A Miraculous Novena Prayer

I can clearly remember a personal experience of a powerful novena that first occurred when I was still a fresh graduate searching for my first job.  Like any fresh graduate, I was so eager to acquire my first job right after graduation and frustrated when I failed to have one.  It was my mom who gave me a pamphlet of the Infant Jesus of Prague Novena Prayer and told me that it can really help me achieve my purpose.  Being an obedient daughter, I took mom's advice and started to diligently pray the novena.  

O Jesus, Who has said, "Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened," through the intercession of Mary, Your Most Holy Mother, I knock, I seek, I ask that my prayer be granted.

(Make your request)

O Jesus, Who has said, "All that you ask of the Father in My Name, He will grant you," through the intercession of Mary Your Most Holy Mother, I humbly and urgently ask your Father in your name that my prayer will be granted.

(Make your request)

O Jesus, Who has said, "Heaven and earth shall pass away but My word shall not pass away," through the intercession of Mary Your Most Holy Mother, I feel confident that my prayer will be granted.

(Make your request) 

PRAYER OF THANKSGIVING

Divine Infant Jesus, I know You love me and would never leave me. I thank You for Your close Presence in my life.

Miraculous Infant, I believe in Your promise of peace, blessings, and freedom from want. I place every need and care in Your hands.

Lord Jesus, may I always trust in Your generous mercy and love. I want to honor and praise You, now and forever. Amen.

Note: Pray this novena consecutively every hour for 9 hours.  It will not be called novena if you won't complete the 9 hours.

In the novena, I asked God to help me land a job before my birthday, yes I was demanding.  I nearly lost hope on my birthday because instead of landing a job in a corporate office, I landed on a hospital bench watching over my sister who was then confined.  When the clock struck 13:00, a power supply company called to invite me for a pre-employment exam.  In supplication, I asked God for his assistance and guidance. Finally, I got it! It was not the last because almost all of my previous jobs were acquired through this Novena .  I don't believe that the companies I've previously worked for hired me for my competencies and skills alone; it was God who looked out for my best interest and I know He had a perfect job fit for me.  

In addition to that, I also included my mother and sister who were stricken by sickness years ago. My sister underwent two surgeries in one operation - ruptured ovarian cyst and appendectomy.  I prayed the Novena more often for my sister's fast recovery.  We were glad that the operation went well.  However, a few months has passed when my mother was diagnosed with a Stage 2 Breast Cancer and it was the biggest challenge our family has ever faced.  This time, I prayed the novena harder everyday even at work.  The operation was successful and my mom's chemotherapy session was shortened into 6 months.  We felt extremely blessed. My mom's cancer-free now for 10 years.  God has touched my mom, healed her and granted sufficient grace to make it through. It is important to keep in mind and heart that God never gives up on us.  We just have to ask God in supplication and He will provide. 

If you think that you've already done everything to surpass a problem or achieve a dream but still failed, give this novena prayer a try. God answers all our prayers in his own ways and time.  God is wonderful. Just have faith.

Weekend at Tihany, Lake Balaton

A weekend escape from all the weekly stress is crucial for keeping your sanity. Spontaneously, we have decided among friends to spend a weekend at Balaton Lake and more specifically at the peaceful town of Tihany. Balaton is the largest shallow lake in Central Europe. It is a 3-hour fast-train ride from Budapest Déli and the one way ticket costs at around 9 euros.

Tihany is a historical district and one of the main towns of Balaton. It is famous for its historical remnants of the monastery, the unique landscape and the recreational features of Lake Balaton. We got off at Balatonfüred and took a bus for our rented Apartment. I was amazed by the number of summer houses for rent. I have actually seen more of bricked cottages for rent than hotel rooms that we usually see in cities. We stayed in Szilvia apartment http://szilviaapartman.webnode.hu/, which is only a few meters away from cafe's, the church, souvenir shops, mini grocery store and of course, the lake. We were lucky that on our last day, we were able to experience the Goat Nail Festival. It is a major event in the unusual sheep herding, Mutton stew cooking, dog pageant, wine tasting and stick climbing competition. Moreover, Tihany has a widespread reputation for the echo and we did enjoy listening to the echoes of the animal sounds we were mimicking. We had experienced a lot of adventure on a low budget. The more experiences you try the more exciting life can be. To share the experience with you my dear readers, here are some snapshots for you to see.

