The Writers' League #10: Me Random Facts

Hi. I asked Google "How many people in the world are named Jessa?" Then, its genius answer was this: 

Instead of giving me numbers, it gave me the meaning of my name. With no choice left, I opened the link and the internet revealed to me the deepest history of JESSA.

However, I'm not really convinced. But as I look at the monitor and the letters J-E-S-S-A, reality struck over me:

"Is this my name?"

"Is this really me?"

"Do I really know who I am?"

I didn't. But one thing I am sure of is that God knows me, and He calls me by name.

My Mom even testifies God's guidance on the making of my name. Mom said that she named me after "JESUS". Wow! The Name above all Names, Jesus, is close to my name. Hallelujah! It didn't seem to have a lot of impact to me until I knew who Jesus is. Because of that, I wouldn't want to have any other name. Thank you Lord! Now I really believe that God was the one who have knit my inmost beings and even before I was conceived in my mother's womb, I was created firs in God's mind.

So if ME would ask ME again:

"Is this my name?"

"Is this really me?"

"Do I really know who I am?"

My answers would be: YES.

Now I am sure of my true identity... it is not found on my achievements nor my educational attainment. It is not even found on what people would label my character... it all boils down to what God says I am and how He sees me!

I Am

1. Beloved (Jeremiah 31:3)

2. A Child of God (1 John 3:1)

3. Delighted in (Zephaniah 3:17)

4. Forgiven (1Peter2:24)

5. Free (Galatians 5:1)

6. Adopted into God's family (Romans 8:15)

7. Co-heir with Christ (Romans 8:17)

8. Righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21)

9. New (2 Corinthians 5:17)

10. Ambassador of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20)

11. Wonderfully Made (Psalm 139:14)

12. Masterpiece (Ephesians 2:10)

13. Whole in Christ (Colossians 2:10)

We are unique beings made by God and there are some weird things about me that only those who are close to my heart know. xD

#1: KATINKO

This is my stress reliever, my comfort zone, my sleeping buddy. Aside from my Bible, I can't sleep at peace without it beside me. I rub it on my feet. I can consume 3 containers in one month.

#2 MOSQUITO NET

This is the only inheritance my Mom passed to me. Hahahaha. The best feeling ever is landing on the bed being welcomed by my green kulambo. xD Actually, this comes perfect if paired with katinko. Whoooa!

#3 LOG SLEEPING

So yeah, the encircled one is me when sleeping. Hahahahaha

#4 Pizza and Spaghetti

I guess I have an Italian taste. Or maybe, I am an Italian. (Sorry you can't disagree) xD

And www.meaww.com got it right this time. Hahahaha

#5 'Bending' Machine

I want to bend backwards when I'm sleepy. Funny but yes, it's true. Hahahahahahaha

Hahahahahaha that's it for now. I hope you would still want to befriend me after reading this.

Anyhow, God bless you always! I will pray for you. ;) <3

The Writers' League #9: God's Best Requires Rest

"Living for God begins with resting in Him."

"Find your rest in God, and you will find the best rest."

"There is no better place to lay down but in God's arms."


Yes, after God created everything... He rested on the 7th day to remind us that we all need to take a pause and rest in His sweet Presence."

The world is so busy right now. There are countless things that cover us up. From the moment we wake up (if we still have the chance to sleep), to that glorious moment when we get the 2 hours blessing to sleep, we have to finish the requirements of the day. As a student for almost 15 years, I'm still not good at time management. I don't know why, but my to-do-lists always seem to acquire only 1 out of 10 checks.

For example, I need to do some computer works, I waste my 3 hours facing the computer accomplishing 0 percent. Bravo! Yeah, the planning and thinking part is the most crucial. Every single night, I open the Microsoft Word, look at the blank page for minutes, close the tab, open the Chrome, check on my FB account, and suddenly I realize, another day has passed... it's already 1 or 2 in the morning. But of course, I will not let the day go by without doing something, so I open again the Microsoft Word, and I realize, "Yeah, I need to go to bed first. Tomorrow I'm sure I'd already be able to make a paragraph."

What a happy ending. :)

Hahahahaha. Kidding aside, I really want to get a sense of responsibility. To make the most of everyday. And I realize God's Word, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matthew 6:33)

Yes, I have to rest. Not in my bed, not in my own comfort, but in God's Presence where peace and joy resides. By prayer and worship, I am able to rest. In quietness and trust, I am able to rest.

Therefore, GOD's peace is alive... especially in times of battle. GOD's rest is at hand, even in times of busyness. Therefore, when you feel like 24 hours is not enough to finish your tasks. Take a pause, not to go to bed. Kneel down, not to give up. Close your eyes, not to sleep. Rather, take a pause to find God. Kneel down, to talk to God. And close your eyes to pray to Him. And rest assured, God will extend your hours to give you enough time to finish all what you ought to do.

