Guest Blogger: RAR

Today, I've decided to share this entry in honor of a great woman who worked hard to see to it that her boys (and everyone else) got everything they needed (and sometimes wanted) in this world. In the few years that I got to know Tita Tonet, I know her to be a godly woman with a big heart - whose love and dedication for her family (her WHOLE family) taught me one great thing - that sometimes, to stand by the people you love the most is enough to see them through. 

The piece below was written yesterday by my goddaughter (originally R's but he has been a MIA godfather as well) Rianne. Rianne is a 17-year old young lady who seeks after God's own heart. I am amazed at her faith and at her immense love for our Heavenly Father. Her mom and I are often humbled by how she walks the Walk (and the Talk). She also writes a bit here. I hope you enjoy reading her tribute to her late grandmother, whose birthday happens to be today. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, TITA TONET! YOU ARE MISSED! 

Fair and Honest! 
by: Rianne Avisa Rebulado

Because I haven't been doing anything in the past few months, I volunteered myself to "manage" one of our businesses (whenever my parents aren't around--which is what I am doing currently). A few minutes ago, an American customer called us, complaining why, according to him, we sell our products at a very high price. He was looking for the manager; however, my mom had not been around, so I took charge.

ME: Hello, good afternoon, sir. 
CUSTOMER: Hi, I have been ordering from you for a very long time, my staff does. But I just found out that your price is so mahal (expensive). I just called Petron and they told me that the 11kgs is only Php560, why are you selling it to me for Php820? Is it because I'm a "Kano"? 
ME: That's not true, sir. We sell all our products at the regular price, to anyone. 
CUSTOMER: But I just called Petron. Call them, and ask them their price. 
ME: Okay, kindly hold the line (then I called Petron).

PETRON: Hello, good afternoon. 
ME: Yes, I'd just like to know how much the 11kgs is. 
PETRON: Php806. 
ME: Okay, thank you. 

ME: Sir, I just called Petron and they told me that their 11kgs is at Php806. We are an outlet that's why we sell it at a little higher price. (Not anyone can buy directly from Petron. ☺) 
CUSTOMER: Are you sure, the 11kgs? Let me call them. (then he called Petron) 
CUSTOMER: Oh, I am really sorry. They confirmed that it's Php806. I'm really sorry. I really like your service and I've been your customer for a very long time. I will continue ordering from you; even if you sell it at Php830. 
ME: It's okay, sir. There's no problem. 
CUSTOMER: Okay, thank you. 

This isn't the first time we've encountered something like that. Some of our customers had moved to smaller companies who sell their products cheaper than we do, thinking that they could save more if they would; but then most of them would come back to us saying they like our service more.  Because, with us, they are sure of the products - from the quantity to the quality.

My grandmother started this company back in 1969, when it was really hard to put up an LPG business/company. If you didn't do the math, we've been up and running for more than 40 years already--which would have been impossible if we weren't fair and honest to all of our customers. Today, it really is so much easier to put up this kind of business. There aren't as much processes to go through now as compared to before, when it was stricter and harder.

My uncle, Alvin Rebulado, shares his side of the story of how this company started. Read his inputs below:

Tonet Rebulado

Mom started working for Shell under the management of Mr. Sunga. During that time, LPGs weren't very popular and like other new products in the market, they were very expensive. The advantage was to cook your food using a stove instead of the traditional charcoal cooker or butane stove which will only last for a couple of days. The product was promising and soon add-on features and products like the Gas Range were added. Though it was so expensive, people started to hug the technology - same as how we are hugging new tech stuffs in the market.

So anyway, from what I heard and remember, Shell wasn't making much money as expected, because not everyone could afford the initial investment. Technically, you would have to buy the empty cylinder first, then you can buy your gas refill whenever you need it. So Shell started to run a promotion. I can't remember if it was FREE cylinder or a cylinder discount for every customer who bought the refill, but I remember mom telling me that she started to buy her own cylinder stocks and kept them at home as she knew that this was going to be big business in the future.

And so she did! She started piling up those tanks to the point where she was ready to start her own business. In business terms on today, this is considered as 'conflict of interest' (hehe... sorry, Mom). But hey, it IS business and she was later open about it with her boss. Management was impressed with her enthusiasm and decided to have her open a branch at 14-B 15th Avenue, Murphy, Cubao, Quezon City. This was one of the first Shell LPG dealerships in Quezon City! It was popularly known as OSELITE Gas and Appliances Center. I remember growing up hearing the banging noise of those tanks and honestly, I really miss them (being here, abroad for almost 15 years) - the noise... and those 10-wheeler trucks trying to park its way to a small space, to dump 200-300 LPGs! Petron and Manila Gas later joined the party. With ERB regulating the industry and so on and so forth, the business grew and branched out to different locations. From Paranaque, all the way to Pulang Lupa, the stores were called AA&M Gas Center (for ALVIN, ANTHONY & MEL). Each of us had a our share in running this lovely business. A lot of people have wonderful futures because of this very business. This little thing grew to help dozens raise their families. This is my mom's legacy to us and to the many people she helped. IT STILL IS AND ALWAYS WILL be. 