Tihany, Lake Balaton

Mini train for mini tour

Family Park near the shore

Tihany shoreline

There is a ferry service linking the peninsula with the marinas and quays of Szantod on the southern shore.

The green field

My husband and I posed for a photo ops in a Paprika House

Apát Church

5 Reasons why I love Budapest (PART 4): Public Transportation

I've never tried missing my way in Budapest because of the convenient public transportation they have.  The directional signs are clear - you just have to familiarize the tongue twisting street names - and the buses, tramway and subway are generally on-time.  Some of my Hungarian friends sometimes leave their privately owned cars at home and opt for a public  ride because the latter can deliver them to their destination on time.   

Subways (Metro 1,2 & 3)

Metro 1. Photo by: Mads Guico

The Metro consists of three lines, each designated by a number and a colour. Metro Line 4 is currently under construction; the first section is scheduled to open in 2014.

Line  runs northeast from the city centre to City Park along Andrássy Avenue.

Line  runs generally east to west from the transit hub Örs vezér Square on the city's east side, and provides a connection between Keleti railway terminal and Déli railway terminalthrough the city centre.

Line  runs northwest from the transit hub Kőbánya-Kispest in the city's southeast, along Üllői Avenue to the city centre, and then north to the district of Újpest.

Except for short stretches near the depots of each line, the system is mostly underground. All lines converge at Deák Ferenc square in the city centre, forming the system's only transfer station. This bottleneck is to be remedied by the opening of Line 4, which will cross Line 2 and Line 3 at different stations.

Line  will run southwest to northeast from the transit hub of Budapest Kelenföld railway station in the city's most populous district of Újbuda across the inner city district ofJózsefváros to Keleti railway terminal. -  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budapest_Metro

Tramways

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Combinobp.jpg

This is my favorite mode of transportation in Budapest due to the scenic views, unlike the dark walls on the subway.  The tram on the left apparently is more spacious and has  more relaxing seats than the one on the right.


Buses

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Volvo7700.jpg

Oh well, everybody knows what a bus looks like.  I posted this picture just for the sake of parallelism.
 ;-)  


Trolley Bus

http://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soubor:Ikarus-trolleybus-Budapest1.jpg

Budapest's 13 trolley-bus lines run in Northeast and Central Pest. Unless you are a trolley buff, you're unlikely to use them frequently. However, some of them pass through the City Park (Városliget) and cross Andrássy avenue (Andrássy út), giving you beautiful views while using this eco-friendly mode of transport. Line 70 from Kossuth square (Kossuth tér, next to the Parliament) to City Park (Városliget) also passes through the lively Nagymező utca, Budapest's "Broadway". - http://wikitravel.org/en/Budapest#b

Taxi


Taking a taxi is quite expensive so we usually use one only in dire need. Just a tip though, the rate per kilometer is cheaper when you book by phone than flag down on street.  Here is a list of taxi companies in Budapest:

List of telephone numbers (non-stop)

• 6x6 Taxi: 2-666-666
• Barát Taxi: (20) (30) (70) 5-200-200
• Buda Taxi: 2-333-333
• Budapest Taxi: 4-333-333
• City Taxi: 2-111-111
• Főtaxi: 2- 222-222
• Max Taxi: 2-222-333
• MB Elit Taxi: 232-32-32
• Mobil Taxi: 333-2222
• Penta Taxi: 555-55-33
• Police Taxi: 278-5290
• Rádió Taxi: 7-777-777
• Taxi 2000: 2-000-000
• Taxi4: 4-444-444
• Taxi Plus: 7-888-999
• Tele5 Taxi: 5-555-555
• Volán Taxi: 4-33-33-22
• Zóna Taxi: 365-55-55

For ticket information, visit the BKV website:  http://bkv.hu/

My personal choices of eyeliner

As they say the eyes are the window to your soul, then might as well make it a beautiful window to look through. Eyeliners can be your best confidant in making your eyes look sexy, alluring, and gorgeous.  You can even wear it alone, if you are not into applying eye shadows.  Eyeliners never looked good after putting it on when I was still starting.  Through time and practice, I was able to perfect it and found the best brands of eyeliners.

