Kalligraphia

I always think too much. Sometimes, I ask, "How do I take a break from thinking?" Ha! For we know, that thinking too much, most often than not, brings us stress or anxiety. But yeah, of course, I also think of happy thoughts, weird scenarios, good memories, what-ifs and beautiful possibilities.

I wonder how cluttered my mind is. I am such an imaginative person. But one thing's for sure, there's always something beautiful deep within me.

So when I feel stressed, or can't think yet of what to put/do in my work, I doodle, scribble, draw and write. It makes me feel light, happy and peaceful.

This is what I also do when I'm so sleepy and I need to be awake in some situations. Haha! But still, attentive. ^_^

So this is my first calligraphy post. You're not less than anyone.

Everlasting Beauty

Photo taken by Jane Palma using Samsung Galaxy Grand Prime (Rear Cam, Auto)

If life ends in iniquity,

then I'm just as good as a flower that withered and lost its beauty.

But somehow, purposely,

You came and rescued me.

By true repentance You set me free,

By Your grace and love You covered me,

And gave me a life of victory.

What is life without You, Oh Lord?

That, I don't want to see.

For my life is Yours, forever it will be,

Forever to behold an everlasting beauty.

- Jane Palma | 4.20.15

What makes you JUST OUTWARDLY beautiful?

GIRL: You make me beautiful. You give me style. You add color to my life. You make me like the person I idolize. You make me become the person that I cannot really be. You are the one who helps me boost my self-confidence. I am more valuable because of you. There were times that people laugh at me because what I wear is cheap and out of style. That is why sometimes, I cannot see myself as beautiful as I want to be, but, undeniably, you are able to do it. You make up my mess. You cover my flaws. Boys like me with how I look. In fact, they can’t take their eyes off me. That’s why, I’m willing to spend all of my money just to have you. I can’t live without you.

GUY: You clothe me with what I cannot think of I can be clothed with. You make me feel more masculine, more handsome. I have gained a lot of self-confidence because of how I look. I can make girls easily like me because I’m always in. I can now be the person who I want to be. You know, girls like cool and handsome guys, like what I am now. I became more valuable in the eyes of many people. Before, they say, men cannot be fashionable. But with you, I don’t agree at all. If you’ll ask me, I will never think twice to spend all of my money just to have you. I can’t live without you.

“Uh-oh…”

“Are you really talking to me?”

“…Because I am not what and who you are talking about.”

“Yes, I can clothe you with style, but not with true beauty.”

“I can make you famous, but not valuable.”

“I can deposit to you confidence and pleasure and passion.”

“I can make people like you, but only your physical appearance, not who you are inside.”

“You can buy me with price, but I cannot provide you with worth.”

“I can make the world see you as you wanted to be, but not as God sees you and wants you to be.”

“My heart for you is for you to realize that you are more than what I can give you.”

“My heart for you is to bring out the best in you that you are more worthy and precious more than what you wear.”

“I can just help you see the beauty that is already in you. But I am not your identity.”

- Fashion

Your identity will always be based not on what you wear or what you do but on who you are. You are priceless. You are special. You are loved no matter how you look. Living based on the standards of this world won't make you content as a person. God made you as unique as you are. Being presentable is good but being pressured to be beautiful in the eyes of men is not. Because in the first place, you already are beautiful. You just have to see it.

Integrity, good character and godliness will always be the best dress-up whenever and wherever because it will never be taken away from you.

Sarah Jane Palma

Ikaw

A simple poem I wrote from 3 years ago dedicated to my God. Dated January 25, 2012.

~~♥~~

I wonder what the magic of love is

for a person to stay or for one to let go

even if the situation calls for the opposite.

j.p.

Stars and Dreams

Stars and Dreams

The distant dreams of yesterday are like the stars scattered in space. Although they both seem so far from us, to reach them is the one thing we'd always want, for their light springs up hope to our very lives.

But the stars are just stars. No matter how bright they shine, the closest they can be is to what only our eyes can see, never to touch them nor reach them.

Dreams, on the contrary, are not just dreams. We don't just see them, we reach them; we don't just hope for them, we embrace them--because they're meant to happen to us, at one point in our lives, and have our own once upon a time.
                                                                                 j.p.

