Rediscovering Beth: From Legal to Baker’s, and Traveler’s Notes

Blog No. 61:   Mercy Beyond Measure I was listening to Bishop Barron’s sermon about God’s mercy.   We were taught that taking one’s own life is a mortal sin because only God has the authority to give and take life. Following that reasoning, some might conclude that Judas could not be saved. But Bishop Barron reminds us of the Church’s teaching: God’s mercy is beyond anything we can imagine. Even a single tear of genuine repentance can open the way to His forgiveness.   Therefore, we cannot presume to know the eternal destiny of anyone — whether Judas or those who take their own life. God alone knows, and His judgment is always tempered by mercy. I am living proof of God’s mercy — not in the shadow of despair, not in the context of taking one's own life,  but in the story of a broken vow. I once stood at the altar, bound in a marriage that later unraveled into annulment. By human reckoning, God could have said, “You made your bed, now lie in it.” He cou...

  Blog 60: “The Right Home, Not the Perfect One” by Beth O.   Today feels symbolic—a day that honors both toil and trust, both human effort and divine providence. And so, I write about my own journey: the search for a permanent home, a quest that began in the latter part of 2025. Since then, I have wandered through listings, weighed costs, and measured dreams against the hard edges of reality. Yet the right place has not revealed itself. My financial limits, my needs, my hopes—they all stand as gatekeepers, reminding me that this decision is not simple. Some of my siblings  PROBABLY think I am stalling, that I am deliberately taking my time so our ancestral home cannot yet be sold. They are mistaken. Only God knows how earnestly I have tried, how many nights I have wrestled with choices, how many mornings I have prayed for clarity. My brother-in-law tells me not to overthink, that perfection is a mirage, and that I must simply choose the best among what is ava...

  My 59th blog - 💌 A February Embrace: A Love Letter to Me "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." — 1 Corinthians 13:4,7   Dear Me, In this season of love, when the world is adorned with roses, sweetened by chocolates, and softened by warm embraces, I pause to write to you—the one who has journeyed with me through tranquil meadows and rugged paths alike. You are not perfect—indeed, you were never meant to be. Yet within those imperfections rests a quiet strength, a resilience that has carried you farther than you often recognize, and with a grace that deserves to be cherished.   I want to thank you for rising again and again, even when your knees grow weary and the road feels heavy, strewn with thorns and stones. For the laughter you share so freely, the tears you allow to trace their way down your gentle cheeks, and the courage you summon whe...

  My 58 th blog:   A Place to Call Mine: My Journey Through Condo Options   The title says it all—it’s about my journey of hunting for a condo unit I can finally call my own. For those with deep pockets, finding the right one is a piece of cake; I might even liken it to picking out a shoe rack from an online store.   To be honest, I’ve been buying most of my odds and ends—clothes, shoes, and what-have-you—from Shein and Shopee. Not that I’m a paid endorser. Hell no! lol    I just happen to feel at home shopping from those two online outlets. Sometimes I end up with a lemon; other times I hit the jackpot. But hold your horses…I’m getting off track. Back to the condo unit search. Yes, that’s the meat and potatoes of this blog.   Here’s a concise list of things to consider when searching for a unit:      Location – Accessibility to work, transport, and essentials. Avoid building on top of fault lines, like the West Valley Fa...

57th Blog:  I Was Just in Bondi Beach Last November I’ve already shared part of my blog about my trip to Sydney and Melbourne. For the second installment, I had planned to dive deeper into Sydney and recount our adventures day by day, right up until we flew to Melbourne on November 26.   On November 22, my cousin Romy and his wife, Rose, graciously played tour guides and, among other stops, whisked us off to Sydney’s world‑famous Bondi Beach. I was over the moon to see it again—being a beach lover, it felt like coming home. The air was crisp and a little chilly, but that didn’t put a damper on my spirits. I soaked up the vibe and drank in the breathtaking view of Bondi.   That’s why the news of the December 15 shooting at Bondi hit me like a bolt from the blue.   On that day in 2025, a father and son carried out a terrorist attack targeting Sydney’s Jewish community during the first night of Hanukkah. The tragedy claimed at least 15 lives and left dozens in...

    56th Blog: Sydney Spirit, Melbourne Magic, Manila Reality (Part 1)   When my friend and I hopped over to Australia, the trip blossomed into a delightful adventure. The highlight? I was able to reconnect with most of our rosary prayer group members in Sydney. I’d already been to Sydney once before, but this time I returned with a mission: to meet my fellow Marian devotees and finally set foot inside the charming Lady of Dolours Parish church.   But this blog is not yet about my journaling of Sydney and Melbourne. Instead, I want to share what occasionally crossed my mind while I was enjoying the trip. I made a conscious effort to live in the moment because I knew that once I got back to Manila, reality would hit me like a ton of bricks. And what is that reality? Condo hunting.   Before the trip, I thought I had already found “the one”; however, complications with the seller threw a wrench in the works. To cut a long story short, the sale fell thro...