1. Estee Lauder Double Wear Liquid Eyeliner

The first time I used this was on my wedding day and it stayed with me until after the event. Now, I use this as my staple eyeliner because it is extremely long wearing and does not leave dirty smears.  It's not the typical liquid eyeliner that flakes off after hours of wearing. It has a very fine felt tip that glides easily on your eyelids.  It's quite pricey but worthy. Recommended to a ll who are active and want something easy but looks dramatic.

2. Guerlain Eyeliner and Kohl Pencil

If you are new to using eyeliner, you better start with the eyeliner pencil as it is easy to apply both to the upper and lower lids of your eyes. This product gives me an intense color and holds out against wind, tide and extremely hot and humid climates. Moreover, it comes in a black box with a special sharpener dedicated to its triangle shaped body. It costs high just enough for its long length. 

3.  Essence waterproof liquid eyeliner

I admire this product not only because it does not costs much but also because it does not break its promise of being waterproof and smudge-proof. It's easy to apply, long lasting and doesn't run. However, the brush applicator is not easy to deal with because it sometimes streaks.  

http://www.maybelline.com/products/9

4. Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner

I've tried using this when I was still in the Philippines and it is really impressive.  Gel eyeliner is also a hit in Japan because it is smudge-proof, non greasy, easy to apply and remove.  It doesn't dry fast though you'll just wait for a minute to open your eyes without smudging it.  It is packed with a good liner brush.

These eye poppers are the best I have ever come across.  How about you? Are you willing to spend some money for this or opt for the cheaper ones that may put you  to a dangerous chance of having raccoon eyes?


Here are some instructional videos on applying eyeliner:


Liquid eyeliner: http://www.typef.com/video/make-eyes-look-big-beautiful-oval-eyes/
                            http://www.totalbeauty.com/video/the-basics-how-to-apply-liquid-eyeliner
Pencil eyeliner: http://www.5min.com/Video/Applying-Pencil-Eyeliner-Tutorial-517205340
Gel eyeliner     : http://www.beautylish.com/v/vmvir/how-to-apply-winged-gel-eyeliner

5 Reasons why I love Budapest (PART 3): Climate

One thing that I love about living in Budapest is the climate. I have an asthma and it usually triggers on hot climate, like the country I grew up in - the Philippines! My asthma has long been gone (I hope) since the autumn started. A friend, Judit, advised me to open the window and poke out my head, or even go out to the balcony and breath in some fresh cool air if I feel that my asthma may trigger. I tried it the day after she told me that and surprisingly it's effective! I do this everytime when I feel tightness in my chest and hear it wheeze. Now that spring has come, I got worried that my asthma might come back to visit me, but surprisingly it did not miss me. I even jogged without inhaling my seretide - which I usually do back home. I just hope that it will not come back on summer time.

Now, enough of my asthma story and let's move on! :p God has gifted Budapest with warm summers and cold winters, with plenty of rain all year round. The four seasons differ substantially in their temperature extremes, and even daily changes can sometimes be dramatic. No matter how dramatic it is, I still take pleasure with the weather here. 

