FaithBook

by Jasmine B. Suiza "You stand in the line just to hit a new low... You’re faking a smile with the coffee you go…” I curled my upper lip in exasperation as I see the long queues some ten meters from where I got off the jeepney.  Not my day again.  I turned my head from left to right searching the last row for my shuttle ride to BGC.  As usual . It’s 6:45 AM. My job is supposed to start at 8:00 AM and there are at least five lines that I have to overcome to catch the trip to our office.  “Cause you had a bad day... You’re taking one down... You sing a sad song just to turn it around…” I watched as co-rushers with familiar faces brisk walk towards the lines. Knowing that this would take more than a while, I diverted my almost-bad day into a more optimistic one. I flipped the first few pages of a devotional book that I brought to keep me occupied during instances like these. “ Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For th

On Losing Weight and Gaining So Much More Jasmine B. Suiza, RND. May 9, 2017. “Uy, may bola.” “Magkano isang kilong pata?” “Oink!” Growing up, I endured hearing these taunts, insults and offensive words. Whenever I passed by the street, I bowed down in shame – signaling retreat. There were days that I didn’t feel anything at all, but there were days that I cried in humiliation. I thought I deserved it. I thought I just had to accept the fact that I was really fat. Until one day, my Road to Damascus moment unfolded. My boss placed a weighing scale at the entrance of our office – as if he’s telling his employees that we are all gaining weight. Thanks to the many scrumptious breakfast and sweet desserts! At first, I was afraid to step on the scale. I was not prepared to know my weight – but I know I had to. 162 pounds. 74 kilograms. BMI of 29.8 – just 0.2 notches to obesity. The heaviest weight I have ever been. The truth slapped me in the face – and it hit me