This is more of a payment than a tour since I promised my sister, Ate Ivy, that I will pay my share of fare used in our Thailand-Cambodia tour with a domestic tour. We already went here last year but it never got old. I had my sister join our ecotourism educational tour last October 8-10, 2013. It was probably for the best since she likes snorkelling— and let’s just say that I’m not in a close relationship with any water creatures. ^_^ My sister got her tour. My students got a chaperone. Win-win situation for me. We revisited:

• Mount Tapyas
• Kayangan Lake
• Twin Peek Reefs
• Calachuchi Coral Garden
• Hidden Lagoon
• CYC Beach
• Malcapuya Island

C.            Baguio City (November 4-8)

For a family who loves travelling, this was the first time that we were able to go out of town with our Papa. We’ve been here before and we stayed on the same guest house so walking around wasn’t so hard. Thinking back to November 4-8, 2013, I realize how much more fun it is when you’re not missing a family member in these type of events. NOTE: 59rs Diner is LOVE.

DEEPEST STRUGGLE

Graduate School issues&m ... Read more »

To say that the past year has been the best of my life would be a huge understatement. Sure thing, I was not able to go out as much as I had when I was an Ortigas Girl. I was not able to buy things as I was able to when I lived the “more convenient way of life”. If I will be blessed to live a hundred years, I’ve already used up a quarter of my life by now. But for whatever reason... I was glad that I was able to spend the past year the way I did.

I’m so thankful beyond words that since I decided to start living my life for myself— God held me in His powerful hands. He never let me fall. He never let me get too carried away in the ways of this world. He never let my fears consume me. And finally, He helped me truly heal from the wounds of the past that even if scars remain— I know I am still whole as a person. That I am important to Him. That I shouldn’t spend my life punishing myself for the mistakes I did as a child. That I was not to be blamed for the unimaginable things that were done to me in the past. He made me feel worthy of love and life.

It’ll be impossible to name all of those countless blessings but I’ll try to share some of the biggest ones. I’ve grown so much intellectually, emotionally, physically and spiritually, since my last birthday because of the following milestones in my life.

 Graduate School MA enrolment @PLMar (May 2012)

                Whilst trying to find my way in starting a new life... a life dedicated in reaching my hopes and dreams, I tried to take a chance and enrol for a Master’s Degree in Business. After much internal debate whether to do it in my College Alma Mater PUP or not, I decided to give a go with Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Marikina Graduate School. I’ve always believed in the value of government-run universities. It ... Read more »

Freedom from a repressing responsibility after enduring it for so long can make someone feel so light— so liberated— so giddy and yes… so lost.

For almost six months I’ve been skirting through the fact that I’m free from paying my part of the house loan (a family treasure that all of us in the family helped to acquire), free to do what I’ve always wanted to do with my life since I don’t have to worry about not being able to pay on time, worry about causing any burden to my beloved family.

The thing is… what will one do with all this freedom when she stopped thinking about her future when she accepted such big a responsibility even before she graduated college and before she got things figured out for herself?

I couldn’t remember any plans I had before. (And that’s saying something for someone who always liked planning things down) So I did what one should do when she’s confused. I prayed and decided to let God show me what to do. He never failed me so I know He’ll show me what the next best step is.

Then I was asked to organize a tour and was, again, able to feel the satisfaction of bringing beautiful places and experiences near people’s reach.

Then I was given a chance to plan an event and I started to remember how crazily happy I get when I organize affairs that mean something to people.

... Read more »

Whoever said that change is the only constant thing in life must have been a really wise and brutally honest person.

Who would have thought that a very friendly and outgoing girl would turn into a very hard and guarded person? Who would have thought that a person’s difficulties in life could eventually give her the chance to enjoy it? I certainly wouldn’t.

Seven years ago, I thought of nothing but to study and make sure to finish my college days on time. To make my parents proud. Three years ago that thought was replaced by the overwhelming need to work and earn to help my family for a united cause.

But God, it seems, works in ways that we really do not see most of the time. For the past year, I was blessed beyond measure, beyond expectation, beyond dreams—

Naming each blessing would be impossible of course, but let me share some that made me excited to face more of life… more in life— both the good and the bad.

1. I got to invest on another love of my life— a Kindle. I know some may think it shallow, but I bet they haven’t read some of the best books I’ve read on the past 24 months: Guild Hunter Series by Nalini Singh, Immortals after Dark by Kresley Cole, Lords of the Underworld by Gena Showalter and the latest Black Dagger Brotherhood by JR Ward. No one should forget the awesome Fanfictions (Congrats EL James for making Master of the Universe, now Fifty Shades of Grey, a hit!) , of course! All of which I wouldn’t be able to read and finish and share without my Kindle.

2. I will finally say good bye to my 5800 XpressMusic and say hello to my HTC One V. ^_^

3. With my love for movies and TV series, I lost time last year but regained the chance this time. I loved Spartacus (watched all three series) and several movies.

... Read more »

When I was seven, I was so caught up in my world of fantasy where I’m a princess, a badass warrior or a damsel in distress. When I was fourteen, I used to dream about falling in love and having a big house with beautiful children. When I turned eighteen, I told myself that I will have a great career and will stay independent and happy. When I turned twenty-one and graduated, I just wanted to survive each day.

Now that I’ll be 23 years old, I can’t help but wonder where I’ll be in a year or two. What will become of me? Who will I be with? I wanted to know and at the same time I don’t. Is mystery better than predictability?

All I know is that I don’t want to waste a single moment. God has given me so much that I feel overflowing most of the time. And I really would like to write down all the blessings I had but then the list will be never-ending. Instead, I would just like to thank the people He’s given me, people who I care about, people that I love.

My Mama, Papa, Ate Ivy and Aiz: if they are my greatest treasure then you’ll see how un-materialistic I am. We bicker a lot. We annoy the hell out of each other. But we are still a family. We help each other out no matter how much we grumble. And mostly, we love each other to death.

My Tito Natz, who I feel thoroughly indebted with not because of the scholarship he’d given me but because I know he loves me that’s why he did all he did to help me and my sisters go through our education.

My Tita Nene who is now in heaven. I used to cry a lot because she always forced me to study, to read my books and to write my name. She made me appreciate learning. Without her, I wouldn’t be who I am.

... Read more »