League of the Extraordinary

The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.

-Unknown

I've read the blog of Bianca Gonzales and got inspired to write my own. Here is the list of those extraordinary people who inspired me in 2011. May you also be blessed by their lives as they continue to inspire more people, all for His greater glory. 

Cess is a good friend since 2nd year College. We became close during our OJT days in 2007 at IBM. Since then, IBM became a haven for me. Cess is a pretty, smart and strong lady. She is the first person to inspire me to think HAPPY. She may not know this, but she is the one who inspires me to travel, to dream and to love. She is a friend to keep and I am happy that she is still part of my 2011. I pray for her happiness for 2012 and beyond. :) 

Nina has been my friend since 2000. We were classmates back in first year highschool. Nina is a beautiful woman of God. Nina is the epitome of faith. She inspires me to keep my faith as well. Nina also inspires me to believe in true love and that it waits. We rarely see each other but we know in our hearts that we are always there for one another. Hoping for a 2012 blast of blessings for Nina & her loved ones!

 

Jen has been my friend since 2008. We met because of World Youth Day in Sydney, Australia. Since then, we became sisters (not of life) but for life. She is my soul sister. I usually get worried about things and I cannot tell it to anyone except for her. She has been my constant companion in law school and she inspires me to go the extra mile with my studies. I pray for success in all the aspects of her life as she continue to inspire me and all that is around her. 

Obet Cabrillas or more commonly known as Daddy O is next. Though I just met him again late last year, he has been an inspiration for me. He is the feast builder of Pasig & Manila, director of Ympact & Radicals (Training programs) and a known speaker for the youth and he is the author of 'Spell out your love'. I am always inspired when she calls me 'attorney'. I feel that it is very prophetic and he says he claims it in Jesus name. He also inspires me to bless others as he is a good example of a servant leader. He is for the youth and he inspires the youth to rock for Jesus. YEAH! :)

Diego Loves is composed of Pam, Liza, Kiel, Haze, Roy, Abby, & Candice. They are my new loves. Why are they called Diego? This awesome group was named after the street which we love the most, Calle Diego De Leon in Madrid, Spain. We were together last August 15-22, 2011 in Madrid for World Youth Day 2011. We traveled all the way from Manila-Hong Kong-Amsterdam-Madrid and we became an instant family. It was a one of a kind experience and I feel so blessed to have them for 2011. :) 

 Commission on Youth Novaliches is my home. It is a home of extraordinary people shining for God's greater glory. The leaders of COY Nova Kuya John (epitome of dedication & commitment), Pam (driven for development), Liette (a full packaged woman of God), Justin (a very cool leader), Bench (who dances with all his heart), Aldrin (fun to be with and successful in his profession), Ate Jen (loving ate to all of us), Ate Rony (dedication to her craft and creativity in everything she does), and all the youth leaders of COY Nova who are determined to serve for God's glory. 

The talented and gifted people of St. Peter Parish Youth Ministry will always be part of my list. One special person is Apple. They are the most awesome youth who gives their best in everything we do. :) Talk about our activities for 2011, not to mention our Parish Youth Day attended by more than a hundred young people.

 The Family of God is my family for almost 18 years now. This is where I learn everything and this is where I was formed to be who I am right now. I am happy that after all this time, FOG continues to live by our mission of being a living testimony of God's love. This was portrayed in the recent concert, Agape. :) 

 Next is EJ Aguila. I met him last March when he was invited for one of the events of COY Nova entitled True Love Waits. He was the amazing speaker who inspired more than a hundred youth leaders from 40+++ parishes in the diocese. Every time I see EJ, I am inspired to serve more for His greater glory. 

I met Lizel last August 2011 when I came back from World Youth Day Madrid. Yes, WYD was a beautiful blessing and when I came home, God gave another blessing in the person of Ate Lizel. She is a woman of God. Strong yet humble, witty yet sincere, and loving as she is. She inspires me to pray (in full details) for the man that is meant for me. She inspires me to pray and keep my faith strong even in the work place.

Bubbles is simple, fun to be with, loving, lovable, jolly, happy, in love, smart, sugar and spice and everything nice. She is my team lead at IBM. She is the epitome of humility. A graduate of UP & La Salle. A licensed geodetic engineer with a Management & MBA degree. Talking about full packaged and God's multi-talented being---all rolled in one.

My first impression of Alloy is that he is serious and that he is a nerd. But I was wrong. He may be serious sometimes but he is fun to be with. He is intelligent and he knows how to enjoy. Through him, I am reminded that it is good to be true to one's self and be emotional once in a while because it keeps us human. We've been through a lot and I know that even until today, Alloy has been a true friend and an inspiring fellow servant leader. He is a teacher by day and an MA student by night. Talk about all his Church & Non-Church commitments, who says they are busy? Check Alloy's schedule and define what busy means without hearing any complain. Why? Because of love. He lives by Fr. Pedro Arrupe's words, 'Fall in love, stay in love and it will decide everything.' Good thing he fell in love with the best love, service---all for His greater glory. 

Roy is my lilbro, my trek mate, flight mate, co-servant leader, co-journeyer, and my baby. He is part of the wonderful Diego Team. He has been a good friend for more than a year now. Roy is an unexpected blessing. I met him first during a Christmas Party in 2008. We were in the house of bishop and one of our Kuyas brought him there. I don't know if he can still remember but I can vividly remember that night. Today, Roy inspires me to dream, to travel and to have fun even amidst trials and hardships. He inspires me to be excellent and to think for excellence. 

Liza has been a loyal friend since 2008. 2008 was my self declared year and she happened to be the assistant coordinator of our parish youth ministry when I was the coordinator. I didn't imagine that our tandem (together with Marlyn) will bring us to many dreams fulfilled and many plans actualized. She is God's gift in my life and I thank God for giving me a friend who untiringly listens to my every story and who has a beautiful heart for her family and friends. 

Marlyn is a beautiful lady inside and out. She strives to be the best that she can be in everything she do. She is open to learning and she is very teachable. She loves and when she does she gives all her heart into it. I cannot imagine my life without her for she always cheers me up and she is always there to push me to do my best. 

Fr. Land for many, Padre Gwapo for the youth. Fr. Land is the youth director of the Commission on Youth of the Diocese of Novaliches. He is my mentor. He taught me how to be a good servant leader and manager. He inspires me to be the best that I can be for my fellow youth. I met Fr. Land when he was still a brother and during that time he was the assistant youth director. When he was a deacon he was already the youth director. Today, he is a priest for more than a year, still the youth director, a parish priest and book author. Fr. Land inspires me that 'I am God's masterpiece' --- Who I am is God's gift to me and who I will be is my gift to God.

My Family is last but not the least. My dad is God's gift to me. He is the most awesome dad in the world. The most awesome thing that he taught me to have a heart of faith, to love and serve others. My mom is also God's gift to me. She is the most awesome mom in the world. She loves us so much and she gives every bit of her being a mom to all of us five. My siblings are the most awesome girls in the world. All outstanding students (first honors) and all three of them are very talented and artistic. They have different strengths and they complement one another. God's love indeed is overflowing in the family and all these things are for His greater glory. 

For all the people who touched my life one way or another, for being part of my 2011 and for being a wonderful blessing, thank you! :)