I was perhaps 4 or 5 years old when the closeness of my relationship with my grandmother became as fun-filled. Even the frequency of going to church was like a party for me. Grandma's love and patience helped me understand how to respond love in any circumstance, regardless. She was a catechist, teaching elder men and women (illiterate) in those days, how to understand the Bible. While children at my age enjoyed playing around, I have had better playmates (as I considered then) when I was around grandma. She often meets those people in white robes. There were times when her friends (Nuns) told me that they had written my name in their book (whatever that meant).

One day, grandma got sick while her eyesight problem got worse. When her illness prevented her from doing further reading and Bible teaching, I found myself reading the Bible to the elders at the age of 12. Although I was enjoying the idea of being a little teacher for a while, there were times that my heart screamed for help for questions I could not answer. Later, I would go to see a priest for such question.

Years later, I found singing as such great pleasure. At the age of 16, I tried competing my Aunt Tess (grandma's youngest daughter - however, I was still grandma's pride and joy) in an amateur singing contest. Aunt Tess was a professional in singing. She influenced me to appreciate classical and jazz music. She worked as a singer in a big nightclub in downtown area. In spite of her job at night, Aunt Tess managed to keep her little restaurant, teaching me the art of cooking.

At 18, during high schools days, my time spent in between job and school was my parents' nightmare. I found my first job in radio stations as a drama-actress, playing charade. Although it was more of a pleasure than making money, acting different characters in those pre-recorded sponsored-dramas was a pride.

I was 21 when my parents went to another Island for a year's business venture. Assisting grandma, who at that time became fully blind, was almost unbearable: The responsibilities toward my brothers and sisters were such an undertaking. Grandma had a happy life with us. She rested in peace during my early years in college.

Pursuing college in Engineering field was fun, but did not take long. I got married. Along with my studies, I was able to manage a little business around the neighborhood. Trips around the continental areas were frequent, necessary for taking first hand merchandise for customer's order.

I arrived in the mainland with my husband and our two children in early 1985. Darryl was 10 and Cheryll was 5 years old. Staying at the hotel for a month before we were able to get the house we wanted was an experience. Few months later, while working in a restaurant, I met a lady who introduced me to Mary Kay Cosmetics. Moving ahead, I began to venture other companies of cosmetics and fragrances. Parfums, Guerlain, YvesSaintLaurent, and others led me to a fancy world. However, the lifestyle was like an animated world made out of thin-ice carved delicately.

One day, the angel of God came down, shattering the door of opportunity that I believed to be. It was when Darryl's accident blew all the fuses wrapped around my shoulder. It took me a while before I accepted the fact that he had gone physically for good. It was not until Dec. 31, 1992 when I quit my job, realizing that March 8, 1992 was not a dream.

When all else's failed to nurse my broken heart, getting back to college was redeemed as therapy. Then habitual practice of old began to merge in a deeper sense. Hearing the daily Mass and receiving the gift of God's love in the Holy Eucharist seemed to extinguish the fire of that torturing, nagging pain inside. Although college was another means of escaping the nature's sign of my personhood, church took a big part in my heart. Allowing God to manifest within is the antidote for anything unbearable.

While waiting the petition to RN nursing courses ~ aiming towards BSN major, theology courses made headways appealing. The eagerness' started, and the thirst to know more about God became intense. The three years of study at Trinity College in Wash. D.C. was the most energetic exercise for my heart and soul. On May 19, 1999, I got the certificate to serve my parish.

I was already a Eucharistic Minister many years back. Not only do Eucharistic ministers do their part during the Holy Mass assisting priests, but the opportunity to be able to walk for God to be close to the sick that they may receive Him in the Holy Eucharist is already a tremendous blessing. As a Lector in our Parish, I am able to pour out my very own heart whom God upholds to deliver his "Word." How is it that I speak directly from the heart? ...Because of my awareness of sin, the Word of God becomes alive in me. I have asked God to forgive my transgressions. I have asked God with contrite heart and afflicted spirit how so these things happened when I love so much and give so much of my self? I remember Him Say ...

Computer Science got my interest, and I will be graduating this May of 2000, God willing. Networking, programming and webdesigning will be there for a good use whatever is best for the glory of God. At present, I am still working part time at the Augustinian Fathers and another part time for Puig-Fragrance Company launching new product in the market. Dealing with different people outside my world is not easy, but I did learn and will still learn more from everyone I come in contact with for the rest of my years.