Stars and Dreams by Jane Palma | 01.29.2015

A New Beginning

A New Beginning

A new door opened for you to come in

A new page emptied with spaces to fill in

A new year marked for another beginning

Given by the One who is unchanging

                                j.p.

Love Is The Difference

Our differences --
that's the wall that divides us.
Our love though, with highest hopes,
be the strongest weapon
to break down the wall
that conceals us from each other.

Love, let it collapse.

Longing

This sadness, creeping inside of me --
where is this coming from?
Tears from nowhere --
drop by drop,
little by little --
stream down my face.
Where is this coming from?

Oh, I guess
I'm longing.
My heart is longing.
I am in need.
I need
the proof of your love.

Written: November 29, 2014

Pangarap

Pangarap

Nagsimula ang lahat sa isang pangarap

Pangarap na ang mukha'y binalutan ng hirap

Ang hirap ay pagsubok na ang tanging sarap

Ay ang tagumpay na dulot ng yaring pagsisikap

Ang pangarap ang siyang gumising sa bawat nahihimbing

'Di natinag, sa kabila ng buhay na mailap ang isang kusing

Ang pangarap na dati'y isa lamang na hiling

Ngayo'y kasing liwanag na ng bituing nagniningning.

Hindi pa tapos ang dilim, ngunit ito na'y paparating.

Ika-25 ng Nobyembre, 2014: Sa pagmumuni-muni ko sa masikip na tren nabuo ang tulang ito.

The Collision

#Hugot. I made this poem out of my devotion on Ezekiel 37. This is my first I think. I will always remember how God brought me to life. The power of sin and death in my life became as lifeless as I was before because of the power of the blood of Jesus that has redeemed me and made me anew. In Him, I have the breath of life!

You Cannot Move Forward Until You Are Healed

Yesterday I was in the office, and it was my first time to have a sprained ankle. I don't know what was its cause, but maybe, my feet were too tired of walking for the past few busy days up to now. I didn't know having such sprain's too painful. I just can't bear the pain while walking. But later on, of course, to get out of the office, I had no other choice but to walk.

Funny it is because despite my situation, I and two of my office mates, Ate Alexa and Ate Licette, still decided to do some stuff buying in SM Supermarket. (I bet you know what it is to shop, right?Haha!) While on our way to Megamall, I was caught by a rhema (or a revelation, sudden thought from the Holy Spirit): You cannot move forward until you are healed.

I can see Ate Alexa and Ate Licette walking so fast, and I see myself as someone who's so ill, struggling to go to the point where they're at. It's hard for me to move forward because something's wrong in me. Something is hurting. That's why I was almost left behind. And it's really frustrating, annoying and irritating to feel that! I kept declaring that it's all in the mind and I can make it.

Is it possible that you and other people are on the same journey, same path, same direction but the others are moving forward so fast, going to the next level, reaching a new dimension, going up, but at the same time, you're struggling your way up? Yes. Why? Because they are healed and you're not.

If one of your feet is hurting, then it'll obviously slow you down to where you want to go. Same with your life, if your heart is hurting, if there is a spiritual bondage or wound that's chaining you from the freedom that God wants to give you, then you must be healed.

Your wounds -- be it physical, emotional and spiritual -- can only be healed by the blood of Jesus. Healing from the inside is always available for you. Why bear so much pain if you can be healed? Just ask of it.

Sometimes, oh no, most of the time, it's necessary to feel the pain. Pain will stretch your faith. It will test your character. And as always, you have to pass the test. Each test you pass will make you a better person. Each test you fail will make you want to be a better person.

Until you're completely well, you can't do the things that God wants you to do. But one thing you must do, you need to let go and let God do the healing.

"I am with you heart and soul."

"I am with you heart and soul."

This verse in the Bible from 1 Samuel 14:7 struck my bones the most, for it talks about loyalty.

I was in the 8th G12 National Conference yesterday at the World Trade Center. And this was the last session that Pastor Rich Witmer, one of the International 12, talked about.

How is our loyalty? How is our loyalty to our parents? To our friends? To our boss? To our partner? How is our loyalty to our leaders? How is our loyalty to our pastors? How is our loyalty to God?

Pastor Rich said that if there is no loyalty, there won't be any basis for a relationship.

