching lines that I hear when my students are faced with difficult activities inside the classroom. Then, mixed emotions trigger my mood because I don't know if I should feel upset or pity on them because they are incapable of doing their tasks whereas for me, I have given everything they are supposed to do plain and simple. Then, I would end up explaining everything from the start and give fresh examples or models for them to follow through.

One time I, went home carrying the baggage of thoughts from school thinking and trying to put myself into their shoes. Then, I realized that I also do the same thing when I am faced with difficult situations. When I am confronted by sudden uncomfortable situations, I also whine up just the way my students would tell me. After that, I would pity myself for my limitations that keep me from doing other things that other people can do.Afterwards, I would seek God's comfort and wisdom to help me out of my disappointment.

To comfort myself even more, I recalled the icons in the Bible which had limitation issues in fulfilling God's word and there I found Moses, Gideon, Jeremiah,the disciples, Paul and others.

All of them had one thing in common: they put their faith to God that allowed them to succeed from  a seemed-to-be-impossible tasks that were given to them. My limitations are just the tip of the iceberg as compared to theirs so there's nothing to worry about.

From that day forward, I started to embrace my limitations and to seek God's voice to shed light in all of my circumstances. I  keep on reminding myself that we were born of our own limitations and God is here to fill in the gaps with joy and gladness.