How can He do it? Of course, He owns all the TIME in the world. So, don't hesitate. Rest in God's arms because GOD's best requires rest.

Rest-stop God

by Dale Fredrickson

You are our rest-stop

Your sign reads

'Come' 'Eat' and 'Drink'

'Come' 'Taste' and 'See'

We breathe in and we breathe out

Slow and steady

Relaxed and ready

We step in, we let go, we open up

Love, peace, joy

Fills our cups

You are our rest-stop

You are always open

You never run out

You always help out

You know how to bring about

Hope, resiliency, creativity

You are the rest-stop God

We breathe in and we breathe out

We let go

Fears and failures

Worries and wants

You are Good!

You are so Good!

You are our rest-stop!

The Writers' League #8: Students' Coffin

Let me tell you a story..
Once upon a time, I entered a university...
and I died.

STUDYING.
STUDYING.
STUDYING.

Studying was derived from two not-so-different words...
STUDENTS DYING.


Many of us, if not all, are experiencing challenges as university people. Wait, let me rephrase that. ALL OF US experience obstacles as university students... nobody is exempted.

There are countless tests one university student should pass. I'm not talking about the examinations merely (but it can be), I mean, the trials he need to solve in every area of his life.

Inside a typical classroom, there can be more or less 50 souls a teacher must take care of. Imagine, for an hour, you're a steward/stewardess of 50 different souls with every soul experiencing 100 problems. Therefore, 50 x 100 = 1500 problems you need to cater with solution. That's a HUGE challenge, literally.


So, who do we blame? Is it the school? Or the education? Let's put the University into trial. Supposing I was the attorney of the students in the case: University vs. Students...

University is facing 3 different cases. These are the following:

1. MULTIPLE HOMICIDE: defined as killing the students' mind, heart and body.
-Students are very caught up with the inconsiderate number of school works that usually, they tend to neglect their physical, emotional and mental state. They are not able to eat 3 times a day and exercise regularly. Instead of doing this, they'll just use up their energy in doing projects. Moreover, because their focus is always on the 5 pages of paper they need to fill in with 5000 words or a scrapbook they need to design using abaca or straw, they are not able to sleep straight 8 hours a day, causing the declination of their mental health. Furthermore, when these students already gave their best and they've got nothing else more to give, then the teacher don't appreciate their works or their performance, the students get more than heartbreaks.

CASE WINNER: The University. "Education gives us wisdom but with that comes the pressure of having to succeed. Life is about wisdom but it is worth more than the stress the system brings.

2. THEFT: defined as stealing the students time: family time, friends time, time alone, prayer time
-Students, because of the many things they need to accomplish before the DEADLIEST DEADLINE, they sacrifice their time for their other activities. Time is more precious than gold for these university students, and it is always stolen by these projects, assignments, researches etc.

CASE WINNER: The University. "Education is costly. If you think education is expensive, try ignorance."

3. ESTAFA: defined as cheating on the students; the students pay the University for studying, what if the University do the vice versa?
-Students do the work. They are the ones who suffer, and they pay for their sufferings.

CASE WINNER: The University. "It's not the load that breaks you down. It's how you carry it."


Dear friends, in this battle, we are all victorious. Maybe you might think I am an activist. Well, you're losing the point. The thing is that, I want to make an emphasis, that with all these reasons of giving up... We are still victorious, especially because there is a God in the heavens above who supply our needs according to His riches in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19)

We are all survivors, conquerors in this warfare. With prayers, we are armored in the love of God.

Once upon a time...
I entered a university...
I died...

And I am BORN AGAIN!

How will I say this?

Pens, Rhymes and Sickbeds

You're the woman I fell in love with...

The hardest part of writing is to make the pen stand up,
The hardest part of typing is clicking on the right letters.

But what's much harder than the hardest?
It's making the words right, with all might,
Putting all that's in my heart into a sentence, in all sense...

But what's hardest than the hardest?
It's knowing that no matter how rhythmic this poem is,
You'll never read it, 'cause you're too far... in  a sickbed.

When the pen stands so upright, you can't...
When the letters seem so right, you're not...

I wish I could just heal you with all this rhymes,
But I can't, so I turn to the One who can,
"Pray when life is hard, and when it's not;
For I will do as I think I should, and it's for your own good."


Ma, I miss you and Papa. It's been a week since I last saw you... I just miss youuuu right now. <3

The Writers' League #7: Inside the Fish I Pray

I woke up this morning with the hope that everything was just a dream. But I know everything that happened this week was as real as this flesh covering my bones. Everything's real... And so, I pinched my self back to reality, and opened the Bible. Amazingly, God directed me to read this passage in the Book of Jonah 2:1-9.

Jonah's Prayer

(Jonah 2: 1-9)

From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. 

He said:

“In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me.

From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry.