"I am with you heart and soul." These words pierced my heart and allowed me to evaluate my honor, love, and respect to my leaders and to God. Sometimes, I think that I'm too wise because I accomplished a lot. This thought brought me arguments and questions whenever I don't agree with my leaders. But as God said, those who exalt themselves will be humbled. True enough, I was humbled. And I loved it.

God completely changed my heart and soul towards my leaders.

I love how God shows that He loves you by making you experience things that you think are unreasonable. And you will just be amazed when you just found yourself as a better person than yesterday because God broke your heart to make it anew.

Everything that I have is all because of the grace of our God Most High.

I love my leaders... heart and soul.

And it's my privilege to serve them.

Let's keep loving, honoring, and respecting our leaders. Let's not misrepresent them that we may not misrepresent Christ.

With my network leader, Ana Camile Polandaya; G12 Leader, Cyde Tabigne; and spiritual mother, Pastora Geraldine Ballano. | G12 is to serve!

'Yan Ang Naked Truth!

Hindi ko lubusang maisip kung paano nakuhang palakpakan at hiyawan ng mismong mga babae ang makapanood ng kapwa nila babaeng nakatali at tila isang pet o laruan ng isang lalaki. Ang matindi pa dito, ginusto ng babae.

BAKIT? Palabas lang ba? Hindi totoo? Hindi nangyayari sa totoong buhay? Kung sa totoong buhay kaya, papalakpakan mo pa kaya?

JUST FOR FUN o baka JUST FOR MONEY? Pera pera na lang ba talaga? 'Eto na ba talaga ang pinakapotential ng industriya ng entertainment sa bansa natin na kaya nating ipagsangkalan ang halaga at dignidad hindi lang ng bawat babae kundi ng bawat tao kapalit ng ganitong klase na palabas? Naniniwala akong hindi.

Sana bago natin gustuhin ang isang bagay, isipin muna natin kung kagusto-gusto ba talaga.
Sana bago tayo pumalakpak at humiyaw, alamin muna natin kung meron o wala ba tayong natatapakan at kinakalimutang prinsipyo.
At sana, ang bawat isa sa atin ay panghawakan ang pagkatao na disenyo sa atin ng Diyos.

Ikaw, kilala mo pa ba ang sarili mo?

Unang una, hindi ka bagay o hayop, tao ka.

Ikaw, walang katumbas na salapi ang halaga mo. Hindi ka bayaran.

Iniingatan ka. Hindi ka ipinapahamak.

Tinutulungan ka. Hindi ka pinahihirapan.

Iginagalang ka. Hindi ka binabastos.

Pinoprotektahan ka. Hindi ka pinaglalaruan.

Minamahal ka. Hindi ka sinasaktan.

'YAN ANG NAKED TRUTH.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Proverbs 31:30

Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

Proverbs 31:26

She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

Titus 2:3-5

Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.

Proverbs 31:10

An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Unsent Letter

April 4, 2014


To the person I want to meet at that bridge:

A friend once told me, "But like what you've said about crossing the bridge when we get there, we'll definitely get there. The more we press on to be our better selves, the more we see the bridge drawing before our eyes."

How true it is, he nailed it. We still don't know what God has prepared for us. But one thing is for sure, it is the best! It's not necessary for us to know that at the moment, but it's very important that we put our trust and hope in Him.

I admit, you always occupy my thoughts. There are times that I want to account everything that is of you but I guess the purpose is just null and void. I am not yet ready in this so called "risky investment" because we can't tell if it's worth the investment. For now, let's continue to invest ourselves and give our all to God. He holds our future. He knows. So, we must listen.

I always say, let's cross the bridge when we get there.

Am I going to meet you at that bridge?

Will we meet at that bridge?

We don't know.

Funny it is, now that I'm finding myself writing about this.

Many days will pass -- happy situations, trials, hardships and challenges are about to come in our separate ways -- to mold us, shape us, break us, and to make us better versions of ourselves. Neither I nor you know what awaits us at that bridge.

This season, is our preparation, to become that right person.

But again, one thing's for sure, we'll definitely get there.

-Jane

Me? Wanna Be A World-Class Employee?

HOW TO BE A WORLD-CLASS EMPLOYEE

Do you see yourself as an ordinary employee or more than that? You have to see yourself the way God sees you.

Genesis 12:2 "I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

1. NEVER STOP LEARNING AND KEEP ON IMPROVING.

>Improve your craft: Learn a new recipe.