My grandmother is no other than THE Ma. Platona "Tonet" Ordona Alcantara y Rebulado.

We are Murphy Gas Merchandise, located in Quezon City. We sell and deliver LPG products around the area. You can call us at 911-0439, 330-0196 (PLDT) or 437-MGAS (437-6427) (Bayantel). You can also call or text +639192218888, +639194888886 (Smart) or +639277268888 (Globe). If you want to be sure of the LPG that you use, go and dial those numbers now!

Guest Blogger: T

I have been so busy at the office that I haven't had time to blog. That, plus broadband at home is on and off. So today, we're doing it a tad different. I have a Guest Blogger! My friend T wrote this on her blog today and I asked if I could repost for all of you. If you regularly check my reading pane on the left (Daily Read), you will find her blog there. T and I were schoolmates back when life was easier. We've both had to deal with trials in our lives - we each have a heavy cross to carry, and yet, we find encouragement in each other.

T has had to deal with more than her fair share of hardship in the past 10 years, and more in the past month alone. She wrote this piece to get a load off her chest. I love how she writes, and I hope you find this piece beautiful. I was in tears.

Operation: Rescue

I think I lost all my writing skills this past week. In fact, I have lost a lot of things in my life that it probably would never be the same again. I don't understand it. I cannot wrap my head around the betrayal I've had to face these past few days. I feel disgusted, upset, furious, hurt, relieved, confused... just about every emotion a wife, a friend, a daughter, a sister would never want to feel. I opened doors wide open to something that Ive worked so hard on. The very thing I valued the most.

I opened my marriage unknowingly to Satan. I handed it on a silver platter to him.

Now, here I am. Broken. In pieces. In shock. The truth hit me like a sledge hammer in my heart, a knife through my back. I literally felt the physical pain when God handed me the bitter truth in the worst possible way. I remember feeling lightheaded and kapow! Game over. It probably would be a tad bit easier... just a tad bit easier if I had a slight insight. Or if the other party was someone I didn't know. But to be absolutely CLUELESS and all of a sudden shoved with the truth to your face... well, I felt like an absolute jerk. It took all my self control not to self destruct or worst, destroy him.

The biggest question that I wanted to know was WHY? Why did they do this to me? Why did this all happen right under my nose without me knowing? I was with her every weekend. I talked and chatted with her everyday. I just saw her 3 weeks ago. The last thing she did was hold me and whispered in my ear "I love you T. Sobra, you don't even know how much. Love na love kita."

Good God. It makes my stomach churn.

I gave him an out. I said the door is open. Walk out. Go ahead. If she is your true love, I don't want you to come back to me someday and tell me that I kept you from leaving. Not my style. Unlike her, I didn't threaten to kill myself if he left. I will not pretend that it'd be ok that he would walk out, but it would not kill me. I gave him 3 days to decide. He said he didn't need three days. That he knew he loved me, his family...that she was a cry for help.

But what do I know? Everything I knew, treasured and cared for almost the past year was a lie. It makes me shiver how I let that person in my house. Cared for her like a sister. Defended her when everybody told me that she was lurking like a lion ready to pounce. I said she would never be able to do something like that to me! She's a good friend. I cannot even wrap my head around something like that... incomprehensible to the point of impossible. No one can be that thick. Nobody can be that big of a snake. I would never do something like that, therefore nobody could hurt me that way as well.

BIG MISTAKE. HUGE.

I wasn't prepared at all. Just thinking about it right now makes my blood boil.

Now, where do we go from here? Now here I am picking up the bits and pieces they broke. Who is hurting the most now? Now I have to give out blind trust... its not fair. Trust is earned. Now that's all gone. Now if i want to move on, I have to take a leap of faith. It reminds me of that scene in Indiana Jones where he was at the edge of the cliff and he kept mumbling "leap of faith. leap of faith." Then he threw himself over and sure enough Jehovah provided the road.

The key word in that scene was Jehovah. For him to take that leap of faith, he had to spell out God's name. Call it out and take that leap of faith.

The past week and a half has been an absolute turmoil. But it finally broke me. I had to search my heart and look at the deepest part of me. I had to make myself accountable. Between me and my God. I had to take myself back 18 years ago. I had to take myself back the past year. Now I see things clearly. So clearly that I could kick myself if I could.

I had to call out to God. All of a sudden my philosophy with her was ridiculous. "Do what makes you happy. Do it. Life is short. Whatever makes us happy. Who cares what others say?"

