People of My Year 2015

What a year, I must say! There was a lot of breakthroughs - solo trips, leaving my job of 8 years, studying again, living away from the family for the first time ever, embracing the unknown, taking uncalculated risks, starting all over again. Basically, being that tiny David facing some of my Goliaths.

When making life-changing decisions, I'm learning tons of things. One is that I am bigger (not literal) than my fears. Second, I can do the things I tell myself I can, and lastly, relationships are the most important treasure in this life. Relationship to yourself, to your Creator, and to the people in your life (old and new). 

And so I am starting this new series inspired by an admirable blogger, Bianca Gonzales-Intal, honoring the people who have been a significant part of my year. 

1. Pugad Baboy Family

Not only because my first adventure of the year was with them but because they are friends from we were thirteen until now that we are thirty. It always feels home when I am with them. I will always be grateful to be part of this group of wierdos and crazies.

2. Healthy Babies

My dear HB, oh how much I love you! This year, we started this chatroom in FB. Well, we have a secret FB group for years but I feel that it is only this year that we've started communicating more often. We find comfort and strength from each other even only through messages. You girls are rocks I can lean on to.

3. Champoy and Melai

I am inspired by these two. Their passion, dedication, and dreams make me alive. They say surround yourself with dreamers and  I feel that every cell of my body jumps in hope and gratefulness for this life when I am with them. They make me dream even higher but at the same time, grateful for what is at hand. 

4. MSU Travelbugs

The past 8 years of my life were filled with memories of these people. We have been everywhere. We traveled, worked, succeeded, failed, laughed, cried, ate, got drunk, sang, danced, slept and grew together the past years. We have witnessed each other's life's events from the simplest to grand ones. They were the first ones to tell me to follow my dreams. I loved working and travelling with you, travel bugs! I am looking forward to more grand life events with you!

5. Ate My and Derek

Their love story makes me believe in true love. For someone who has seen Ate My's journey, it seems so magical how she finds her one true love in Derek. And it feels so good to have witnessed the happiness that these two people bring in each other. I was smiling the whole time I was around them. And my heart was in deep gratitude to the Lord for bringing them two together. It was an honor to be your maid of honor on your church wedding in the Philippines. I will always celebrate your love with you. 

6. Father Bienvenido F. Nebres, S.J.

I have read and admired his C.V. even before I started studying in ADMU. Never in my wildest dreams have I thought of taking a class of a national scientist. What an honor! I have high respect for his love and passion for his every endeavor. He has so many feathers in his hat, I cannot seem to fathom how he manages all those.

7. Dr. Edna Oconer

She's one intelligent, strong, and graceful human being. I was blessed by her trust in me and my capabilities. She did not know me that much but she still believed in me. How wonderful and risky is that at the same time? To give some "stranger" a task and believe that he or she can do it is a trait I think only true leaders have. MSU must be so thankful to have you, Ms. O. I salute you, your works, and your leadership. I hope to be working with you again in the future!

8. Classmates 

What a crazy roller coaster ride it has been with these new people in my life. Wouldn't have made it through the last four months without you. To more sleepless nights, problem sets, and exams in the coming year! "Good luck guys. I love you all!" :)

9. MSU friends

They are my second family for the past eight years and they are always missed! It is hard to let go and move on from something so happy and beautiful. There goes my poor EQ. What a wonderful time it was with you, friends!

10. Family

"You will never know the value of something until it's gone." It was my first time to be living away from the family. Actually, I tried living two years away from them but it was only like 15 kms away and I could go home anytime I wanted. Thus, being hundreds of kilometers and thousands of islands away from them was a whole new idea for me and it was not easy. I got so home sick, I was calling, texting, and skyping everytime. And then it struck me that when everyone else is gone, is fighting their own battle, the only ones who will be there for you will be your family.  And there are also those friends who are like family. I value them now more than ever. They have become all my reasons.

As the year comes to an end, I get sentimental. I always do! I also feel this a day before my birthday. There is something about ending a chapter of life and starting anew that gives my throat a lump and then a smile to my heart.

Thank you my God for a year of courage and love! Hello 2016!