Proverbs 10:14 "If you have good sense, you will learn all you can, but foolish talk will soon destroy you."

(Prov. 3:13; 4:7; 8:11; 16:16; 23:23)

>Be humble to learn from your boss, office mates, and other people.

>Pursue what you want. It's never too late to do it.

>Be the right person at the right place at the right time.

>Hard work works. (How can I contribute to my company?)

2. SET CHALLENGING AND STRETCHING GOALS

>Think and plan. (What do I want to do? What do I want to achieve?)

Walang plano na natutupad na nakaupo lang. Don't just dream, do it!

James 2:26 "For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead."

>Evaluate and review.

Productivity is equated in your visibility. Always be available.

3. BE A TEAM PLAYER.

>Extend help to your teammates. Don't be selfish. Share what you've learned to them. Bring out the best in them.

>Always add value to people. Constantly become a blessing to them. Teamwork makes the dream work.

Proverbs 27:17 "Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another."

4. TRUST GOD.

>Everything is in vain if you only rely on yourself. Always be connected to God. Lay down your dreams and plans to Him.

John 15:1-6 "Jesus said to his disciples: I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts away every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit. But he trims clean every branch that does produce fruit, so that it will produce even more fruit. You are already clean because of what I have said to you. Stay joined to me, and I will stay joined to you. Just as a branch cannot produce fruit unless it stays joined to the vine, you cannot produce fruit unless you stay joined to me. I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you stay joined to me, and I stay joined to you, then you will produce lots of fruit. But you cannot do anything without me. If you don’t stay joined to me, you will be thrown away. You will be like dry branches that are gathered up and burned in a fire."

"When others are sitting, I will be standing.
When they are standing, I will stand out.
When they stand out, I will be outstanding.
When they dare to be outstanding, I will be their standard."

God bless! :)

How To Get Your TIN

Since I am an official employee now, I should also be a certified taxpayer, though... 

but... "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God." -Romans 13:1

Hehe. So there, to end my frustration of having government-affiliated numbers, and of course to process my payroll, I went to BIR (Bureau of Internal Revenue) this morning and applied to get my TIN (Tax Identification Number.) And in less than an hour, I got it! :)

If you are a new local employee who needs to have one, follow these steps.

1. Go to BIR RDO (Revenue District Office) of your employer, and accomplish BIR Form 1902 .

2. Fill in the form, go to your company and have it signed by your employer on the Employer Information section.

3. Make sure to secure these requirements:

    a. A photocopy of your NSO authenticated birth certificate;
    b. Certificate of Employment;
    c. Marriage contract, if applicable.

4. Go back to BIR with your 1902 form and your requirements and have them photocopied. Get a stub for TIN issuance counter from the guard , and wait for your turn of processing.

For a few minutes, you'll already have your TIN! Happy tax paying! :)

In case you are a fresh graduate and you need to have TIN for pre-employment purposes, go to the RDO of your city and accomplish BIR Form 1901, bring the same requirements with a barangay clearance and follow the same steps! :) So there you go! :D

"For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed."

-Romans 13:6-7

Meet my new friend, Mina

I am the type of person who loves meeting new people. Knowing someone is really exciting for me. I may feel aloof at times, but, I just really like the feeling of sharing your life to a new person.

So here.

Recently, I met a new friend. She is Mina.
She is my friend's (Sedric) .. churchmate? childhood friend? Well, that's it. ^_^

Sedric and I have been friends for almost five years now, and he's been talking about Mina for, let's say, four years now. Uh-oh, why? It's because they are close friends. And Mina said that Sed also talks to her about us.

Sed and I, almost five years ago xD

Meeting Mina wasn't planned. It's totally unexpected. She just extended a favor from Sedric to me. And more than receiving that favor from her, I was really excited to meet her. I don't know why! I just think, we will really be good friends!

So there, I just want to introduce my new friend.

We met in Ayala, Makati, and had lunch together in McDonald's with another two friends, Gladys and Jazztal. Thanks for the free lunch provided by Sedric from Perth, Australia! :P

What can I say about Mina?

1. Mina is comfortable to be with.
I was already comfortable talking and eating with her even if we just met for the first time.

