A Scorpion, a Bull, and a Crab.

Three signs. Different seasons of life. Always side by side.

Growing up, we didn’t always get along. When I was a teenager, my sister and I fought like it was a full-time job. Years later, when our youngest hit that same age, the cycle repeated itself. Arguments. Cold wars. Silent treatments. It felt like we were always on opposite sides.

But somewhere along the way, the fights turned into conversations. The walls turned into bridges. And before we even realized it, we had built a friendship more than anything I could have imagined.

Today, we move like a team. Different but in rhythm. People sometimes mistake us for triplets, even with the years between us. And honestly, I love that. I love how we help each other carry the weight when life feels heavy—whether it’s health, heartbreak, friendships, careers, or just the thousand little worries that pile up over time.

We know each other’s friends, and somewhere along the way, they became ours too—an extended circle of support and shared memories. We listen to each other’s rants without judgment (even if we sometimes roll our eyes and get an earful). We celebrate each other’s wins, big or small. We show up, even when it’s inconvenient. We know when to comfort, when to push, and when to simply sit with each other in silence.

And above all, we get to serve God together—three flawed women trying, failing, getting back up, and pushing each other to keep going, even when it’s hard.

Three signs. Different journeys.

But always sisters. Always one family.

Love you!

This woman is a dragon.

She is smart. She is independent. She is strong.

She didn’t have much support growing up. No one taught her how to be a "proper lady." All she knew was that she had to take care of herself.

She didn’t have a 4-year degree or that many privileges. As a kid, she had to go to the market, pick up leftover vegetables, clean and repackage them, then sell them. She found several other jobs, even as a bus conductor, just to provide for her needs and to give what she could to her own mother. That was until she landed a job at a Chinese-owned company that took a chance on her talent and skills until she rose through the ranks—all because she was born in the Year of the Dragon.

She doesn’t have many friends and was even betrayed by the one she thought was her best friend. It took her a while to open up again—and though she kept denying having a new “best friend” in her older years, she cried when her closest ones passed before her.

She's someone who fights for those whom she considers her own, but also knows when to let go and never look back when it's time to move on.

She once said she wouldn’t get married but eventually did, at 30. She had children later than most did at that time. She raised them the best she could until she had to make the choice between her career and her three daughters. She had her children 6 and 7 years apart—a tough range, since she had to work longer to make sure each one was provided for until they graduated college and was able to build a life of their own.

She spent half of her married life living like a single mom, with her husband working abroad—during a time when that country faced recession and financial troubles. So she took the reins again, went back to work, and kept going until she retired, knowing she had fulfilled her responsibility as a mother.

Being the tough cookie that she is, she’s not one to say “I love you” first, nor the first one to hug. But she still wakes up early to cook for us—even now that we’re all grown up. She supports us when we need her, even if we don’t talk much about our problems. If there’s something we don’t want to join or attend, she still says, “Use me as your excuse,” with no remorse,

She never forced me to study something I didn’t want to study, or to work where I didn’t want to work. She never asked me to provide for her—and even now, she still shares what she has with me. Most of all, she lets me follow my own path. She never pressured me to get married—once even saying she’d be okay if I just wanted to have kids of my own (I was joking, but she said it in a heartbeat, without any judgment).

Even after I moved out, she’s still there—when I call her, when I crave my favorite food that only she can cook, whe ... Read more »

You are not mine yet you stole my heart,

From the moment you came into the world until this very hour.

Your big round eyes, those long eyelashes and hair as curly as mine;

Your puckered lips and tiny ears, your button nose and chubby cheeks;

All part of you has taken me captive;

My heart keeps breaking because I can’t have you near.

You came as a surprise, a rude awakening.

Full of tears.

Full of doubts.

Full of broken dreams.

Though the timing isn’t right, I want you to know

You came from a mistake that God turned into a blessing:

More laughter.

Treasured moments.

New dreams and new beginnings.

You light up everyone with your smile and antics.

... Read more »

I remember the time when my parents are still on LDR. There were no available form of social media or messenger for fast communication. There was only the snail mail. My Mama would write to Papa several pages of stories about our family (and kinda forced me and my Ate to do the same)  He would send voice tapes and letters in exchange.

They would seldom make phone calls because it was too expensive...but they still made a budget for that as much as they can. This is why we were very thankful for yahoo messenger (then later to skype) no matter how slow the dial-up was. It was still better and faster than the mail. Then faster net came and life became much more convenient. (My youngest sister is so lucky. )

But I noticed something. We live in a day when communication is so easy yet we fail to communicate in truth. Because communication lines became so common, most people nowadays take it for granted.

Some of us take days, weeks, months, even years not talking to our loved ones. We are saying that it is hard to maintain communication, but is that really true?

We are saying that we are depressed and alone, but isn't it just an invisible prison we put ourselves into when we knew full well that the key is just within reach? All we needed to do is to stretch our arms and hands out.

In this day when technology is so advance, instead of letting it distract us from what really matters, may we use it to our advantage in maintaining our relationships with our loved ones.

If we really love them, we will make time for them. We will never let that thread that connects us come to an end. You know why?

Because true love never fails.

#familygoals 
#LDRfeels 
#1corinthians13v4to8 
#communication

At school, children are always asked to show their perception of something by description. They are either tasked to draw, to write an essay or to have it presented in front of class.

Out of everything I've written and declaimed, there’s one topic that I never did justice: How would you, as a child, define a great father?

 When I think about it, I am overwhelmed with memories. These were memories of childhood, of innocence and laughter. I see a man who read stories to his child. A man who tells his own stories for his child to know him – to love him for the father he is. When his girl wants more food even if her plate is still half full, he is the man who hides viand under her plate of rice so mommy won’t find out and scold her. He is the man who tells her to call them when she’ll come home late and stays awake to wait. He is the man who – even in the angriest hours, stops and listens to his child’s explanation. He is not afraid of going out and playing with his kid. He is the hero who always reassures and says "I’ll take care of it.”

When she grows up and starts to face the world, he is the man who patiently teaches her everything she needs to know. He shows love so openly but responsibly knows when to stop and make sure she does her homework correctly.  When she starts to commit mistakes of a grown-up, he’s there to support her and tell her she can make it right and learn and still be the beautiful girl he always sees her as.

 He is the man who shows how true love can be. Who shares a plate with his wife during dinner… who hugs her in front of their children and let them hear his whispers of adoration.  He is a man who knows to control his anger. He pulls his wife inside of their bedroom to settle arguments instead of fighting in front of their kids.  He calls his family every day, sometimes even more if he’s far away.

Above all, he is a man of faith. He doesn’t preach but he set himself as an example of God’s grace. He is loyal to his parents and sibling. His kindness to others, to the point of self-sacrifice. No. He is not perfect. Kindness is his biggest flaw but his goodness tramps it all.

So, please… do ask me again what defines the greatest of fathers. I only have two words as an answer: 

Mario Cabug-os.

I love you Papa. See you soon! Happy birthday. I miss you.