29 May 2006

Dear Loved Ones,

TODAY IS MEMORIAL DAY IN AMERICA, TIME TO REMEMBER AND OFFER PRAYERS FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN / HEROES SERVING THE COUNRY! THUS MONDAY IS THE LAST DAY OF A LONG WEEK-END AND BACK TO WORK TUESDAY.

Please say a little prayer for OUR HEROES, thank you! When one is busy, the days seem to pass so swiftly that June is just around the corner. My second month at Willdan had been very fruitful, my bosses recognized my efforts, had been giving positive feedbacks, encouraging comments, though as I told them I would gladly welcome criticism in order for me to do more and improve. As one supervisor Helena (of Slovak roots) said, “You are not new, you are a Pro”! (It was quite elating). On June 1, I will be part of a new division team, headed by Rudi Golnik; (of German roots) a former Director of Public Works/City Engineer; my current boss David Dudley and I will be joining him, together with a few others. As Bob Blaser (our SVP) promised, I will definitely get a salary raise with this new assignment. It would surely help in paying for the monthly amortization of the house we are moving in on July. When I told Bob (here, we call one another by first names, no “boss, sir, Mr.”) about our new house, he was very nice and supportive; glad to be part in the attainment of my American Dream.

The past days, the “Da Vinci Code” (DVC) movie hype was on various media, the Catholic Church, and the Opus Dei (which had been put in bad light by the author of the book and now the movie) were now open in coming out with disclaimers about the fallacies presented by the author and producers of the film. I would also present my cent’s worth about my experience as a member of Opus Dei (OD). Remember, in my February Journal, I mentioned about my happiness at reuniting with my OD Circle and activities. When I returned to the Philippines, I said my OD activities – the Doctrine classes, Recollections, Confessions, Retreats, Circles/Chats) were the events I missed most in my US sojourn. I joined OD as a cooperator in 2000 (the time after I finished my Ph.D.) and I call it God’s timing, because all OD schedules suited into my time schedule; like, I committed my MWF to office work, week-ends to family, and Fairview, Saturday for my professorial teaching work , T-Th were for personal errands. Fittingly, all OD activities were on T-Th, and I enjoyed the company of our Circle, especially our head, whom we fondly call Mother Superior, Beth Libarnes, who like me, is now in Pasadena, CA; as I said before, she is my role model in this journey to U.S. Citizenship. What I have become as a person and what I am now as a worker in America – doing the best in whatever my role is - persevering, patient, positive, professional, steadfast, etc. – is due mostly to my being an OD. When I joined OD, I realized that the virtues, values, norms and discipline were what I had been practicing and trained for all of my life as a child by my parents in our small town in Bohol; that my parents, especially my mother, was an active OD practitioner, that she even preceded St. Josemaria Escriva in inculcating the OD values in her children for which I am very grateful! Now, wherever and whatever I am, my strong, positive OD values serve me in good stead. I strongly reject the thesis presented in DVC that OD is a “negative cult”. The truth is: OD is a positive group of lay people in the Catholic Church, seeking personal sanctification in the middle of the world, doing the best in the profession they chosen in their daily lives. I personally try to be the best in whatever I am doing, seeking God’s help, guidance and blessings in my struggle to become a better person each day; that I am just a spec in this vast universe, plodding along serving God and others, being a good steward to God’s resources, utilizing God-given talents to make positive contributions, being an asset society – doing good, right, positive; with the ultimate aim: to be happy with Him forever in Heaven! And I am happy and proud to be part of OD! I do my best to be faithful to the daily norms of OD.

As I said last month, we are in the process of preparing to move to our new home which is under construction. Normally, it takes two years stay here to get a loan approval for home mortgage. In our case, we are here for ten months only (we came here August 2005), yet we got approved last April, recognizing our preparedness for the fulfillment of our American Dream of owning a home – yes, how awesome is God’s Generosity and Love!

Our new home is located in Anatolia Village, Rancho Cordova, CA 95742, part of a planned community; a two-storey Spanish colonial style in The Villas section, near The Clubhouse; with 4-bedrooms, with 2 and ½ baths, 2-car garage; and we expect to move there on July 20, 2006, thank God!

Good OD news: A friend of my OD co-circle Ingrid, Helena Yang – also an OD from Canada visited Sacramento last week, called me to get in touch, got me connected to her brother who is President of Morton & Pitalo, an engineering development firm here. He got interested to offer me another part-time consultancy work. I am taking my time to gain more experience at Willdan; nonetheless, it is such a nice feeling to have so many other options / opportunities here for mature citizens.

Let us continue to pray for our country and people. God Bless us all!!!

Much love and Best Regards!!!
SUSAN BG

For my complete journals, please visit http://sbgerardo.blogspot.com Thank you!