2. Mina is a stalker. (hahaha)
She knows a lot about me! Lol or should I say, Sedric talks about everything to his friends! :P Well, on the contrary, I think I've known her enough already. Haha, yes, it's because, SOMETIMES, Mina is Sedric's 'bukambibig'. :P

3. Mina is not masungit like what I thought of her before we met. She's so mabaet! Haha! I asked Sed, "Masungit ba 'yun o mabait?", he answered, "Baka mas masungit ka pa 'dun eh!" Haha! Ayun na!

I am looking forward to getting to know her more, to have chikahan and bondings, because I KNOW THAT SHE'S NOT JUST GONNA BE MY FRIEND BUT MY SISTER! <3

Thank You Lord for my new friend. :)

P.S. Sedric, if you're reading this, THANK YOU FOR THE FAVOR! and PEACE OUT! ^_^V

Problems Solved, One At A Time

GA-GRADUATE AKO ON TIME!!! :)

If God brings me to it, He will bring me through it.

My college life is really a grind for me, especially for the last two years of it. I've been in PUP for almost five years now. What brought me here was my dream, and what made me stay, is God's dream for me. I really would've given up if it's not for Him, for my family, and for my future one.

Financial struggle is my number one opponent in this fight. And in this last quarter, I was thinking of giving in to fear and problems, and giving up what I started, because IT'S REALLY HARD to work and study at the same time and not having enough..

..but it is MUCH HARDER TO DO SO. (that "giving up" thingy.)

These are the problems that threaten me not to graduate on time:

Problem No.1: I am a shiftee from the College of Engineering. Back then, I took Computer Engineering for a year. I got low grades and failing ones. I decided then to pursue communication, and take up Journalism. And looking at my SIS (Student Information System) account, there's really one thing that continued to bother me. I have a BACK SUBJECT... a MAJOR SUBJECT... in ENGINEERING. Wanting to end my agony, I sent an e-mail to SIS.

A day after, I got this answer:

Relieving, indeed, right? ^_^

PROBLEM NO. 1 SOLVED.

Problem No.2: Because I am working and studying at the same time, I wasn't able to complete my 200-hour internship last semester. I just completed a total of 103 hours, so I still lack 97 hours and this sem, another 200-hour internship needs to be accomplished. It means, I have to complete 297 hours for this sem. Plus, I still have a balance of P1,800 from my previous internship. That made me think twice whether I will enroll for the very last semester or not. I was thinking, "My study life is too compromised because I can't focus that much because of work. But if give up my work, most likely, I cannot afford to study." The truth is I enrolled with faith. My spiritual leaders told me to enroll and that I can do it. So then, I talked to my internship adviser, and guess what?! She allowed me that my current job will be credited as my Internship 2!!! So, doing the math, 297 minus 200 is 97 hours!!! I just need to complete 97 hours!!! PROBLEM NO. 2 SOLVED.

I thought, "If I am working from 4pm to 10pm, plus my travel time, so it's 2pm to 12am, then I only have morning to do my 97-hour internship." Hesitant though because my sleep time will be lessened (hehe), I am determined to do it. But, wait! My internship adviser, who heads the PUP Publications Office gave a good offer! I don't have to apply anymore to another newspaper company and I will just do it in the university's official publication! So I have the opportunity to write and research and be trained more in writing and layouting, hands on, by my adviser! REALLY SOLVED.

Problem No. 3: I have a lot of payables, not mentioning long time debts. :( Please be patient with me people. Hahaha! It's in the solving process right now. One at a time, I will be able to pay it. My God will provide.

Well, His plan for me is final. And even if I try to run away from it, it will still prevail and happen.

And hey, we just finished our thesis defense, and we passed!!! Yey!!! So 1 more subject left, and graduation is on the way! Thank You Lord! You are really the miracle in my life! :)

So there, HAPPY SOLVING PROBLEM Jane!! Thank you God for these problems, because I AM GROWING!

He Uses Math To Teach Me Something

Written: 16 September 2012

Believe it or not, I don't hate Math. But I admit, Mathematics is hard. It gives me pressure on how to solve problems. As a Christian, God changed me and taught me to love pressures and problems. Math gives problems, easy or hard, both needs the right solution. I cannot give my own, instead there’s always a perfect one. God wants me out of my comfort zone through Math and that’s what I like about it. He deals to me Romans 5:3-4. Math is like life. Problems are necessary, but there is always one solution, God, His ways and formulas.