Get to know the dreamer :)

Aking larawan
Queen City of the South, Region VII, Philippines
Frances is an aspiring writer, a lover of life, a Social Worker, takes in delight in life's experiences, a Bipolar Warrior, a loving daughter, a thoughtful sister, a caring friend, a sweet lover and a princess of Christ.

8/24/2013

Random Thoughts of A Dreamer


We are all travelling in this world
Finding joy and meaning in our existence
We were once young and fragile
Falling deeply in the consequences of our actions.
When can one say that thing is right?
Does it really depend on the society's view?
Or on how that someone accepted the consequences bravely?
You might even wonder,
Even I myself started thinking.

Society has a lot to say with what we do.
But do they really care?
Or they are just trying to impose their principles?
We must all be vigilant,
It's not enough to adhere to what the society wants
We all have brains and have the power to think
We must use them for our own's sake.

Right or wrong,
People will always have someting to say.
But this is what I have learned,
That no matter what that our decision is,
For as long as we can stand the counter-effects,
Then it's worth the risk.

Firing and Youthful Experience


Note: I just posted this article here. Originally from my facebook note. :)

2 April 2012- This must have been the day that the Lord has made! The first Monday of the month was loaded with lots of activities that will reawaken my soul who has been thirsty for God’s presence.

When I was informed about the youth gathering which is our first ever gathering, I was quite sad knowing that I am already in the province, it is hard to go back to the city just to attend an activity which requires, of course, money. Way back then, I never thought I would have given the chance to attend the said activity because first, it is already summer and I want my parents to take a break in their financial obligations to me and second is that, I have consumed already my savings. There was a slim chance, really. And so, I said “No” to the invitation and buried the idea in my mind.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

Have you tried being surprised by God? All I can say is our God is a God full of surprises! I may not have been hopeful at first yet, He knew the desire of my heart. He knew when the perfect timing to surprise me is! Alas, the unexpected thing happened. And take note, he drowned me with surprises! Not just I was able to attend our youth gathering but lo and behold, I was also able to attend the 27th Local World Youth Day! What a big paycheck from heaven. I just cannot contain the happiness reigning in my heart. I saw Jesus smiling at me because I myself was enjoying my sweet reward. Everything happened so fast, attending the LWYD was the least thing I had in mind. How can you attend when in the first place, the parish priest in your town didn’t send delegates? But miracles do happen and dreams do come true! Through a friend from a nearby town, I was able to attend the most prestigious event gathering of the youth all over Cebu! Imagine that kind of feeling?

God will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy. Job 8:21

Oh yes, I still didn’t forget the second event.  God is just so awesome! He is good enough to make you happy 10x more and more! I was fired up that early Monday morning knowing that our first youth gathering will finally take place! The day that we have been waiting for. I can’t get enough with Mondays, indeed! Even though I was still feeling groggy after LWYD, I arrived at Family Park with enthusiasm knowing that it will be another fun-filled day with my co-youth and at the same time, a venue for expanding our knowledge on our service with God. With the passion and united effort of the youth council together with our adviser, Kuya Pat, with the talks conducted by our worship leader, Bro. Stephen, and of course, with our presence, the first gathering of the LOJ Youth Missions was a success! Bonds of friendships were strengthened, values were inculcated, deeper understanding of what an excellent service is all about flourished and joy ignited in each other’s hearts.

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

With the two consecutive youth events I have attended, I am now proud to say that the youth is not just the hope of the church but the Church itself. Some youths may have gone astray, some may have abandoned God and some may have denied their true identity, but the challenge lies in our hands. As fire starters, may we, the Light of Jesus Youth Missions pass the burning passion in our hearts to infect a positive change of heart to the lives of others. May we keep the fire burning and continuously do what is pleasing in God’s eyes!

We give thanks to You, our Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because You have taken your great power and have begun to reign. Revelation 11:17


The young ministers of God with Tito Jonathan Yogawin. :-)

8/21/2013

Restored Soul


This is a very personal post. It talks about my recovery, my personal story. Hope you'll be inspired and you'll also learn from my story. :)


    One cannot simply fathom such moment when one is fired up with lots of questions in his/her mind on how his/her life is going on. It’s not as easy as one plus one as what we have first learned in Preparatory School, not as simple as opening a nutshell then putting nuts in your mouth, not as silly as cracking the oldest yet the funniest joke in town but rather, it is something profound and way too personal.

