Civil Engineering Reference

This CE Reference has recorded bitter-sweet memories, something that evokes others called nostalgia. Those months when Manila papers with various boldly written formulas were hanged on the ceiling and walls of our room and gave at least studious ambiance where we used to cook, eat, sleep, study. Those sleepless nights with the monotonous tic of calculator's keypad as our background. Those stillness means my review-buddies were beginning to be serious, concentrated, determined, focused. And because each has different music preferences, each one has also our own headset on our ears to break that silence. Those instances when I tried to become polite to my housemates by offering them a cup of hot water but actually I was requesting a free sachet of 3-in-1 coffee. That ice cream on Mini Stops too, the balut and street foods near Legarda, the jingle in Liana's (na-LSS ako!), the pastries and sweets from cute Bulacan State University girl, the pusit and ihaw-ihaw along Galicia St., the happy faces of street children, the strategy of less fortunate fellows, the fast pace in the city - all were opportunities that built up stronger friendship that college days did not offer. Those times that we shared together our next plan after board exam - to start our career in Manila then in abroad. We have shared that thing called by the world as hopes and dreams. We shared together our own sentiments. We pursued the same goal - to pass the exam on November. We cared for each other's what if's and how about's. We were terrified yet we smiled. We did something comedic. We laughed. But also we hoped. We prayed. I wept.

By the grace of God, I have always brought my Bible in our review center. I read every morning as I woke up and at night before reviewing my lessons. I fought this battle on my knees. But then disappointment and discouragement have always come. Ten years ago, there I fondly wrote random thoughts on some pages of my CE Reference. I have always tried to encourage myself for the Lord.

These days, I was needing to go back to the basics. I was searching for what we have learned in college that I cannot find on my old notes or Lola Basyang. As I turned the pages of this book, I smiled for the memories it left behind.

[Please excuse my penmanship. I remember during our college days, I received back one of my templates with a red mark from our instructor, "Improve your letering" (sic). Thank goodness, wala akong guts to return my template with a mark, "Improve your spelling!" He.he. Peace!]

Are you ready for the harvest? Agreview kan JJ! FOCUS

Nov. 21 & 22 Panagbibitay! Madugong labanan!! Sugod!!

MAY-roong SOLUTION sa bawat problema.

Ice cream.Mini Stop or Corneto?

If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.

Go away Satan!

Can this be love? Apay agdadanag nak? Hehe. *Balla! (Batac colloquial term for crazy). Kuna ni karruba, kasta met feeling na idi. Sumrek review center a kasla awan ammo na. Kuna ni Sir Cheezy, walang nagti-take ng board na hindi kinakabahan. Ngem dapat concentrate JJ. Tandaanam, adu ti mangpi-pray kenka. Encourage yourself for the Lord!

Focus! Are you ready for the harvest?

Tandaanam JJ: Kakaasi ni Papang ken Mamang mo.. Naanusam ti nagbasa ti 5 years. Anusam agreview. FOCUS.

Tandaanam! Kuna ni Sir Gloria, nagre-review ka ngayon hindi para lamang sa magulang mo. Para din sa iyo. Sa kinabukasan mo. You will be a licensed civil engineer SOON!

The many task we face each day can burden and oppress,
But spending time with God each day
Can bring relief from stress.

When you look at others' lives and think that their lives are better than your own, just bear in mind that what God has given to you was PERFECTLY made for your own.

Smile. Jesus loves you! =)

God wants to hear you sing. Don't be discouraged. Kaya yan.

FOCUS. Believe!

Thank You Lord for the wisdom.

Ammom JJ kuna ni Bro.Raks, iwasan mong magalit/mainis/magtampo para makareview ka ng mabuti. Yang emosyon mo ang gagamitin ni Satan para hindi ka makapag-isip ng mabuti.

Kaya ko rin ito. With God, all things are possible. Amen.

(Penned by a borrower on 2010).

I can do all things THROUGH CHRIST.

Endure to enjoy and enjoy to endure.

TRUST IN THE LORD.
Prov.3:5-6

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.
Psalms 42:5 

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD

Lord, hindi ko po maintindihan...

Lord, inspire me to do my best for Your own glory....

I am determined. I will be faithful. Until He has finished His purpose in me. And nothing shall shake me. For He'll never forsake. For I am determined to live for my King.

NOvember-NOretreat-NOsurrender

Those were written mostly during my discouragement times in 2009. I did not intend to write these for somebody else but only then for myself. In 2010, these were able to read by a college friend who borrowed it. Another in 2011 and also in 2012. All of them were now licensed civil engineers by the grace of God. When they returned this book to me, I have always seen happy faces. One of them expressed his gratitude through sending a text message during his review days. He testified that he was encouraged by these penned random thoughts and so he asked for prayer request. These borrowers have undergone the same pressures I had experienced.

Most often, people need listeners. They do not ask you for an advice but only for ears to listen. When you get their heart, then and only then you can speak best. We can speak best of God to them and of His comfort when we speak from our own experience. We can comfort others through the comfort that the Lord Jesus Christ has given to us. Our disappointment in life can be God's appointment to bless others.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;

Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

This CE Reference became a part of my journey to pass the November 2009 Civil Engineering board examination. When I bought this book during the first week of my review days, I immediately penned on the very first page of it, Genesis 39:2 "And the LORD was with Joseph..." This was to remind myself that there was a man in the Old Testament whose name is the same as mine and whom the Lord was with him. More than once it is mentioned on Genesis 39, "...and the Lord was with him, and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper." A gentle reminder that what really makes us prosperous is THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD. It is indeed God's presence with us that makes all we do prosperous.

The very first page of my CE Reference

A very common idea for many people is that pursue your dreams. But this man in the Bible, Joseph, taught me well. Yes, he was a dreamer but he never 'pursue' that dream. He pursued God, and goodness and mercy followed him. 

GOD HAS BEEN GOOD. A lot to thank God for as I look back. And like our beloved Pastor always used to say, we have reached this far not that we are good enough but we have God Who is so good and so gracious to us.