The climate of Budapest is temperate and transitional — somewhere between the mild, rainy weather of Transdanubia, the variable continental climate of the flat and open Great Plain to the east and the almost sub-Mediterranean weather of the south. Budapest has four distinct seasons with great variability within the seasons. - source: www.wikipedia.org

Going up to Gellert Hill

Autumn/Fall

Autumn is cool, foggy and rainy. Nights get colder on October and November; the weather falls from 20°C to 10°C. Leaves and flowers are already falling. This is the best time to visit Budapest if you want to avoid the crowd. :p

What to wear: You can wear lighter or thicker coats, cardigans, ankle boots, and light scarfs. Cardigans, skinny jeans and leather jackets are cute too.:)

Me and Mr. Snowman

Winter

The average temperature in Budapest during winter is ranging from -15°C to -5°C. Its gloomy aura is caused by cold, windy, gray, rainy and snowy weather. It is really freezing cold, especially for me who spent 27 years of my life in a hot climate. 

Winter was the one thing I was really excited  being here. I kept on checking in the BBC Weather forecast as to when will the snow fall. I've waited for weeks in December and January, unfortunately, the snow never came as I've expected. Friends even joked that I jinxed it since the last winter came earlier in November. 

The snow came on mid February. It was the first time I have ever experienced this cold, white, wet marvel we call snow. At first, I thought they were just feathers falling from our neighbor's balcony, thinking that she was only dusting off her mattress and the feathers were just falling down. But when I caught one drop on my hand, it liquefied. Alas! Snow has finally arrived. I got so thrilled and excited about playing in the snow that I forgot to put my gloves on while playing a ball of snow with my hand. It was burning cold, I could feel it through my veins. I enjoyed it though since it's my first time. Just so you know, you have to make sure that you have a very good lighting condition in your house since the sun sets at 4:00 pm.

What to wear: It is very important to wear something that can make you warm, unless you want to catch colds and get sick. You should wear thick hats, gloves or mittens (warmer than gloves), woolly scarves, ear muffs, tights, high boots, warmers, thick coats, 120-den stockings and thick socks.

Took this photo while jogging in Városliget

                                                                                      Spring

As the month of March arrives. the snow recedes and the warmth of the Mediterranean pushes northwards to Hungary. The average temperature in the second half of April and in May days rises up to 20°C to 25°. Spring is a wonderful time of year in Budapest. After the bleak winter, the trees come back to life, the flowers are in bloom all over the city and people start to flock to the streets on sunny days which makes the entire city alive. 

What to wear: Since the weather is getting warmer, you can now wear your favorite summer dress, chunky warm scarves, cardigans, leather jacket, ankle boots, shoes of your choice and 40-60-den stockings.

Margaret Island

Summer

Just like any other country, summer is the most awaited season of the year in Budapest. The average temperature can go over 25°C-35°C which leaves the country hot and dry. There are a lot of outdoor activities for people of all ages to enjoy. If you are asthmatic, like me, make sure that you bring water and inhaler with you.

What to wear: You should wear very light clothes so that you won't get drenched on your own sweat. :p You can wear whatever apparel you like as long as you are comfortable with it. 

Transgender joining the Miss Universe: What's your stand?

http://www.interaksyon.com/assets/images/articles/interphoto_1332836609.jpg

I just read this article about a controversial qualification of a transgender, Jenna Talackova, into the world's famous Miss Universe pageant. My view on this as a naturally-born woman is that ones feminism is not defined by what is lacking in the body but what is present in one's heart. 

My stand is she should be given the chance to join or even win this competition. How about you? What's your stand?

Just for additional information: Jenna Talackova was already taken out from the pageant.

Read this article: http://www.interaksyon.com/article/28633/trump-overrules-miss-universe-overturns-rejection-of-canadian-transgender

Cooking essentials are my beauty essentials

Some of my friends were asking me what's my secret for having a smooth and healthy skin. They were thinking that I am a high maintenance lady who disposes a lot of money buying branded beauty products. I told them that my secret lies not on the salons and cosmetic shelves on supermarkets but in my kitchen cabinets.  Yes, you heard me right! You're kitchen can be a very good source of recipes to keep you all glowing and beautiful! 

I am already tired of using beauty products that only give us false hopes and more harm than good. In addition, it is hard for me to find beauty products here because the labels are not written in English.  So, I decided to be natural and organic; aside from being free of chemicals it is less expensive and can be bought even in the wet market. So, why spend a lot of money on pricey salons and beauty products when you can find the beauty recipes up on your kitchen shelves?

