Congratulations Botchogers!

Can't believe we're only gonna be in Hawaii for 12 more days! Our time to leave is getting nearer and nearer!

I accompanied Emil to the Accounting graduation banquet tonight and it was quite an emotional experience. I didn't even expect and neither did he, that he was getting a lot of awards. haha. We already knew that he was a summa because he knows his grades, the grade conscious that he was. We were also aware of the SAP Terp10 certificate because it was the dreaded exam everybody knew about. The others were so unexpected! I am very proud of my hard working, driven, patient, and smart husband!

When we got married, I didn't understand why he was so adamant on getting a job even though he still has more than a year until graduation. I didn't understand why he would need to get an A on almost all of his classes. I would even dare him to miss a class or two but he couldn't (until he became trunky during his last semester. *evil laugh*). I didn't understand why he would need to talk to his teachers after classes to ask more about accounting or just about life when  on the other hand, I was the first one out of the classroom because I was very shy to talk to anyone. haha. Little did I know that these were the fruits of his labor. I am speechless as to what he has accomplished! With the Lord's help, he was able to achieve his dreams. He was able to land the job that he wanted even before he graduates and even though he didn't have much connections to begin with. He did all he can to reach his dreams and because of this, he has inspired a lot of people including me not only to be great in what I do but as I reach for it. He is a great example of someone who always strives for excellence and I am very blessed to have his great example eternally with me. (First photo: Emil and I with Sis. Chen and her husband, Emil's Sis. Chen's teaching assistant. Second photo: Emil and Bro. Waite, one of Emil's favorite accounting teachers)

Bro. Tew: MAJOR FIELD TEST. Many thousand of students take the test every year and it has questions with regarding 9 areas of business and which only one of it is accounting. It is a very general test and we've elected to have our accounting students to take it in their final 400 level class. And this time I am very pleased to announce that two people in our graduate class were especially high. 75th percentile is Amo Li. We also have an award for the top 95th percentile, top 5% in the nation. This is very rare. Given that award at this time is Emil Amante. Woohooo! He scored 181/200.

Bro. Nemrow awards graduates with the Student Recognition award and SAP TERP10 certificate.

(for some reason I can't upload this one here so just click the link to see the video :) )

Bro. Watkins awards Emil the summa cum laude certificate.

Sis. Chen awards him the Outstanding Graduate for Fall 2013. 

Some photos from the banquet:

food for the night: pot roast, garlic mashed potato, 

rolls, teriyaki chicken, flan for dessert

as one of the students mentioned, 

he was the most decorated graduate of the night. hahaha

Congrats Botchogers! So proud of you!!! Love you!!!

Laie Filipino Community Haiyan Fundraising

It was such a great experience to help our fellow country men who was affected by Haiyan even we are miles and miles away. I can't even express how grateful I am to everybody who helped out as we prepared, cooked and cleaned during the fundraising. There were a lot of students who sacrificed their time and helped until 2am wrapping lumpia so we will have something to sell the next day. Some of our alumni also took the time out of their busy lives to put some flyer on each TVA and Hale apartment so we can spread the word about the event.

We supported Stand Strong Philippines which was organized by a BYUH alumni, ate Samantha Taylor. She along with her group will be sending out doctors to Tacloban City in December 18, 2013 to attend to the victims of Haiyan. BYU Provo also supported the cause by having a fundraising concert last Nov. 22.

beginning of the day at the Shumways

We on the other hand, had a lunch plate fundraising at the Shumway's residence last Nov. 23. Ate May and Kuya Aaron were very kind to open their home to us so we can prepare and sell the lunch plates from there. On the plates were a piece of huge pork BBQ, 3 lumpia with sweet chili sauce, 2 turon and rice. We started at 10am and I was kinda worried that there weren't so many people that knew about it so I wasn't sure if it will be a success. One customer came after the other and we even had a lot of waves according to Pateet when there will be plenty of people that will come at once. We were so grateful that it was so because it meant that we were getting a lot of orders. We were planning to end around 2pm but we still had more plates so we decided to sell until 4pm. After that, our RM's decided to sell door to door around Laie which they really enjoyed because they said they missed proselyting. haha. We stacked the plates in the car and I followed them as they traveled on foot knocking on neighborhood doors. Some of us even stopped some cars just to sell the plates! hahaha It was really quite an experience! We were holding signs so cars would stop and ask about what we were doing. It was successful! Some of them bought but too bad some didn't have cash on hand.

prep and fundraising day at the Shumways

the sister missionaries even came to help us!

Eugene, our master "ihaw-er" and AJ our grill sponsor

on our way to sell door to door

some of us selling to our friends Yengo from Congo and Kone from Ivory Coast

Emil, Liahnne and Cyril on their way to knock on doors

so proud of my husband who was so excited to 'proselyte' haha
(picture taken from inside our mobile 'stockroom')

Nathan sold a lot by knocking on doors. Good job!

We were able to raise around $2000! I couldn't believe how much we made! The plates were sold for $10 and canned drinks for a dollar and some even asked us to keep the change which was so awesome.

I am so happy to be able to help in our own little ways. I am so grateful for kind hearted people who sacrificed to provide service to our fellow men. So proud of my friends! We did it!