on the Verge of

I haven't been publishing some works for a while here in my blog. I say publish because I have been writing a lot of drafts but I haven't had the time to continue and proofread them. Anyway, I wanted to write down a short post just to capture the fleeting ideas in my head right now and the reflections that come with it. I was recently sick which is nothing new. But it is annoying how it has become a norm for me. In as much as I would like to be healthier, at some point the food, weather or some virus would affect me. And learning from my previous mistakes, I cannot neglect simple symptoms that could worsen if not immediately treated. But now it appears as if I'm just overreacting over small things. I have accepted the fact that my body or my immune system is not really that strong. But I have been doing my best to take care of myself. I have shifted my practices and the personal products I have used. I am working on going back to excercising more. I'm beginning to l...

Writing stories was my earliest passion as far as I remember. It was probably influenced by my love for reading books and watching anime. I remember writing my first piece of literary fiction when I was on 6th grade. It was titled 'Sabrina Moonletoon'. It was a plagiarized version of Harry Potter with a few influences from Sailormoon, W.I.T.C.H. and Magic Knights Rayearth. My close friends would read and appreciate it. For a twelve year old, having your work admired by your friends was a huge accomplishment. I also joined our school paper in 6th grade and was the Entertainment Editor. With help from our moderator and my sister, I was able to publish a few articles and was given a certificate of recognition for it. I continued writing in high school despite the hectic curriculum of our science school. A few friends and a close English teacher read my works. I got constructive criticism which positively helped me do better in writing. I was also enrolled in Journalism and...

Keen and I celebrated our second anniversary as a couple yesterday. It will be the last anniversary before we get married this year. We had a simple yet elegant dinner at Bondi&Bourke. Our anniversary fell on a Monday right after the long weekend of the Holy Week. As expected, it was a manic Monday especially for me. But that didn't stop Keen from preparing for our anniversary. As usual, his funny disclaimers and surprises caught me off-guard. Plus we were able to view some lovely paintings at the Art Portal Gallery after dinner. The evening went really well. James Keen, I just want to say how grateful I am for having you in my life. I know I've been saying this to you every time. But I guess it's never enough to let you know how much I really appreciate having you as my man. I've been through so many struggles the past year that I don't think I would have enough courage to face them if you hadn't been by my side. And now as we face a new year ahead of...

This morning my family and I had our traditional way of the cross. Ever since I can remember, it has been our lenten devotion every Good Friday. What's special this year is that we are complete. It has been quite a while since we've had a perfect attendance. For the past few years there was a sibling missing because of work or other commitments. So it was indeed a very good Good Friday for all of us. As I reflected upon our uphill journey, I prayed for strength that we may continue this wonderful journey of life as a family and individuals. With my upcoming wedding, I'm not sure when will be the next time we will be complete in our way of the cross. And so I also pray for more beautiful and meaningful moments with each other. ❤️

Keen and I were looking for a new place to chill so that we can work on some wedding details. On a rainy Monday afternoon, we were quite sure that the usual coffeeshops like Starbucks and CBTL would be crowded. Then I suddenly remembered my go-to coffeeshop when I was in college - Coffee for Peace. Coffee for Peace was a refuge for me back then. This used to be along Matina, near Ateneo Grade School and in front in MTS. The coffee shop was not always crowded. The atmosphere's calm and quiet even if the place was full. The ambiance was nice and the prices are relatively affordable. I could peacefully finish my homework and projects when I was there. Unfortunately, they were not 24/7 so I had to move out by closing time. Then when I started working, it was more convenient for me to go to coffee shops closer to my work-space like Starbucks, CBTL or Blugre. I think it's been five years since I've been to Coffee for Peace. On the other hand, it was Keen's first time to t...

Japanese restaurants in Davao City have sprouted sporadically for the past three years. Although it is no surprise as Davaoenos have retained many Japanese influences since the latter's occupation, it is only now that we have further explored our taste for the Japanese cuisine. For the past two years we've been together, Keen and I have tried almost each Japanese restaurant in the city. We've tried every gyoza, maki and ramen we can get our hands on. We've been to many minimalist, modern or high-end Japanese restaurants. We've also been satisfied and disappointed many times. With the many things we have tasted, we are confident enough to judge and identify which Japanese restaurant in Davao serves the best dish. Not all restaurants are perfect. Some have the best gyoza but has the most disappointing ramen, or vice versa. To be fair, we will only be comparing the dishes we have tried from each restaurant. Also, we will be judging not only the taste, but the servi...

Another week begins today. I look outside the window. The afternoon  sun hides beneath the gloomy clouds as it begins to rain. There is a mix of sadness, self-doubt and fear that stirs inside my heart. At the same time, ironically, I feel empty inside. But I look at the man beside me. I've felt this feeling before but I was alone in an empty two bedroom apartment. Back then I was fed up, drained and even suicidal. Now I have someone beside me, cheering and motivating me. He believes in me. And most of all, he loves me. In my lowest points in life, he picks me up and shows me my potential and worth. And I thank God that he has made all the difference in my life.