Here is the list of the cooking essentials that I've been using as my beauty recipe.

1. Water

Cliche as it may sound, but water is undeniably the most effective recipe for a healthy skin.  It flushes out toxins and keeps your skin hydrated. It helps maintain skin elasticity and suppleness and moisturizes your skin inside and out.

My routine: I drink at least 1.5 liters of water a day. My trick is that I always replenish water in my body every after I make water.

2. Honey

Honey, as we all know, is commonly used as a substitute for sugar or flavor enhancer for food, but a few only knows that it can also be a substitute for facial mask and skin care product. Honey is known to be an anti-oxidant which promotes younger-looking healthy skin by slowing down part of the natural aging process.  Honey can help you carry out the sweet-sixteen look by brightening the skin and preventing skin discoloration.  

My routine: I put honey on my face 3-4 times a week after steaming and exfoliating. I leave it on my face for 30 minutes, depending on how tolerant you are to sticky stuffs, then rinse it with my favorite cleanser and cold water. Sometimes, I mix brown sugar with it for exfoliation.

Note: Put a label on your honey jar! My husband sometimes fails to remember that it's for my face, not for his tongue! :p

3. Brown Sugar

Brown sugar is an effective sweetener not only for food but also for the skin. It is necessary that you exfoliate your skin on a regular basis to achieve a healthy and glowing skin. Based on experience, sugar scrubbing is the best and gentle way to exfoliate the skin just about anywhere on your body.  

They are less dehydrating than salt scrubs and can be used by all skin types.

My routine: After mixing an ample amount of brown sugar with 1 tsp honey(depending on how small/big your face is), I scrub it on my damp face for 1-2 minutes, concentrating on rough patches.  Sometimes I substitute virgin olive oil for honey if I want my face to be slightly oily the next day. You can also use this for the body, but I suggest mixing the brown sugar with olive oil for this. The texture of my skin is so smooth the next day or even after doing it. 

Note:  Never forget to apply moisturizers after using this scrub to prevent water loss. The skin on your face is very delicate so be moderate on doing sugar scrubs. 

4. Milk

Aside from drinking milk, you can also use it as facial toner solution. Since the Egyptian Queen Cleopatra's era, using milk for skin has been an ancient treatment.  I've read a lot of stories that she took milk baths to maintain her radiant skin.  The natural ingredients found in milk can help to exfoliate and revitalize your skin, making it feeling soft and supple. I've used this procedure when I was still younger, and maybe you want to also try it.

My routine: I dip 2-3 cotton balls into the bowl of milk and squeeze out the excess, and then I apply the milk to my face and leave on for at least 15 minutes. I rinse it with my favorite facial wash and tepid water.

Note:   Make sure that there is no milk residue left on your face to keep bacteria growth from happening.  Consult a physician first before using this procedure if you have a dairy or milk allergy. Don't blame me if your allergy might trigger by doing this; you are responsible for your own skin. :p

5. Egg

You can't beat an egg face mask when it comes to simplicity and effectiveness.   

"When you dab egg white on your face, then your face will be covered by a thin liquid that will dry up. At the time of drying, the protein layer will lose its water content as it evaporates, so that the lining will pull your skin and give skin tightening effect immediately." - cheerful-life.com 

My routine: The egg mask routine is as simple as the ABC. I just beat an egg and massage the egg white all over my face and decollete using my fingertips. I leave it for a few minutes until it dries up and then rinse it with tepid water. 

Note:  Egg white is known to dry out the skin, so it is advisable to put moisturizer afterwards. You can use the egg yolk if you have dry skin. 

