2012: A Year in Review

Best year by far.

We had Arabella early this year. This sweet little girl who is displaying her intelligence early on. She's one smart lady and she is truly the apple of our eyes.

Agie finished his CPA, passed the last three subjects he took in the same semester. Hats off to you my hubby, very well done!!!

Agie became a permanent employee which means Abie can now join their company-exclusive, Montessori-based childcare. Woohoo!

A short but sweet vacation to the Philippines for Abie and I. My Guardian Angel was with me the whole journey, making the travel less tiring and stressful for me. Abie get to see her cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents and they were able to cuddle her as well.

Life is sweet. Life has been easy.
Thank you God --- you've answered my prayers (big and small) even before I prayed for it. Your generosity and bountiful blessings overwhelms us. We are humbled, we are forever grateful!

This 2013 we pray for good health;
This 2013 we pray for work-life balance;

This 2013 we will share more;
This 2013 we will live more and love more;

This 2013 we will laugh more;
This 2013 we promise to be the best we can be.

Thank you Lord for an awesome 2012, we know 2013 will even be better.

being successful

"Becoming sucessful isnt easy. It requires alot of time, effort and commitment (HARD WORK) and if you're not willing to apply any of these factors into ACN then you of-course will fail as with anything in life."

Words of wisdom from an SVP of ACN.

Lucky Me

For the past 30 odd years, I haven't been so lucky with raffle draws, I always join but never won anything. But I believe my badluck is coming to an end and the era of Lucky Me is starting.

Dec 2010 - I bought medicines from our local pharmacy and they gave me a raffle ticket to fill out for their Christmas Giveaway. Fast forward to 3 weeks later, I received a call that I won a Breville Nespresso Machine, yebaah!!!. Nevermind that we don't drink coffee, nevermind if we have already one unused coffee machine (a gift from Amex when I signed up), nevermind that it will just gather dust in the cupboard, what matters is that I won it thru draw lots!

Jan 2010 - At the start of the year, Agie and I committed ourselves to do good in the business we just joined. And to be good, we must attend trainings and events. One international event is coming up on the 5th of March in Gold Coast. I have already told my friends that we are attending but haven't bought our conference tickets yet. Last Saturday, we had a regional training and they encouraged everyone who haven't registered to the Gold Coast convention to fill out the forms and as they will raffle off 3 free event registration. Guess who got lucky the second time around? --- ME! All I have to do now is book our accommodation and flights.

They said luck comes in threes, I am waiting for my third one.

But I believe that I will be lucky for the rest of the year. One blessing at a time.
Come on February, show me some love!!! =)