Ilocos Diaries: Laoag for a Day

On the second day of my Ilocos escapade, I visited Laoag. This city is two hours away from Vigan. Vigan is part of Ilocos Sur, while Laoag is in Ilocos Norte. This is the farthest I've gone from home and the feeling is awesome! :) It may be a small deal for those who have travelled the world but I just wanna celebrate this little milestone and congratulate myself... and hey, great things always start from humble beginnings. 

There are tons of places to see in Ilocos Norte. It is recommended to have two-day tour, one for the southern part and another for the northern. I, however, picked only a few spots to fit into my one day stay in Laoag. Details on those tours and my travel tips will be on another post. In the meantime, here is a photo diary of that day when my meet-the-windmills dream came true and so much more.

Laoag Plaza

Ferdinand Marcos Presidential Center

Cape Bojeador Lighthouse

Kapurpurawan Rock Formation

Bangui Windmills

Sand Dunes

May your travel dreams come true too, friends!

Currently Vol. 5

The photo above was taken around this time last year in Kiamba Sarangani Province, summer time too. I love going back to lovely familiar places. I am that park-kind-of-girl who loves long leisurely walks and is awed by the greeneries.

READING

via

Super insightful book by one of my favorite bloggers, Bianca Gonzales. I wish this kind of book existed when I was at my 20's. Hihi. It's super sulit, too for Php 245. 

WRITING

Titles of movie recommendations from friends. Summer vacation has officially started for me because I am done with my grades. Yay!

LISTENING TO

Songs of the 90's. How I loved the songs then. It was a boyband era. I remembered how my teenage self was screaming for the cutiepies on tv. I feel it inappropriate for me now to scream that way but I still have celebrity crushes, y'know. Haha. It's funny how I am considering myself too old for such things just because I'll soon be stepping into that 30-ish zone.

THINKING

Of the places I will go to this summer. Kind of planned exciting things. :)

FEELING

A little courage is creeping into my veins. I need to do something really really important. I think it's called a milestone. Please pray for me. Please...

LOVING

The time I am spending at home. I love being in my bedroom reading and writing. And oh, I am loving the fact that I am finally free of my braces. Yes! I feel that I look different, though. I will get used to this, anyhow.

WANTING

To relearn cursive writing because it looks better in love letters. :) This is the side effect of watching Nicholas Sparks movies. I was good at it but I had to unlearn it since college. Our professor in Math asked us to. 

NEEDING

To get a makeover for this blog. It's been awhile since I last prettified it. In the meantime, please bear with its template. Thank you. :)

WISHING

I was a travel talk show host for the rest of the summer so I could enjoy the food and beaches for free with the chance of having to tell my travel stories on TVeeey! That's my dream job, by the way. I really think these hosts have the coolest job in the whole wide world! :)

You know all those things that you've always wanted to do? I hope you could do one this summer, friends!

Birthday Dinner at Mint Cafe

I was thinking of something special to do for this milestone-ish birthday so I took my family to a restaurant in a hotel, something we had never done before. My siblings and I grew up not having too much but I also did not feel like we had too little.

When we were so much younger, my parents would always throw birthday parties for us. A party would mean having to blow candles on our cakes with friends and relatives around but as we grew older, the gatherings became simple. You know, life happened. :) Cakes would sometimes be absent but there was always something because in this family, every birthday is a milestone worth celebrating.

I made a pact with myself that on my birthdays, I'll take my family somewhere special rather than throwing out parties ('cause I am not really the party type. Hihi.) . Mint Cafe at Greenleaf has this luxurious feel but friendly on my pocket. I honestly wouldn't have cared paying a little extra because it was my gift to my family but really, this restaurant is budget friendly. 

I like looking at my mama watching her family happy and noisy during a meal. I like how my papa wants to copy a recipe from every restaurant we go to. This here, my friends, is what I live for. I am the giver type of a person. I love making my loved ones happy. That makes me the happiest human being. 

Oh, thank You God for the 30 beautiful years. I am deeply grateful! Thank you to the people who made me a part of their lives and for making this day extra special. My heart is full. The photo below pretty much sums up my birthday wishes. :)

Have a happy heart friends! :)