on the Verge of

2018 has been an exhilarating ride. The year started out with an unexpected shift in my career path. There were many struggles along the way and the learning curve was steep. But I was able to cope up with the help of my mentors, colleagues, and team mates. I also married the love of my life last September. The preparations were tough and I thought I was going to faint before I walked down the aisle. But everything turned out more perfectly than I could have ever imagined it. Keen and I also had our dream honeymoon in Japan. It was probably the best international trip we've had so far. We explored many places and ate a lot of our favorite Japanese food. it was really a dream come true. Then there's the married life where Keen and I had to go through many changes and adjustments. But we were so blessed to have been supported by both our families as we started a new life in our new home. It's been more than two weeks and we can officially say that we have settl...

The past few weeks, or perhaps months, have been quite a struggle for me. My physical health has been tested again and again. And so were my principles in life. And perhaps even my pride. I continue to struggle with repetitive frustrations. My heart could only take in so much heartbreak at a time. I feel so disappointed that I couldn't understand why all my efforts have failed me. And now I could be struggling with a greater challenge in life. I am in tears like a little girl because my fear always came first. I fear that I may not be as strong as people think I am, that I'm just a helpless terrified girl who was too naive to see the world for what it is. I fear failure, like most people do, and the great disappointments that came with it. When I was younger, I somehow knew what I wanted. I was independent and strong willed. But some unfortunate years have taken away my optimism. Now, I couldn't even cross the bridge without having someone to hold. I have lost a lot o...

New year's resolutions may seem overrated now. But for me and Keen, it is something we take seriously. Last year, Keen managed to stay committed to his 2017 resolution of not having any beer for the whole year. It was difficult especially when we would pass by our favorite place for ice cold beer, the BC Chicken House in Ecoland. For group gatherings, we had to pass the beer and opt for hard liquor instead. That was quite intense. So last January 1, 2018, we finally went back to BC to order our first drink for the year. We each had a bottle of ice cold San Mig Light. Keen finally did it. Congrats babe! Now this 2018, we are planning for new and feasible resolutions. And here's what we came up with: 1. KEEN - go to the gym four times a week 2. MAI - blog at least once a week Mine may not seem that much compared to Keen's but believe me, being in a corporate environment is tough. It will truly be a challenge especially on hectic weeks where I might be busy ev...

Today is a sunny Monday. I cleaned up my desk and made some breakfast. I looked outside my window and saw the plants in our backyard basking brightly under the sun. It's a beautiful day, a contrast to the gloomy rainy days in the past week. I woke up with a good feeling about the days ahead. Sure, there are some things that remind me of the past I left behind. Sometimes I miss the places and the people. But we know better for ourselves on which path to trod, what decisions to make, and the time we need to do so. There will be new things to look forward to this month of February. I know there will be new challenges ahead. But I gather my strength and confidence to claim victory over them.  I think I've grown enough to know better things for myself. This time I'll do so much more. Full speed ahead :) Breakfast in desk

I just cleaned my room for four days, the longest and most exhausting room cleanup I've ever done in my life. I have been lazy and busy for some time due to all the work and activities for the past few months. After my last day of work, I revisited some neglected corners of my room and realized how I have accumulated so many stuff throughout the years. I've been postponing my general cleaning because I knew it would really take some time. Good thing I did because I was able to spare a long time to clean up literally everything. Here are some of the clutter hidden in my tiny room. Paper Hoarder I am very much guilty of hoarding a lot of papers. From college notes to book photocopies, I've been keeping them in a box and bag promising myself that I would be sending all of them in a buy-back fair. I was actually able to do this once. I rummaged through my papers and gave them away in a buy-back fair in Abreeza mall. However, that was only 30% of what I had been keeping. I...

2017 is finally here! Everyone's been saying how 2016 literally 'slayed' us with the deaths of some global icons in music, film and arts. Other heartbreaking events such as bombings in Syria and other key cities like my hometown Davao have also left scars in our hearts. But even if we've finally gone through 2016, there's no telling what's in store for us this 2017. I celebrated the new year with my family and boyfriend. We had our traditional medianoche at home. Of course, the typical superstitions such as the round fruits and sticky food couldn't be missed. There were more superstitions in the book but they were too gruesome to follow.  I told them that by the end of the day, no matter what new year superstition we observe, our decisions and perseverance will still determine how we will fare this year. 2017 seems so uncertain now but there's so much to be hopeful for. I've already crossed my midlife crisis last year. Now I am hoping that this y...