Measure Of Success

A very close person shared to me about her friend's dilemma.  She was in her mid year as a resident doctor and she wanted to stop temporarily for her family, especially for her child.  Her colleagues were telling her to continue since it won't be long before they finished their residency.  But due to her busy schedule, she isn't able to give enough attention to her kids and is beginning to have problems in school.  Now, she is torn  between prioritizing her family over her profession and being a failure in the eyes of her colleagues.

If you're in such situation, the choice might be difficult to see.  But people outside the box can think more clearly.  Simple words of advice and insight was uttered, "it won't be a failure, if you choose family over anything else"  and for as long as someone in the family is capable enough to still provide for  their needs then things wont be as bad as it would seem. 

I remembered an office mate shared to me something he read from a book, it goes: we work so hard for our family, for our children, that we oftentimes couldn't see that we almost don't or can't spend even a quality hour with them anymore.  By the time you retired from work and already paid off all bills and obligations (assuming you worked in a well-off company with a very generous retirement package) and ready to spend your remaining moments with them, you realize, they are already used to not having you around anymore.

We have just a lifetime to live in this world.  Whether we like it or not, we can't finish all endeavors and all the things we wanted to do in life.  We might differ on how we look at success, but for me, if I created wonderful memories with the people I treasure most... that I can just provide enough for my family... that my wife and children can proudly say how wonderful a husband and father I am to them... that I can say someday that I lived a full and meaningful life... that would be success for me.  Yahweh bless.

Dad's Day, Her Day

We had a perfect Sunday with our family.  There was a lot of reason to celebrate, it's father's day and the birthday of the most lovely, caring and loving woman in the whole universe... and I am lucky enough to have her as my wife.  So when we went to church, I thank our Heavenly Father for bringing her to our lives, apart from the many blessings my family received... from our jobs and personal improvements, to the welfare and health of our family,  He has been good to us. 

Then we proceed to the nearby mall to treat the family to a simple meal in celebrating my wife's birthday... and coincidentally, father's day.  We knew that it would be tough to find a decent place to eat considering there was an occasion, but what we were not prepared of is that a famous TV personality had a guest appearance in the mall, making it more crowded.  It was still too early for dinner and wanted to just roam around the mall than to stay to the activity area where the crowd was, but my daughter was a fan of the fella, so I end up joining the crowd and carrying her in my shoulders.

Whew!!! wasn't I'm glad when the show was finally over.  Good thing we made an early reservations to a restaurant just within the mall, that we just waited for the time we set for the food to be served.  Or else we would still be looking for a place to dine or be in the waiting list.  It was a bountiful meal, we just didn't thought it would be that plenty, as we just ordered food good for 10 persons (less than 10 adults and a couple of children).  But hey, whose complaining?  At least everyone had enough, and we still had some to bring home.

We had a pleasant evening with the rest of the clan. I knew my wife did... with that familiar smile in her face, and it's enough for me to see that I made her day.  And to see and hear the laughter of our children... seeing them enjoying the moment with us, was already a fulfillment for me.  I could say, "this is what celebrating Father's Day is all about". 

The June celebrants... our wives.

To my beloved wife, my Enoi... happy, happy birthday.  May our Lord bless you with good health as always.  Looking forward to spend a hundred more with you.

As a dad:  I would carry my children in my shoulders... in my back... in my arms... as long as I can.  So I won't regret someday when I can no longer carry them anymore.  Happy Father's Day to all.  Yahweh bless.

Gardens Of Eden

In the Bible, the "Garden of Eden" was said to be the place where Adam and Eve (the first people) lived until they disobeyed our Father in heaven.  Today, there were gardens resorts and places named after it, and I was lucky enough to visit two of them here in Davao City.

Eden Nature Park and Resort

A week ago, we had our company summer outing in the place.  With the cool breeze (maybe because of being situated at the feet of Mount Talomo) and wide activity area, it was somehow perfect for huge gatherings, seminars, reunions and alike.  It wasn't my first time there, but I just can never had enough of places especially those surrounded by nature... very appealing and relaxing to the senses.

We had some parlor games just to loosen up and enjoy the company of fellow employees, had our buffet meals, roamed a little bit and had the guided tour around the place... all expense shouldered by our company. That's just how generous our company to it's workforce. No wonder why it's so blessed and loved.

Eden also had amenities and facilities like their cottages (for overnight stay), playground, zip lines, mountain trail (for trekking), fishing village, etc.  I hadn't tried them all due to time constraint (beside the fact that it wasn't included in the freebies, hehehe).  For more info about the place, you can always visit their website.

The Kingdom of Jesus Christ's Covenant Mountain and Prayer Center- Garden of Eden (Restored)

Just this Thursday,  we joined a seminar conducted in the place.  Never been there and heard a lot of good things about it, I was somewhat eager and expecting a lot.  Well, I was not disappointed.

I am a nature lover.  I find plants and trees, especially if nicely landscaped, appealing and soothing to my eyes.  And the place was what I imagined it to be.  There's no really extra-ordinary with the place, but what I admired most was its being clean and well maintained.  From the roads and pathways, to the plants and their arrangement, even to the tiny details as that of the stepping stone edges... very tidy, well trimmed.  Maybe because the members of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy (religious founder of Kingdom of Jesus Christ) give respect to their sacred place and/or they are just that disciplined.

By the way, it's open to the public.  Based on the information we got from our tour guide, if you wanted to visit their place, you can go at their ticketing office (visit their website) or go directly to their place located at Tamayong, Calinan, Davao City and pay there.  They don't accommodate overnights except for members and special guests only.  It's a religious ground, so don't expect to find things as that of a resort.

So, what can one do?  Well, we roamed around the place and enjoyed the scenery (there were just some restricted areas).  We also used a function room in their restaurant for a seminar (though the tour guide told us, they don't cater wedding reception, birthdays and similar occasions). One can also dine inside in their cafe and restaurants (I heard they had corkage on food and drinks brought inside the compound).  And they have a nursery of ornamental plants (just about everything they had in their garden), for sale.

So, which do I recommend?  Both.  There's really nothing much to compare about the places.  Since one is a resort and the other one is a religious place.  It really depends on one's preference.  But if it's a nature trip you want to have, I highly recommend you see both of them.  Yahweh bless.