lipat bahay.

I was in Tacurong for our RCM when a text message from Cotabato was miss-sent to a YFC there. It was Nonoy Maguindanao’s KFC Provincial Kuya. He’s asking for a household kasi lilipat na daw sila ng bahay kinabukasan.

 
Surprised and perplexed why, I decided to travel with Ian and Awgi to pay him some visit.

 
At first I thought I was just a big joke or something but then when I saw tita crying as she was saying her prayer of thanksgiving, it confirmed everything.

 
Yes indeed, they are leaving.

 
It was as twice painful for them as it was for us knowing that they don’t want to leave but they have to. Nang dahil lang sa mga tambay sa kanto na nag-iinuman na nauwi sa muntik nang ikamatay ng nanay, lola, at dalawa pa nyang mga kapatid.

I can’t narrate how it happened exactly (sa kanila nalang kayu mag-tanong, nakikitsismis na naman kayu sa akin e, hahaha).

 
During the “emotional” prayer, I was also reminiscing the times when our family also has to experience the same thing. (Uh, not the trouble, yung lipat bahay lang hehe).

 
4 times na po kaming palipat-lipat ng bahay bago sa bahay naming ngayun.

 
I was 2 years old then nung una kaming lumipat ng bahay (uhm, wag kayu masyadong bilib sa akin, di ko naalala yun, kwento lang ng nanay ko haha). When I was 5 or so, lumipat na naman kami. I was in grade 4 nung lumipat kami the third time around and in grade 6 finally, lumipat kami sa bahay naming ngayun. Phew! (Siguro kung di ako nagfulltime, lipat bahay ang negosyo ko. Hahaha)

 
I know the experience (though painful) will come in handy soon, I just don’t know when and how or why, not until that day.

a new saga.

 
An opportunity to start one’s life afresh.

Because nobody knows you, no one will judge you. You can decide to be the nicest person in the world without prejudices. (that would be very very very hard though hahaha) A great time to reinvent your self, not trying to be the best among the rest but striving to be better than who you are.

 
A chance to be inspired and inspire others.

Think about the new set of people interested to listen in our life’s adventures and misadventures. There will people who will laugh at your old jokes because they didn’t see it as corny (even if it actually is hahaha).

New friends mean new escapades, new lessons. New neighbors comes new stories to inspire us. The possibilities are endless; there is so much to learn.

 
A time to know the Lord more.

When we don’t know what’s in store for us, we trust, thus we pray.

Nobody is sure what the new found land brings, thus we pray.

When we have nobody to talk to because we have no friends, God is willing 24 hrs, thus we pray.

Kitsokoy’s tips:

 
Choose to be happy.

Dealing the experience with bitterness and being upset won’t change anything for the better; it will just worsen the situation. Be happy and allow others to be happy too.

(if you want to hear more about this, read my “Choose to be Happy” blog).

 
Be still.

Worrying won’t improve anything, learn to trust. Know that God is bigger than your problems, larger than your fears. He is still in control, that we can be confident of.

 
Give thanks.

Because we are too focused on what we want, we often miss the blessings that come in disguise. But the truth is it’s what keeps us moving. So no matter how pressing the situation will be, be grateful.

  

As I write this, they are now on their way to General Santos City. What lies ahead for their family? What’s next for them? Is not for us to be anxious of, we just have to be confident that God is God and we are not. Perhaps our plans are not His and at times we wonder why, but in the end of everything, all we’ll do is thank Him for taking charge, smiling in awe. 

In Memory of our dear friend NONOY ahahahahah