You hurled me into the depths, into the very heart of the seas,

and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers

swept over me.

I said, ‘I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.’

The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me;

seaweed was wrapped around my head.

To the roots of the mountains I sank down;

the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you, Lord my God,

brought my life up from the pit.

“When my life was ebbing away,

I remembered you, Lord, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple.

“Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them.

But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you.

What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the Lord.’ ”

And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

God knew what I was going through and He wants me to remember that He's in control in every area of my life. This was Jonah's prayer, and it was the most silent prayer of my heart, too. Many things had happened this week. From the most overwhelming mountaintop feeling to the most unexpected downfall. And I know, through this roller coaster ride, I'm in good hands, hidden in God's palm.

'Rap= to talk ; Ripple=to make waves' equals RAPPLER

I was away this week. We went to Sogod, Southern Leyte for the RTSPC (Regional Tertiary Press Conference). We camped in GV Hotel for 4 days and 3 nights. Most of the time, we were just sitting and eating and listening to the speakers' endless pursuit of introducing the new multimedia platforms for journalism. Ms. Maria Ressa, the CEO of Rappler was there. And she was great. Everything she said was worthy to be quoted. I remember one thing she said:

"You emerge yourself to what you are writing."

Yes, we are. Thanks, Ms. Ressa for reminding us. :D

Being away from my family was a struggle. I missed them so much, and I just want to go home everyday to check out on them, if they're doing fine. But I can't, Sogod is 5 hours away from Catbalogan. So the only thing I did was to pray... I know we are being connected by God through prayers.

Many things happened there, and God is so amazing because God worked on each of us, some of us even won. But I guess those achievements are nothing compared to the priceless gain of having Jesus in our lives. But still, thank you LORD for the bonus! Hehehe :D

Sunday it was when we arrived home. I was expecting Mom and Dad to welcome me back with arms wide open, but I saw no one in the house. I charged my phone then I got 2 messages from Mom. She said they left to go to the hospital. She even said "Congratulations day!  Love you day." Mom knew. She called and she explained that she met Ma'am Lopez at Grand Tours and Ma'am told her the news.

Mom, if you only knew it was for you...

I slept for 5 hours and woke up with the beeping of my phone. Dad's calling. He said Mom got confined in the hospital. I got the chance to talk to Mom and say to her that I love her.

If only I could take away the pain that she's going through right now.

If only I was beside her.

If only...

But I know God has a purpose on everything. And I know, she's healing Mom on the process. Thus, all I have to do is to praise and trust GOD!

This week was a challenge, and a growth opportunity as well. God breaks us to make us whole again. God allows pain, to heal us again. God said, "Greater things are yet to come!" Therefore, I will hold on to Him still... I will. I love you, LORD! <3

The Original Work (2nd Short Story)

Paper Plane

(Admin Experiences)

                Flashback to my days before gaining my official school I.D. in Samar State University, I experienced the ‘estudyante problems’ AGAD-AGAD, from the moment I was about to enter the campus when the guards hindered me to launch my first historical step at SSU up to going out of that gate late in the afternoon accomplishing nothing. And so, I was forced to go back there with renewed determination of finishing the race. On the second day of my enrollment journey, something odd happened. I was brought to a whole new dimension, but not literally.

                It was a very exhausting afternoon for everyone. Thank God, I’m only a step away from being an official freshman college student. But before reaching that dream, I need first to endure the long waiting line. Five hours ago, I was the tail of that procession, the 215^th student on the queue. And now, I’m on the front row waiting to be called by the guard to enter the Administration Building and be on the Top 7 students to finally have our enrollment forms be stamped with the word, “ENROLLED”.

                While I was reminding myself on what Jesus tells about patience, suddenly, a paper plane landed on my lap. I looked around hoping someone would claim it, but everyone seems so busy. So, I opened it… slowly. It’s a letter, and it goes this way:

Para ha imo Nanay:

Nay, una ko nga beses nga nagpa-enrol nga diri ko ikaw kaupod. Kunta aadi ka, nay. Maaram ka, kadadamo han nahinabo akon yana nga adlaw. Nay, maaram na ako sumakay bus. Waray man umupod hi tatay kay isakto la nak kwarta para igbarayad tuition. Nakatultol gihapon ako, sinapit la ak han drayber. Tulo giyap ka-oras nam biyahe tikang ha baryo ngadi Catbalogan. Nay, amo ngay-an adto an pustura han traysikol nga im gin-iistorya ha akon?Singko la an pasahe pakadto SSU, maupay nala nga waray ko ipalit dolsi nak sobra nga sinsilyo.

