A Season of Waiting, Preparing, and Trusting God

 It’s already July.

It’s been a couple of months since my last personal update, and honestly, ang daming nangyari — emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.

For the past few months, I’ve been working on some plans and possible changes for my family. One of them was the possibility of moving and working in Sharjah. I received a call from an oil and gas company, went through the interview, and there was supposed to be another step in the process.

But after waiting, sending follow-ups through email and LinkedIn, there was no update.

I guess that was the end of the line for that direction.

At first, siyempre may konting disappointment. You start imagining the possibilities, the future, and the opportunities. But at the end of the day, I choose to trust God’s direction more than my own plans.

I pulled my last straw in that direction, and maybe God’s answer was already clear.

Maybe God wants me and my family to stay here in Abu Dhabi.

My heart has always been here. I feel peaceful here. Abu Dhabi became a place where I grew, where opportunities opened, and where I slowly started building the foundation for my family.

I also realized that not every good opportunity means it is the right opportunity. Sometimes God closes doors not because He wants to take something away, but because He is protecting us from something we cannot see.

“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.”
— Proverbs 19:21

And now, here we are.

July already.

Soon, around August or September, our baby will finally arrive. A new chapter. A new responsibility. A new blessing.

We are still praying that everything will go smoothly — especially for my wife’s normal delivery. I pray that God will protect her and our baby, that there will be no complications, and that both of them will recover safely and quickly.

I know becoming a father is not just about providing financially. It is about standing strong, being present, leading with love, and guiding my family with God at the center.

There are days when I ask myself if I am ready.

Can I handle everything?
Can I provide enough?
Can I be the father my family needs?

But every time fear comes in, I remind myself that I am not walking alone.

God has been with me from the beginning.

“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
— Exodus 14:14

Slowly, we are preparing everything for our baby.

The clothes, milk bottles, diapers, and other essentials are almost complete.

And honestly, I’m thankful because God provided in different ways.

I’m grateful for my colleague who shared some of his son’s things with us — a bottle steamer, milk maker, car seat, and other items that will really help us.

Even strangers and kabayans from Facebook became unexpected blessings. Some people were willing to trade baby items like a bassinet stroller for simple things like 5kg rice.

Small things for others, but a big blessing for a growing family like ours.

Because of these people, nabawasan yung mga kailangan naming gastusin.

And it reminded me again:

God provides.

Sometimes not the way we expect, but always in the way we need.

Right now, there are still pending payments and financial things that I am waiting for. I admit, sometimes it gets heavy. Sometimes I wonder why there are delays.

But maybe this is also part of God’s teaching.

Maybe He is still shaping me — teaching me patience, discipline, wisdom, and how to handle blessings properly.

Maybe before God gives more, He prepares our hearts first.

And somehow, He always sends the right people at the right moment.

“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.”
— Philippians 4:19

So for this season of my life, I continue to surrender everything.

My career.
My finances.
My marriage.
My growing family.
My fears.
My plans.

Everything belongs to Him.

I know there will still be challenges ahead, but I pray that I will continue to stand firm — not because I am strong, but because God gives me strength.

I pray to become a good husband to my wife and a good father to my children.

A father who provides.
A father who protects.
A father who leads with love and faith.

One day, I know I will look back at this season and understand why everything happened the way it did.

For now, I will keep walking.

One step at a time.

With my family beside me.

And God leading the way.

🙏

Life in UAE — Why Abu Dhabi Feels Like Home

Living in the UAE is different for everyone.

Some people love Dubai, some prefer Al Ain, but for me — after living in Dubai, Al Ain, and now Abu Dhabi, I can say that Abu Dhabi is the best balance for life, especially for a normal Filipino worker like me.

Hindi naman ako high salary earner dito. Just a normal Filipino working, budgeting, planning for the future, and trying to build a life and family here in UAE.
So my perspective is not from a rich lifestyle — but from a real, everyday expat life.

Dubai, Al Ain, and Abu Dhabi — Different Lives

I lived in Dubai before, and Dubai is really nice — maraming buildings, events, restaurants, malls, everything is there.
But the problem with Dubai sometimes is it’s too fast, too crowded, and too expensive.
Pwede kang tumira malapit sa magandang places, but you will pay more.
If you live far, then travel becomes long and tiring.

Dubai is exciting, but sometimes nakakapagod ang pace ng buhay.

Then I lived in Al Ain.
Al Ain is very peaceful, very family-oriented, very quiet.
Maganda siya for family life, tahimik, simple, hindi stressful.
But the reality is job opportunities and salary growth there are limited.
If you want career growth, medyo mahirap doon.

Then I moved to Abu Dhabi, and this is where I realized something.

Abu Dhabi — The Balance of Life

For me, Abu Dhabi is the perfect balance between Dubai and Al Ain.

Life here is slow but still fun.
Hindi siya boring, pero hindi rin siya sobrang gulo.
It feels organized, calm, and livable.

One thing I really like here is everything is accessible — parks, Corniche, beach, walking areas.
You can walk by the sea, sit in the park, relax after work without spending too much money.

In Dubai, you can also do that, but sometimes it's far, crowded, or expensive.
In Abu Dhabi, it feels more open, more relaxed, and more peaceful.

The weather here also feels better sometimes, and the city is very walkable.
You can actually enjoy simple life here — walking, coffee, parks, sea breeze.

Opportunities and Life Direction

I can honestly say that Abu Dhabi connected me to a better position in life now.
This city became the place where many things started to fall into place — career, family plans, stability, future.