What a silly outlook. What a selfish, conceited, overconfident outlook that I had. It was just like saying "Who cares what God says? if it feels good, it must be ok. It makes me happy. So there."

Boy, I could see God just grabbing me by the neck on that high horse and pushing me to the ground.

And God said ENOUGH.
Enough of your pride.
Enough of your confidence in yourself.
Enough of doing what makes you happy, out of God's will.
Enough of the blatant disregard for the rules of life.
Your enemy will never play fair. Never.

God gave me all the warning I needed. Through lessons on friendship on how I needed to step back . Through people. Everybody warned me. That's no exaggeration. Everybody who was close to me warned me. But because my perception was so distorted, reality escaped me like a bird flying in the dark. God loved me so much that He warned me "There's a storm coming. A big one."

And I DID NOT LISTEN.

In the end, the last straw is always to go back. Back to basics. Back to the Lord. The words "Apart from me you are nothing" plays over and over in my head. Apart from God, we are unworthy. Apart from Him, we will self destruct. Apart from Him, everything is in shambles. Meaningless.

But praise God. In all things give praise.
It was a bitter pill to swallow. But I had to.
It was a lesson in unconditional love. Absolute forgiveness.

All of a sudden my marriage meant the world to me. For the past years I have threatened to give up. Walk away. Start anew. Now I have every reason to go. Every reason to walk away. Every right to wrap it all up... it made me realize how much my husband meant to me. How I want to believe that He who began a good work in me and him will be faithful to complete it. That we are both accountable. Forget her. Easier said than done, but forget her. The forbidden fruit tastes good. The thrill of it. But you bite into that you are immediately cast out of your Eden. Out of God's will.

God forgive me. I trusted people instead of You. I looked the other way even though You tried to break it to me gently. I waited for failure.

But my God is a God of mercy. It's been years since we've both prayed together. Now we are down on our knees, begging. Begging for God to take us back in his Will. Begging him to take a hold of the mess we created. Offering ourselves in sacrifice, holy and acceptable to be called children of God once again.

In the end, God saved my soul. My life. AGAIN . Again and again and again.

Last night my husband reminded me of a song he dedicated to me when he was still trying to date me. Now the words of "So Amazing" by Luther Vandross meant the world to me. All of a sudden it wasn't as cheesy as I told him then. I forgot about that. We are both reminded. We have come so far. Since 1993.

It's not easy. One minute I'm ok, the next I feel someone's bashing me in the head. All these rollercoaster of emotions.

She is not important. She's an absolute nobody in the bigger picture. She was not my friend to begin with. Now that I am looking back, she had her eyes dead set on ruining us. Day one. I had an instinct on day one but I got distracted. Distracted by other situations. Distracted by flattery. Distracted by my warped way of looking at life.

Sometimes I wonder why I let myself go so far away again from looking to God when I of all people should know first hand that God will not be mocked. He will not stand idly by and let his children destroy themselves.

This circumstance revealed both our characters. How weak we are. Pathetic. Apart from God's will we are headed for failure. 100% guaranteed destruction.

When all this was revealed, I felt like I was sleeping with the enemy all this time. Now, I don't know him.

But everyday, things get better. Even the slightest inch helps.

Someday I will heal.

Right now I am rediscovering him in an entirely new way. My role is suddenly redefined. I had to stake my claim. Fight for what is rightfully mine. Aggressively. Satan is not sitting by like a dove. He is aggressively trying to kill, steal and destroy me. I have to put on my armour. My dusty, old armour and fight for what God has given me . What he set apart for me. I will go to battle , eyes wide open. I will not be moved. I claim victory in my life. I claim happiness. I claim my husband.

God rescued me. He rescued him. He rescued my family. He said He will not leave me nor forsake me and He made good on that promise. He had no plans for us to end this way. He didn't give us miracle after miracle just so we can just waste it. But we had to make that choice. That holy vow we did 15 years ago. It is holy. What God has put together let no man put asunder. It was sealed with a kiss. A holy kiss. Not the kiss of death . The gift of new life. From that holy vow came 3 children we both would take a bullet for. That holy vow was made in love. In faith.

God, take me back in to the Holy of Holies. I am absolutely horrified with myself at how blatantly I mocked you through my life that you have so preciously preserved.

I am standing at the edge of the cliff.

J-E-H-O-V-A-H.

Leap of faith.

Leap of faith.

And my Jehovah provided a road to stand on. A way out. Leap of faith.

“Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Behold, all those who were incensed against you shall be ashamed and disgraced; They shall be as nothing, And those who strive with you shall perish. You shall seek them and not find them–Those who contended with you. Those who war against you Shall be as nothing, As a nonexistent thing. For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, “Fear not, I will help you.” Isaiah 41:10-13

Taken from Work In Progress - my good friend T's blog here. Please include her and her family in your prayers.