Tender Musings

I believe that the scriptures can help us find answers to questions we have in life, including dating. In my study of the scriptures, I found 5 examples that illustrate my expectation from men and dating in general. Note: These are my personal thoughts and are not to be taken as Church doctrine.  1. Make the first move. Doctrine and Covenants 88:63 This revelation was given to the Prophet Joseph Smith in December 1832 at Kirtland, Ohio. This verse teaches us that when we draw near to the Savior He will draw near unto us. The Lord expects us to make the first move. Likewise, women expect men to make the first move. Though there are women who are confident in initiating the first interaction, that’s not very common. Most women, dalagang Filipina as we are, still appreciate a little effort from the men. If she likes you, she’ll respond favorably. Example of favorable responses: (These are very general and may not be true to all women.) She texts you back and h

It all started with one question,"Can we talk to you for 5 minutes?" It was December of 1981 when my father first met the full-time missionaries in Cebu City, Philippines. He was sweeping the front yard of my aunt's house when the missionaries approached him. "Hey brother! Can we talk to you for 5 minutes?", they asked. If you've met my father, you wouldn't be surprised how cheerfully he accepted this invitation. The funny thing is, my father only thought of it as an opportunity to practice his English skills. What he didn't know was that the missionaries had a different purpose in mind. That fateful meeting was the beginning of a wonderful journey for my father and the rest of the family. The missionaries continued their visits, and my parents were consequently baptized in February, 1982. Like many new converts, my father was on fire. He frequently went out with the missionaries to visit other members and was engaged in many church activities.  

Elder Dallin H. Oaks said, "If you want to marry well, inquire well." So, here's 5 of many questions I would like to ask my future husband. 1. What took you so long? And by that I mean, "Where have you been all this time?" Hahaha! You should know that when I finally meet you, it's going to be a BIG family event. Being the youngest unmarried child in the family, you can just imagine how many times the subject of marriage comes up in dinner conversations. The pressure is ON! Being 26 and single can be lonely at times especially when you see your friends posting their engagement and wedding pictures on Facebook. However, I learned that being single does not have to mean being lonely. I've learned so many things being on my own. I've traveled, met new people, gained experiences, and learned to be a better person. I think that those experiences have taught and prepared me to be a better wife. So, I forgive you for taking a long time because I know

After I finished my teaching contract in Thailand, a few of my friends asked me why I'm going home to the Philippines. For them, I'm turning my back on great possibilities. I understand their sentiments. There's plenty of opportunities for me to teach in Thailand and the pay is really good. So, why am I going home? Let's see... First, family. Do I mean having a family of my own? Well, yes... but, that's #2 on the list. I'm relocating to the Philippines because that's where my family lives. My parents are going home soon and I want to live close to them. After Hawaii and Thailand, I'm ready to return home. Besides, there's so many things I miss from the Philippines such as the festive holiday celebration, family reunions, fiestas, and of course the FOOD! Second, marriage. I'm getting older and it's time to settle down. There I said it! However, it's not because I'm getting older that I want to get married. I believe in marriage

Time's up! In less than 12 hours, I'm Leaving Thailand, and Will BE moving on to my next Adventure. As I ponder on the experiences I've had in the Past year, There Are 7 Things That Will Always Remind me about the Land of Smiles. 1. Isaan Food Thai food in general IS amazing. However, I would say That Nothing CAN compare to the Taste of Isaan food. Living in Ubon Ratchathani, I Have grown to love Tam Thai Which IS Considered  the Staple food in Northeastern part of Thailand.  It's Like Somtam (papaya Salad), but Without the stinky Fish in it. It IS eaten with  sticky rice and meat on the Side.  2. Buddhist Temples WHEN I first arrived in Thailand, I would so Get excited WHEN I See Buddhist Temples.  Now That I Have lived here for a year, I Do not notice Them anymore. There Are so many That You'll probably See One or two WITHIN a Mile radius. My favorite Temple to go to is the One close to the River. They Have a Feeding area where you CAN

The main reason why I traveled to Hong Kong was to visit the LDS temple. Living in Thailand, the closest temples are in Hong Kong and the Philippines. After comparing prices, I decided to go to HK because it was a lot cheaper. There was also a seat sale so it all worked out. Aside from that, it was an opportunity to visit a new place which I could not resist. And since I didn't want to travel by myself, I convinced Rommel to go on this trip together. I am glad that he agreed. So, off we went... Filipinos do not need a visa to enter HK. Upon arrival, I was issued a 14-days permit by the immigration. It was very convenient because no extra documents were asked to get a visitor's permit. The Hong Kong Temple has a Patron House for members visiting from other countries. The easiest way to get there from the airport is to take the E22 bus. It costs 18HKD. Hong Kong's public transportation is very reliable and it's the best way to go around the city. The bus pass

It's been exactly three years since I returned home from serving a full-time mission. It feels like it was just yesterday. I still remember the families I've visited and the streets I've tracted. I miss every minute of it. I miss the people, the food, and testifying about the gospel of Jesus Christ to every person I talk to. I was in Brigham Young University-Hawaii when I decided to serve a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It was not an easy decision. I talked to my bishop about it several times, discussed it with my parents, and prayed earnestly about my choice. I was scared to leave my life behind to serve a mission, but I knew in my heart that it was time for me to serve the Lord. So, I did what I had to do. I took a leap of faith and turned in my mission papers. When people find out you have submitted your missionary application, it's common for them to ask where you want to serve. The correct answer to that is: "I'

When one door closes, another opens... Today was my last day teaching at IHOT (International House of Tutoring). It's a bittersweet experience. I'm sad because I won't be seeing my students, but I'm also excited because I know that a new adventure awaits. That's the great thing about life, there's always something new in store for all of us. It's been an amazing experience teaching my students and learning from them as well. I learned that to be a good teacher means being willing to learn from different experiences in the classroom. No lesson is perfect, but it's a teacher's goal to strive for it anyway. One of my classes was a group of P6 boys ages 12-13. At the beginning of the semester, they were taught by Rommel. However, when Rommel had to move to Sisaket I took over the class and I just loved working with them. Their proficiency was at the beginner to low intermediate level. It was a challenging task to teach them in English when they har

The province of Ubon Ratchathani is situated in the northeastern part of Thailand. If you travel northward for about three hours, you will reach Savannakhet, Laos. That's where I went to get my visa. If you travel westward from Muang (the city I live in), you'll reach the province of Sisaket which is just above the border of Cambodia. Because of their geographic location, these northeastern provinces have been greatly influenced by its neighboring countries. Last new year's day, I had the opportunity to visit Sisaket for the first time. Compared to Muang, the city we went to was a little bit smaller and more provincial. It was a great opportunity to travel to a different place and see different sights. My favorite part of the trip was visiting Wat Sra Kum Peng Yai, a Khmer temple. Since Sisaket is close to Cambodia, several Khmer temples have been built in this region. The architecture is just amazing. The common materials used for building these temples are bricks,