Dear Nicole

A letter I gave to my 11 year old niece who ran for Assistant Secretary in the Pupil Government and lost.

~~~

Dear Nicole,

I heard from you Mama that you lost again in your bid to be your school's Assistant Secretary and that you cried and said you always lose, this being your second time in running for a post. Its okay to cry, its okay to lose. But don't dwell on the negative side, don't think that people do not like you, maybe the other person campaigned more than you did, or maybe the job was really not meant for you and that God has other plans for you.

I, too, experienced the same rejection when I was your age. You lost twice, I lost three times! When I was in 4th Grade, I ran for Assistant Auditor and lost to a 5th Grader, when I was in Grade 5, I ran again for Auditor this time, and lost once again. And finally, when I was in the 6th Grade, I ran for Governor, the highest position in Elementary school. Never mind that I lost the last two elections, it did not deterred me from aiming for the top. I ran again and lost the third time!

I can't remember if I cried, maybe I did cry during my sleep. I felt that nobody likes me and that I shouldn't have ran and wasted money. But you know what, Lolo and Lola were so supportive of me. We went to Kristine's Printing Press and had some bookmarks made at the last minute as part of my campaign material. I know they don't have extra cash then but they made 'utang' to the Valiente's so I can have my bookmarks. I even remembered bringing our Akai Cassette Tape to school so we can practice the dance for our program. I was with great people then, popular students were part of my team. But I still lost.

Losing for a third time was not good for my self esteem and I, too, questioned, why I did not win. It's really heartbreaking to experience these rejections at such a young age. But that is part of the game, someone has to lose and someone has to win. And because it wasn't our time to shine yet, we lost this battle. But I did not dwell on the bad side. I still helped the student government with their projects because that's what I really wanted to do!

You'll experience a lot more rejections, pains and heartaches. But don't use this to pull you down, instead, focus on the things you are good at, like drawing, singing. Soon, you'll realize that there are reasons why you didn't get the post.

When I was in Grade School, I have my own shares of disappointments:

* running for office and losing three times - even in highschool, i ran every year and was only successful during my 3rd and 4th year and then I became the President of the HS Student Council.

* joining the Children's choir because Lola knows Mrs Dacudag. When I was in Grade 5, the Children's Choir were going to join a contest in Butuan so they decided to have everyone audition for a part. Before that I thought I am a good singer but when I didn't passed the audition, I realized I am bad pala. I am sooo yabag mukanta until now. The good thing about it was that the students were away for 2 weeks and I was one of the few 'bright' ones left so I got good grades during the 3rd grading period and the others weren't able to catch up with me. From being a 5th Honorable mention in Grade 4, I got the silver medal in Grade 5 and went to become the Valedictorian in Grade 6 (because the First Honors in Grade 5 transferred to another school, hehe)

*wanting to study at Philippines Science High School after I took the entrance exam. I can't remember if I passed the Mindanao campus or not pero I think I was devastated coz I really wanted to go to school there. But you know what, when I was in College and met the people from the Mindanao Campus, I am glad I did not go there because you are required to study only Sciences in College which by that time I know I am not really good at.

There are a few others pero I can't remember them all.

I know you are talented --- you have a good voice, you're artistic! Maybe you can be an artist. =) Continue honing your talents, join contests, sing, dance, draw whenever you can. One day, you'll thank yourself for pursuing the things you love and being good at it.

Nic, disappointments will always be a part of life. You can't always win every game you play, every contest you join. But what makes the winning and the losing less heartbreaking is your journey. If you give it your best and enjoy the things that happen along the way, it won't matter na if you lose or win, what matters is that you had fun while you did it.

I can almost see myself in you. The adults see so much potential and pushes you to do this and that. Just let them for they know what's best for you. You'll thank them 10 years from now! hehehe.

We love you Nic and be good to your little brother and to your cousins okay? You're the big sister and big cousin now. You have to be a good example to them ha?

Love you.
Auntie Gagang

Progress Evaluation of my 2010 Goals

At work, we have a structured performance evaluation --- from goal setting, quarterly review and the final review. And we try to follow the structure so we could be on track with our goals (and make necessary changes along the way to make ourt SMART goals achievable).

I tried to apply goal setting to my own life and I came up with three big goals. And in line with the corporate set-up, why not make a half-year review of my goals?

1. To finish my CPA studies

I am still on-track with this goal. I finished my 2 modules last May and thankfully, despite some study time diverted to quality time with my parents, I passed the exams. I have one more exam scheduled on the 27th of October. After this I will be a full member and can now certify your documents, hahahaha.

2. To have my red provisional driving license

I have yet a long way to go on this one. I am working on my confidence as I am really scared when I'm behind the steering wheel. My weekly (expensive) session with Del is helping get over this hurdle and improve my driving skills. I am crossing my fingers that I will be able to pass my practical exam before I take my last CPA subject. If only no failing grade will be given to underspeeding. lol

3. To have a baby

This is still a work in progress. Maybe its not yet time for us to have our little bundle of joy. Maybe God is telling us that we need to learn how to drive first before we venture into baby making, hehehe. In His time this will happen.


Well, this mid-year review is telling me that I am confident in achieving 2 out 3 goals. But I am not yet ruling out a 100% achievement rate, we still have six months left of the year which is more than enough time right? =)

Now for my things to do:
1. Get some case materials from Lianne
2. Schedule driving lessons with Del
3. Get Vivi's OB #.


and now, back to work! =)

2010 Bucket List

Last year, I had a long list of things that I want to accomplish, and I think managed to do 75% of them.

This year, I want to take things slow and will only have THREE items for my 2010 bucket, these are:

a) CPA - finish my last three subjects this year. I will not defer any subjects and will study more diligently - no more Facebook games for me.

b) Drive - Learn how to drive and be a P Plater! Driving means you're more mobile and you can go whereever you want to. We have been car-less for 3 years but managed to go to places using public transport, but its nice to do your errands when its not planned around the bus/train timetable.

c) Have a baby. This is something Agie and I have to work on but ultimately it will be in His time. Only God knows when He'll bless us with our own bundle of joy but I'm hoping, wishing, praying that it will be this year. :D


I only have three, but these are major ones! Doable? Yes, I think so, with God's guidance and blessing we can do this!!!


Study. Drive. Pray.

2009 --- what a great year for us!

Year 2009 was a great year for the Cellacay's. It has its highs and lows; met new friends and reconnected with old ones; received so many blessings and travelled a lot. Before I start my first blog for 2010, i want to list all the things that happened to us that we are so thankful for:

• new start - we came back refreshed from our wedding in Bukidnon and eager to start our new life together
• new lives - we became Godparents to Bono and Rafa. We also welcomed to the world Mikee and Zyka. These are the little angels that will take care of us in the future.
• new identity - we became Australian Citizens this year too! We may have embraced the Aussie culture but we'll always be Pinoy at heart!
• new destination - we travelled a lot this year: Hongkong and Macau for our honeymoon; Tahiti, New Zealand and Manila for Agie; Brisbane and Melbourne both for work and pleasure; and USA to celebrate our first year together.
• new home - finally, we were able to found a house that ticked all the boxes. this house will become our home, our love nest, a place we can call our own.
  

God has been (and will always be) so good to us. We can never thank Him enough for all these blessings.

We welcome 2010 with a big, open heart because we know great things are coming our way.