It was January 17, 2009 when I went to the city to attend the annual Sto. Niño prossession which I have been doing for five long years. I went there alone because it has been my panata for quite sometime now. Never in my thoughts that something will happen to me later that night. The prossession started at around 2pm and ended around 6pm. after the prossession ended I decided to go to downtown area and stroll for a while, went to to Metro Gaisano Colon and bought some stuffs. I texted my boyfriend who is a teacher in CIT-Cebu Institute of Technology and told him I was in Metro Gaisano. He then told me to wait for him because He wanted us to meet. So I did. When he finally came, we decided to head to SM Mall and ate dinner there. Around 8PM, I received a text from a friend inviting me to hang out with them. I am always the party goer and I never say no to invitations not unless I don't have the budget or if I don't feel well. So I went out and my boyfriend help me get a taxi. I told him not to come because this will be an event exclusively for me and my friends that have lost contact. So the partying went on until I realized it's almost one o clock in the morning. I then told my friends we need to get home now since I still have duty the following day. So we all decided to go home and took a taxi. I told them to drop me off the mini street (skina) from my where I am living and so they did. When I was walking towards our house, I found out I left my house key so I decided to text my dad and told him to open the door for me. When I was in the front door of our house, I heard a wierd noise behind my back and when I turned around to see who it was, I saw this man wearing a cap, faded red shirt and blue basket ball shorts. He looked at me and out of nowhere he was already infront of me pointing his gun to my chest. I was shaking and my heart was beating so fast. I was so scared and this man just told me, I won't hurt you just give me your cellphone, that's all I need( cebuano translation: "dile tika unsaon, ambi na imong cellphone, mao rana akong tuyo nimo!'). I was so scared I told him not to hurt me, I offered him money but he told me all he ever needed is my cellphone. I gave it to him and after that he ran away. It happened so fast. Then just a 2 seconds after that my dad opened the door. That's when I shouted for help! My dad saw him running away and tried to go after him but it was already too late. I was shaking and crying uncontrollably. I just can't believe it happened at the front door of my house. Right now, I am slowly coping up with the things that happened to me. We have reported it to the authorities ofcourse but it can't erase the fact that it happened in my own home. The only positive thing that I have learned from the whole incident is to keep cautious all the time and not to go home alone specially when it's late at night. it's the time when people like these would really take advantage of possible victims. Unfortunately I became one. Other than that, now i realized how unsafe we can be not just in other places but even in the doorsteps of where we are living. Im happy the Sto Ni
ño was with me that very time. I know it could have been my last here in earth. I saw the guy's face and i know even if I see him anywhere, I'd still recognize him. He could have chosen to kill me but he didn't. All he ever wanted was my cellphone. I'm glad my dad wasn't able to open our door because if he did, he could have been shot and things would have ended differently. The greatest gift I received from the Sto. Niño, is the gift of life. Now I have the chance to change and to keep the right things in it's path. They say, only the loosers quit. This may have been my worse experience but the lessons I learned would really last a lifetime. I'm happy my family and my friends and ofcourse the love of my life is helping me coping up with things and ofcourse the strenght God continuously bestowed upon me. Let me offer the prayer I always read in the bible everytime I am in fear and in trouble: This is taken from the new testament (International Version)
Psalm 91 (New International Version)
Psalm 91
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most Highwill rest in the shadow of the Almighty. [a]
2 I will say [b] of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress,my God, in whom I trust."
3 Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,and under his wings you will find refuge;his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you make the Most High your dwelling— even the LORD, who is my refuge-
10 then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him;I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation."
Psalm 35 (New International Version)
Psalm 35
Of David.
1 Contend, O LORD, with those who contend with me;fight against those who fight against me.
2 Take up shield and buckler;arise and come to my aid.
3 Brandish spear and javelin [a]against those who pursue me. Say to my soul,"I am your salvation."
4 May those who seek my life be disgraced and put to shame; may those who plot my ruin be turned back in dismay.
5 May they be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the LORD driving them away;
6 may their path be dark and slippery,with the angel of the LORD pursuing them.
7 Since they hid their net for me without cause and without cause dug a pit for me,
8 may ruin overtake them by surprise— may the net they hid entangle them, may they fall into the pit, to their ruin.
9 Then my soul will rejoice in the LORD and delight in his salvation.
10 My whole being will exclaim, "Who is like you, O LORD ? You rescue the poor from those too strong for them,the poor and needy from those who rob them."
11 Ruthless witnesses come forward;they question me on things I know nothing about.
12 They repay me evil for good and leave my soul forlorn.
13 Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting. When my prayers returned to me unanswered,
14 I went about mourning as though for my friend or brother. I bowed my head in grief as though weeping for my mother.
15 But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee;attackers gathered against me when I was unaware. They slandered me without ceasing.
16 Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked [b] ; they gnashed their teeth at me.
17 O Lord, how long will you look on? Rescue my life from their ravages,my precious life from these lions.
18 I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among throngs of people I will praise you.
19 Let not those gloat over me who are my enemies without cause;let not those who hate me without reason maliciously wink the eye.
20 They do not speak peaceably, but devise false accusations against those who live quietly in the land.
21 They gape at me and say, "Aha! Aha! With our own eyes we have seen it."
22 O LORD, you have seen this; be not silent. Do not be far from me, O Lord.
23 Awake, and rise to my defense! Contend for me, my God and Lord.
24 Vindicate me in your righteousness, O LORD my God;do not let them gloat over me.
25 Do not let them think, "Aha, just what we wanted!" or say, "We have swallowed him up."
26 May all who gloat over my distress be put to shame and confusion;may all who exalt themselves over me be clothed with shame and disgrace.
27 May those who delight in my vindication shout for joy and gladness;may they always say, "The LORD be exalted,who delights in the well-being of his servant."
28 My tongue will speak of your righteousness and of your praises all day long.
truly nothing can go wrong if you believe in the power of prayer...
please check this link if you're troubled. Reading the bible can help you save all your worries. In this way we'll know God really do exist the very same way He did with mine. www.biblegateway.com
Sumilon Bluewater Resort is 3 in a half trip from Cebu city. I was so lucky to have gone to this place because fortunately it's the sister resort of the company where I am working, Maribago Bluewater Beach Resort as a reservations officer. I was actually given the privilige to stay one night in one of their deluxe rooms with free transportation and fullboard meals. It was like an early birthday gift from my boss because I will be celebrating my birthday on the 3rd of October. Heheheheh.. But anyways there's so much to do in the resort, you can go snorkeling, trekking, kayaking, diving, swimming in their sea view pool which is in the picture below and just relax and unwind and enjoy everything the island has to offer. Not only that, the island has a sandbar and has a sandy white beach like in the photo above.. I really enjoyed the whole time I was there. It was the best experience of my life. I was with one of our new associates who is based in Manila who eventually became a good friend of mine.
Just some info about the island, getting there you can take a bus from the city going to the mainland of Bangcogon Oslob. Once you reach the mainland which is still owned by the resort, you will ride another 10 minute boat ride going to the Island. Note: the boat ride going to the island is already part of your booking wether it is room accommodation or day trip only.