    What would you do if one day, you suddenly realized that you are actually not dealing with life and living it in the right way and most especially in accordance to the will of God? I was bummed with lots of questions in my mind. Events from the past kept on rushing in my head and time after time, they finally took me to a very dark place where no one can even hear my loudest scream. I tried to defeat them, yet they kept me wide awake every time I attempted to. I tried to forget about them but the deed just made the matters worse. I gave my very best to resolve such nightmare from the past but then again they seem not cooperating. What I did not know that a result would be losing the tiny pieces that compose myself. It followed somewhat. I lost trust in myself. I temporarily bid goodbye to my dreams. I can no longer hope for a sweet future. I hate my mistakes. I was drowned by my imperfections. I don’t know how to make other people happy. I can no longer convince myself that everything will be all right. In short, I was wrapped with fears brought about my past. I can’t present myself to God. I don’t know how to explain to everyone what I am going through. I was no longer the person I used to be or did this happen to make me realize that I wasn't even true to myself anymore?

    I started writing again just today. I don’t know why but the past days or the past months, I just didn't have the audacity to release my thoughts. I can’t even face my feelings, my ideas, my thoughts and even my every day dreams. What a disheartening scenario indeed.

    One fact I know right from that very scenario-I wasn't in touch with my authentic self. I lost the knot that tied me to the reality. I let go of the rope connecting me to myself, to my family, to my friends, to the people around me and most of all, the rope that connects me to God. I became bitter with how I dealt with my day to day life. I am happy for some time and then I get deeply sad the next hours or even days. I no longer enjoy the simple things that gave me fulfillment. My mind went blank. In short, I became a lifeless person.

    After a couple of months wherein I rested and just do random things or even not doing anything at all, I came to understand that sometimes, you don’t learn from your mistakes and I myself am the perfect example for that. I thought pretending to be strong is the ideal way to deal with heartaches, problems and issues about myself but actually the first step is to make myself equipped with what I am about to go through. I sometimes suppressed my feelings or at times I open them at the wrong time, wrong place, wrong situation and wrong people. I then said to myself that an experience isn’t enough not until you will finally learn its lesson. When one keeps on repeating mistakes, it means that the lesson wasn’t applied in real life at all. Again, I am the perfect example for that.

    “Self-improvement is unending task, kalaban mo ang sarili mo”, as what a personality said in a TV commercial. I know I made mistakes before. I forgot my priorities. I pretty messed up. Some lessons were learned, some were forgotten. Some were not applied in reality. But as long as I am still breathing, I know I can make a change. I know I can fix myself. I know I can manage to move on in my life and open a brand new beginning.

   If the past months I became a pessimist, now I look forward for a sweet future. It’s now time to stand up and continue the fight; the moment to go for my dreams; the point in time to correct my mistakes; the occasion to be happy again by embracing the fullness of life.

    I will be forever grateful to my family for not giving up on me in my journey of finding my real self again. The first week, I was so hard to deal with because according to my father, I don’t talk that much and I was putting a frown face all the time. I barely eat and always wanted to sleep but he was always there. He managed the intake of my medicines, my meal and snacks. My mother on the other hand was also very patient with me. She slept with me every night and when I cannot sleep past midnight, she gave me my medicine. My Ate N has also played a big part in my recovery. During those times wherein I was so anxious to go out and see the outside world, she provided me with the prescribed medicines. She also bought us grocery every month. She called everyday to check us especially me. Sometimes, I took her calls, sometimes I became hesitant to talk. I am also thankful to my other sister, Bhan because she dealt with me with utmost understanding and care. Many were those times I didn't answer her calls because I didn't know what to say but she never gave up. I didn't go with my parents when they visited her in the training camp but she still managed to forgive me. During those times, they were the significant people in my life including my little brother who is always with us. Albeit there were those times I didn't even appreciate the things they are all doing for me, they stretched their understanding for me and even poured out their great love and accepted me for what I am and for who I am. But most of all, I am thankful to God above for loving me just as I am and for reminding me that I am a work in progress. God made things possible for me. And for that, I will always be grateful, yes I will.

    To all my friends especially my truest friends, first of all I want to say I am very sorry. I disconnected my channel of communication with you because honestly, I don’t know what to say before or even how to talk to you when you ask me if how I am doing. If there is a word for it, it would be emotionless. I was at that stage in the first two months. I turned my phone off and I no longer open my facebook account. I know, I didn't even greet some of you in your very special day-your birthdays and for that, I am sorry. I regretted the things I did but now, what I regret the most are the things I did NOT do. What I am about to do now is to make it up to you guys. I didn’t leave you, I just have to find my authentic self in order for me to be the person you once knew again or even a better person this time. Some of you may understand me, some may leave me after knowing my story, some may befriend me but it’s now okay with me for now is the time to live life by the lessons I have learned.

