As I write this, I can't help but feel a sense of gratitude despite the challenges that I've faced in the past few years. I am currently pursuing my PhD in International Tourism, and I recently passed my comprehensive exam, which has brought me closer to achieving my academic goals. However, the journey hasn't been easy, as I've had to juggle work, family, and school commitments.

As much as I've tried to maintain a work-life balance, our family business has suffered in recent months, which has been a source of stress and worry. Nonetheless, my sisters and I are determined to bounce back and work towards getting our business back on track.

At my workplace, I've had to contend with long working hours and staff shortages, which have tested my resilience and patience. However, I'm grateful for the supportive and encouraging environment at ASITE, which has helped me push through the tough times.

Working as a faculty member at PUP has been a fulfilling experience, as it has sparked my passion for research and continuous learning. It's been an opportunity for me to share my knowledge and expertise with others, and to grow both personally and professionally.

On a personal note, I recently bought my dream home, which has been a long and challenging journey due to construction and labor costs. But the satisfaction of finally having a place that I can call my own has made it all worth it.

Over the past two years, I've also had the chance to travel with my family and friends, which has been a welcome respite from the demands of work and school.

Most importantly, I am grateful for the love and support of my family, especially my sisters and our little one, who have been a constant source of joy and inspiration. We' ... Read more »

More than a month after my birthday, I am just posting my annual B-day blog.

Does laziness come with age? I am still trying to figure it out.

Last year, I looked back on my past and how things ended up after every decisions and steps I took. As I reviewed it now, I find a sense of renewed gratefulness for all the blessings— God knows how many times I cried this year because of frustration and tiredness (and deadlines filing up). Nevertheless, I feel so grateful for the reasons behind those tears.

March 2020, less than three months at AIM, we were hit by the pandemic, and I was one of those forced to work from home. It has been tough to adjust to all the new processes and systems, and the extended working time. It is true that working with A-Class people has its perks, but it can be quite challenging too. However, I thank God for giving me a good team and a kind set of people at work that helped me weather it through. I am now on my 1 year and 4 months.

Being able to work at home also gave me a chance to enjoy life more and to do things I’ve always wanted to do but never got the chance to do so because of busyness.

April 2020, I started learning Hangul. I fell in love with the language, and I got to learn ... Read more »

Recently, I heard someone say, “We are one decision away from a totally different life.”

It made me stop in my tracks, reflect on all the most important decisions in my life and reexamine where these decisions have taken me.

If I didn’t decide to go to GISRSMNHS instead of Mayamot National High School, where most of my grade school friends and classmates went, I probably wouldn’t have experienced my first friendship heartbreak.

Without this heartbreak, I wouldn’t have become a little cautious in selecting my circle. I probably wouldn’t have known, early in life, what’s more important in this world. When all I had was God and my family, I realized that I had to stop doing what people expected of me and start looking for the purpose that is intended for me.

Because of this heartbreak, I got to focus more on my studies— and after that, in my career. I had no interest on casually going out or dating too, which led me to being content on my own.

As a result of my extreme introversion in college, I got too much into manga and decided to work as a quality controller of mangafox.com. I never thought that by doing this, it would lead met to meet some of the most special ladies from all over the world who will start ALICE DREAMS scanlation team with me. Although that team didn’t last long, our friendship remains, and I still get to meet some of them when I travel to the country they are currently in. We grew up, but when we talk and our old otaku self comes out, we can expect no judgment— only pure understanding.

If I didn’t decide to resign from my first job as a travel consultant to work in the BPO industry in order to help my family in our financial issues, I probably would have never met my mean girls, Ching and Thine (and our other friends). Being the youngest of our group (since I just graduated when we met at work), it has its perks too whenever we meet. I don’t have to act all mature and grown-up when I’m with them. I can be the “young” me that was forced to grow up early because of some life difficulties.

If I didn’t work in the BPO industry, I probably would have stayed timid in public speaking. Working there for two years helped me a lot in improving my self-confidence. Being a resolution specialist in customer service also helped me hone my leadership skills and (let’s face it) improve my temper.

It also helped me and my sister get enough savings to have our first international travel in Thailand and Cambodia— which of course, led to more travels in the future.

If I didn’t decide to work there, we probably wouldn’t have been able to pay off our family’s house in the span of a few years.

If I didn’t work there, I probably wouldn’t have felt so lost after I decided to resign (only when the loans were paid in full). ... Read more »

Have you ever asked God about something and believed— no holds barred— that He will work for the good regarding it?

I did so ask God multiple times, for the past year, to amaze me. Life has not been perfect but it has been better. And so, as I enter the first year of my third decade, I will praise Him with 31 things I am thankful for.

I would like to thank God for my parents. I may not be born rich but I was raised rich in love and in rod of discipline. It may sound harsh to some but because of how my parents brought me up, I am now able to withstand life’s trials with more fervor and conviction. They thought me about God which is the biggest gift they could have given me as their child. They have supported me, not just financially, every step of the way, no matter how crazy my decisions are to some. I am forever grateful.

I would like to thank God for my sisters— my best friends, my worst enemies. I never felt like the odd one out for not having a best friend because I have the two of them… and although, I have middle child syndrome attack 8 out of 10 times, I know they will be by my side whenever, however, wherever I might need them. I am forever grateful.

I would like to thank God for my two girls— Antoneth and Angela, whom God gave me because He knows what I need and who I need before I recognize it. And although I would like to slap some sense into them most of the time, I know they will be forever my girls. I am forever grateful.

I would like to thank God for our little boy Kunzite Anaiah. His arrival brought so much tears and complications but he is a perfect example that God can use our greatest mistakes for something good. Through Uno, God made the perfect picture out of the darkroom. Uno is the sunshine in her mom’s life as well as our whole family. His smile and laughter can do wonders to anyone within the vicinity. Being his lola is an honor. I am forever grateful.< ... Read more »

Today I thank God for the gift of family.

There were times when our love for each other was tested. There were times when I was tempted to just give up, pack up my bags and leave.  Then I think of these people whose lives were tied to my own, either by blood or by Christ.

Life changes us. It shakes us. Sometimes, it even breaks us. But with good family, we'll never be alone. We'll be able to rise anew. We'll become survivors.