There are also a lot of places still to discover here, and many expats are happy, connected, and building their lives here quietly.

Hindi siya kasing ingay ng Dubai,
Hindi siya kasing tahimik ng Al Ain,
But it is balanced — and sometimes balance is what we really need in life.

For Family Life

If you are planning for family, I think Abu Dhabi is a really good place.
There are parks, hospitals, schools, corniche, walking areas, safe places, and the city is very organized.

It’s a city where you can work, build a future, and raise a family.

Sometimes we don’t realize it, but the place where God puts us is also part of His plan for our life.

“The Lord has established my steps.” — Proverbs 16:9

And maybe for me,
Abu Dhabi is not just a city where I work —
It is the city where God is slowly building my life, my career, and my future family.

From Al Ain to Abu Dhabi — A Journey of Faith and Risk

Minsan may mga decisions sa buhay na hindi mo kayang i-explain logically.

Hindi siya safe. Hindi siya practical. Hindi siya sigurado.
Pero alam mo sa puso mo na kailangan mong gawin.

That was my journey from Al Ain to Abu Dhabi.

I decided to move to Abu Dhabi to be with my partner.
But the truth is, I moved without a backup job, without a sure plan, without security.
Ang meron lang ako noon ay faith at lakas ng loob.

I remember praying this very simple prayer:

“Lord, if this is Your plan for me, help me. Ikaw na bahala.”

Within a week, I sent my email that I will not be renewing my contract in Al Ain.
Hindi pa ako resigned technically, but I already closed that chapter of my life.
It was scary.
As in sobrang scary.

When I moved to Abu Dhabi, something unexpected happened.

Immediately, I got a call from a company for an interview and they wanted me to start on Monday.
I went to the interview, everything was okay, but deep inside, my heart was not sure.
I felt like I was not meant to go back to advertising at that time.

So even if I didn’t have a job yet, I rejected the offer.
That was one of the scariest decisions I made.

Then on Tuesday, another company called me — a real estate company — saying they will send the offer letter.
I told them, “Can you wait? I still have another interview on Thursday.”
They said okay and moved the onboarding to the upcoming Monday.

Then came Thursday — the interview that changed everything.

I attended the interview in a coffee shop.
I showed my previous works, my experience, my projects.
After the interview, I walked back to the bus stop.

Then after about 15 minutes, I received a call.

They told me:

“We want you to start on Monday.”

I was shocked.
Because the salary they offered was almost double compared to the other company.
And they also gave good benefits, petrol allowance, and more.

At that moment, I knew —
This was not luck. This was God.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord,
“plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future.” — Jeremiah 29:11

Now, I have been working with this company for almost a year.
And looking back, I realized something:

If I did not take the risk,
If I did not trust God,
If I stayed where it was comfortable,
I would have missed the blessing that God prepared for me in Abu Dhabi.

Moving to Abu Dhabi was not just about moving city.
It was God moving my life to the next chapter —
for my career, for my future family, and for the life He is preparing for me.

And now I can truly say:

When God leads you somewhere, He will provide everything you need along the way.

God provides. Always.

My UAE Driving Journey — God’s Plan on Wheels

Noong una, akala ko maliit na bagay lang ang magkaroon ng driver’s license dito sa UAE. Pero habang pinagdadaanan ko siya, na-realize ko na hindi pala siya basta license lang — it was a journey of patience, faith, and trusting God’s timing.

It took me so long to get a license, and I can say that year 2025 was my year of my UAE license. I reopened my driving file around July 2025, and after months of lessons, exams, waiting, and praying, I finally got my license on December 13, 2025. Then just a few weeks later, on December 31, 2025, I got my car.

Sobrang bilis ng pangyayari. Parang sunod-sunod na blessing.

This was actually my primary goal for 2025 — to have transportation that would help me build and prepare for my future family. Ang plano ko lang talaga noon is magkaroon ng sasakyan para mas madali ang buhay, mas makapunta kung saan kailangan, at mas handa para sa pamilya in the making.

But then something amazing happened — having a family came true after this. Parang sunod-sunod na confirmation na tama yung direction na binigay ni God.

I was planning to get a different car before, may idea na ako kung anong gusto ko.
But God had a different plan.
God gave me a car that was far from what I imagined — but now I understand why.

The car is simple, maliit ang engine, pero sobrang tipid sa petrol, easy to drive, hindi mabilis kaya safe sa road. And I realized, this car was not given for speed or porma, but for safety and provision for my family.

Every time I drive from home to work, or work to home, I always feel amazed.
Minsan naiisip ko, “Ako ba talaga ‘to? Ako na nagda-drive na dito sa UAE?”

Because honestly, I never thought that I would become a driver here, and even more surprising, I became confident driving after getting my license.

And every time I arrive home safely, I always say a small prayer:
“Thank you Lord, naka-uwi na naman ako safely.”

This verse always reminds me of this journey:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” — Proverbs 3:5–6

Literal na He made my paths straight — from getting my license, to getting my car, to building a family.

Looking back now, I realized that the license was not just about driving.
The car was not just about transportation.
It was God preparing me for the next chapter of my life — becoming a husband and a father.

So today, I just want to say:

Thank you Lord for everything that You have planned for me and for my family.
I am grateful for all the things You have given me.
Every safe drive home is a reminder that You are always guiding my life.

And sometimes, God doesn’t give us what we want —
He gives us what we need for the life He is preparing for us.