6. Lemon

In my experience, the best ingredient for skin lightening is lemon and PATIENCE.  This yellow fruit is the reason why I have an even skin tone - from face to toes. I know that some girls are having skin pigmentation problems on some skin areas like: knees, armpit, inner thigh, and elbows. I've been there, done that. I diligently researched about how to ditch this skin problem.  I have already used a variety of whitening creams and even gave over money for dermatologists' false promises but nothing happened, some had even worsen my skin problem. My former colleague advised me to try putting lemon juice on the affected areas. I did not listen until I had no choice but to try it here. And voila! It is really effective.  I also use lemon juice to remove scar from my skin asthma.

My routine: Before taking a shower, I put lemon juice to my elbows, knees, inner thighs and pimple scar (if there is any).  I  leave it on for 15-30 minutes, depending on how I can tolerate the unpleasantness of its stickiness.  

Note:  Don't put lemon juice on fresh scars or rashes because it will aggravate the skin more. You may dilute the lemon juice with a little water if your skin is sensitive to citric acid in lemons.  Never apply lemon juice to your skin before sun exposure as it makes the skin extra sensitive to the sun's rays. 

7. Turmeric powder

While my husband was making curry powder for his chicken curry, I was thoroughly looking to the the orange colored powder and realized that there's something vaguely familiar about it. I remembered reading an article in the internet about skin whitening and encountered the word turmeric. I researched it again and found out that, combined with lemon juice, it is an effective way to lighten dark spots. I tried it for weeks and it really made wonders. My dark spots has really lightened after a series of patience and tolerance. Turmeric powder is the super skin care spice as they call it.  I put this paste only when I don't have schedules going out as its stain is hard to remove.

My routine: I mix one pinch of turmeric powder in a 1 tsp lemon juice to make a paste. I massage the paste on the affected areas and leave it for at least 15 min. I rinse it thoroughly with sugar, soap and water when taking a bath.

Note:  Turmeric powder will leave a yellow stain on your skin so it is advisable to take it off with olive oil with a warm cloth.  I usually do this procedure bare-skinned so that I won't not leave stain on fabrics.

8. Garlic

Garlic is a natural potent herb not only for health care but also for skin care.  It is a great way to treat and reduce acne scars because it has natural antibacterial, anti-fungal and antiviral properties.  Since I don't have acne, I only use this procedure when I have premenstrual pimple.

My routine: When I feel that a pimple is trying to grow on my skin, without delay I rub it with garlic slice several times.  My pimple stops from growing and sometimes heals. 

Note: Be careful not to put your hands with garlic on your eyes. Test a small patch of skin before using as with all other herbal treatments.

9. Olive oil

Thinking that olive oil is greasy, you might be afraid of applying oil to your face.  Oil is not to be blamed for your pimples, zits, blackheads, whiteheads...these are caused by different factors including hormones, bacteria or dead skin cells.  Olive oil has been used since the age-old times not only for culinary and therapeutic uses but also for skin regimen. This treatment is best during winter.

My routine:  I frequently use olive oil for my skin, hair and lips. I usually mix olive oil with brown sugar to exfoliate my skin. After doing this, I gently wipe the excess oil from my skin and rinse it with tepid water.  Sometimes, I splash some cold water on my face.  Believe me, I've been using olive oil for several months now and it's making a huge difference.  

Note: If you feel that your skin is itching after frequent application of olive oil on your skin, you better stop immediately.  Olive trees produce pollen that can cause seasonal allergy for some people.

10. Cucumber

The biggest problem of my face is my puffy eyes! I've tried several eye creams but none of them worked.  I got worried on my wedding day because my exhaustion had been manifested in my eye bags.  I had  no choice but to put a slice of cucumber on each of my eyes before taking a shower. It has somehow managed to relieve my puffy eyes in a little way - better than never.

My routine:  Of course, I make sure that the cucumber is cold and clean before putting it on my eyes. I put two slices of cucumber on my shut eyes and recline for 15 minutes. 

Note: Never leave the cucumber slices on your eyes for so long. I've tried putting cucumber on my eyes for an hour and I ended up having skin rashes perfectly shaped like the cucumbers I put on. Be careful not to extend the "leave-on" time. :p

If you have better suggestion or advice, feel free to comment below.  Maybe you can help our sisters out there! :)