Nay, kadadako ngayan hit SSU hanu? Han pagkitako han mga nagkakasakob nga estudyante, an ira sul-ot, ira bag, ira sapatos,kamag-uupay. Nag-guti tak pagkita ha ak kalugaringon, nakatsinelas la ako, waray bag kundi envelope la, tapos tagiptipon pa nak bado. Sige la nay, para ha imo mapadayon ako.Papasakbon ba ako?Naglakat ako ha gate nga naawod, ginsampit ako han guard. Diri kuno pwede nakatsinelas.Nay, nagtinuok ako.Kadadamo na han tawo nga nagkinita akon, makaarawod pero naghikayayakan gud ako nga harayo pa ha baryo. Naluoy an guard ngan ginpasakob nala ako. Tapos kabubuotan niya kay gin-updan pa ako kun diin ko dapat kumadto. Ngan maupay nala may mga nakapost nga instruction kun ano it hihimuon. Ansya ito yana Nay, adi na ak nalingkod ha admin. Nay sorry waray ako makapaningudto kay napila ako.Diri man ak pwede lumakat kay bangin may sumingit parehos han kanina, nag-away lugod an duwa nga aadi han ak prente. Tulo na ako nga oras nga nagpipinila ngadi nay, ha baryo waray man sugad hini hanu? Ikaw na ngani it mabayad pero ikaw pa it magkukuri. Okay la nay, asya gud ada itobasta college na.

Nay guti nala maeenrol na ako. Nay, yana pala naabat ko na an kakurian hit usa nga estudyante dinhi ha bungto, asay pa kay waray ka na, Nanay. Nay, mag-aaram ako maupay para ha im.Ngan an pirme mo pa ngani ginsisiring akon, waray imposible hit Ginoo. Nay di ko man ikaw kaupod yana nga nagpapaenrol ak ngada hit panahon nga makarawat na ako hit diploma, aadi ka hit ak kasingkasing. Ini nga akon igbabayad nay, diri ko ini igtutugot nga mahingadto la hit kawarayan.

Kunta ini nga akon surat para ha imo umabot ngada ha langit Nay, pati an mga surat nga akon ginpapalupad kada-adlaw. Diri ka man bumaton, mapadayon la giyap ak pagsurat. I love you nay!

-Kuan

                Tears rolled down from my eyes. I read it over and over again. Late it was when I realized that the attendant was already calling my attention. She marked my paper “ENROLLED” and gave me class cards. The lady said to me, “Don’t cry, yes it’s been a long, hard process, but you’re done now.” Of course not, I cried for a different reason. But anyways, I’m officially a freshie. I thought it would be my greatest joy for the day but the letter was of more value for me.It was a letter not only for his mom, but for all of us, students.

                Three years has gone by and I’m still searching for that guy who wrote thi`s letter. I just want to thank him for enrolling that day and inspiring me even until today. From then on, every time I wait in line, I also wait for another paper plane to carry me to the other side of the world. Until now, that hope still anchors my soul.

The Writers' League #6: Blessings through Raindrops, Healing through Tears

Love your Mother. :)

I can't get over with the 'POEMS wave' yet. I am still trying to figure out the kind of poet that I am. I'm kinda loving writing poems now. Especially now that I'm very inspired due to the many challenges God had allowed me to experience. Just last week, Mom went to Tacloban twice to see a doctor. On her first attempt, she was accompanied by Papa. They left without even letting me bid goodbyes to them 'cause I was at school. When I went home expecting Mama and Papa were still there, I saw Kuya with his friends instead. I went upstairs and cried. I saw their room empty. Then reality went crashing down on me...

Mom is sick.

I remembered the times I neglected her, the moments I wasted not showing her the love I have for her. And I'm still unsure of Mom's condition. I was worried, but I know I shouldn't be. To rebuke myself, I prayed. And I thank God, for being faithful to His promise when He said, "I am your comforter, Your refuge in times of trouble."

I don't have any communication with them, my cellphone got lost. The only way I could connect with them is through prayer.

Two days late, after I was rejected on an online job application, I went home still very hopeful... that though I was not accepted to be an online tutor, I would see Mom and Dad that night. Nothing else matters, I just miss the both of them.

When I was meters away from the house, I felt different. Something's wrong. People are outside the house. What's happening???

Then I saw Papa having bruises and was not able to move his legs. He got into an accident while on his way home riding his motor.

We urgently brought him to the hospital.

It was difficulty after difficulty. Dad even said jokingly, "Tikang pala ngani kami ha hospital ha Tacloban, tas makadi na liwat hospital." No doubt, he is the strongest Dad ever!

I wanted to be strong for Mom and Dad. Instead of crying and feeling sorry for myself, I opened my Bible, and asked for God's strength. He remained faithful to His promises when He comforted me with the verse "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

Take heart, Jessa.

Take heart, Jessa.

Take heart, Jessa.

Take heart, Jessa.

I can hear God whispering to me these words repeatedly.

Thank God, Papa is okay. We went home and I know it was a blessing in disguise because we ate as a family. It is a very rare scenario. Therefore, it was still a good day.