    Ate Cherry, Aynd Jheau, Jared, Julie Ann, Carla, Shanel, Janeizza, Shelina, Loisa Mae, Kathleen Caye, Leslie Dianne, Lyka Germaine,  Mia Gritz, Maureen P., Maureen E., Claudine, Caroline, Philline, Zenybelle. The Francess, Wakwak, Buddy, Geng, Adik, Mama, Mrs. Cullen, Crab, Seatmate, Kring-kring, Uyab and Kabit you’ve known is now alive! Heeeee. I now realized that in this course called life; I don’t need too many friends but only those friends who will stand by me through the test of time. I miss you all sooooooo much!

With all my sincerity,
Frances Carmille E. Alpuerto


12 October 2012 at 11:54 P.M.

You Don't Really Know Me Very Well

I know the verdict is no matter what you say, at the end of the day it's still on how I perceive myself. But can I just say something? How I wish I just could let it all pass but in one way or another, I'd love that at times you also shut up your mouth.Cos sincerely speaking, you don't have the right to assess my whole personality just because you've seen a tiny portion of myself.Yes, to some aspects you may be deemed right. But geez! I dint even ask for your opinions and rationalizations. So insensitive of you actually. The more I'm exposed to you guys, the more I find my true friends of great value. Still, THANK YOU! :-)

7/19/2013

I Give To You My Sincerest Applause

People take in much delight
Not knowing the consequences of their actions
Only to realize they are already putting up a fight
With their make believe judgments and conclusions.

Why is it some people are like that?
Then I answered myself
Maybe because if the world's filled with responsible people
It would be nothing but so flat.

Somehow, somewhere
Random thoughts keep on rushing and playing in my mind
As what my father told me,
"Each kind of people exists to test our existence and it's your choice if you'll persist or resist."

Merely realizing the fact that the good ones are always misunderstood
It always made me look up to Jesus
His struggle was more than mine
And that I should be reminded that in the end it will always be fine.

Yes, I keep on convincing myself
The best is yet to come
This pain won't last.
All things are temporary.
Waves will calm
Peace will reign
And when the time for healing has finally arrived
I'm gonna give them my sincerest applause
For without them, 
I would not have made it this far.

3/13/2013

WARMTH's Fellowship OVERLOAD!

:)



Ready for take off to Simala Shrine!
At McDo Punta Prinsesa. 


Ooops! Something happened. One tire slipped away while we were fetching Kuya Sho. Oh no!!!


A midst the delay, we were still able to pose! Smile ladies!
At Naga.


Look at that! We are way too positive! \m/
A pose while waiting for the new transpo to fetch us.


Hungry people! One hour has passed, still waiting. But it's okay. If we have lotssss of food! :D



Finally, we made it to Carcar! Stopped and fetch Aynd. :)


We had lunch at Mang Inasal. Nomnomnom. 
Nourished souls.


Group pose! Finally we are ready for the shrine! even though it is super hot, we still managed to smile. :)


Finally, reached our destination. Behave individuals in the house. You know whyyyyy.


We offered our individual prayers.
*notice something in this picture?*


Kuya Sho and Ate April prayed ardently to Mama Mary. :)


Stairway to Mama Mary. :)



A pic with Mama Mary's Grotto. :)


Wishing well. Well, well, well.


And last stop, Theotokos Shrine at Perrelos, Carcar.

Thank you so much, Warmth Family! 
It was indeed a suuuuper blessed day with my warmth family. I really missed our bonding and I was so grateful I was able to join in their fellowship. No words can fully describe this day. But sum it all up, it was a day of blessing-thanksgiving-friendship-bonding! ♥



Changes in Time



-Frances Carmille Alpuerto-


Times flies so swiftly
As I was gazing in the lone skies
I wish you were here physically with me.
Lots of thoughts came to my mind
They have been dancing there from time to time.

I have been feeling lonely and blue
The moment I think about you
I hope I can get it through.

Oh why?
You were the first one to thrill me like no one else can
Yet you were also the one who can make me a super depressed lass.
I guess I don't deserve this kind of treatment
A lot of guys like me yet I keep on resisting.

Sometimes, I just can't understand you.
You get so jealous out of the blue.
Is it really me or is it about you? 
I would rather know the truth than keep on guessing
This game is pretty tiring.

Now please tell me honestly
What do you really want from me?
I could have guessed about it somehow
I just don't have the nerves to let them all out.
I might get tired one day
And you might lose me in the simplest way.