on the Verge of

Keen and I have been married for a month now. It seems to us that so much has happened in between our wedding day and today. Sometimes it's still unbelievable, and even weird, to be married to each other. It is unbelievable because it used to be a dream to be married to each other. We used to imagine how things would be like, just like waking up in the morning together or going home to the same house or what to cook for breakfast. The list goes on. At the same time it is weird because we used to do a lot of things on our own or just with our family. Now we find ourselves constantly with each other. We wake up and there is another human being breathing beside us. When doing groceries I don't just consider my own needs but his as well. All these things are new and takes a lot of getting used to. The past few weeks have indeed been full of travels and adventures, of adjustments and compromises. We have had many firsts and we look forward to many more moments in the years to ...

Yes! We finally tied the knot last Saturday, September 29. It has been a crazy weekend for me and Keen. I'm writing this article as we board our plane for Japan. I just figured it might be too late if I post this after our honeymoon. We are just overwhelmed with love and gratitude from everyone who came and congratulated us. A huge shoutout to our parents for their love and support. Also, many thanks to our families, friends and loved ones. Many of whom came from different places just to celebrate with us. Special thanks to our coordinator Liz and her team. Their work was simply splendid. Everyone gave many positive feedback about the program, decor, etc. Also, a huge thank you from me to ex boyfriend and now husband Keen. Your surprise dance number with the 'Let's Go Boys' truly made the celebration more special. To quote my mom, they forgot they were hungry when they saw all of you dance. I'm still laughing every time I see the videos. And most especially, t...

A few days from now Keen and I will be saying our I Do's to each other. People have been asking how we feel now that the date draws near. We feel excited and overwhelmed at the same time. And there's this inexplicable feeling that stirs us inside, like constant butterflies in our stomach. We barely had nine months to prepare. But I'm grateful for all the blessings that came our way to be able to pull it off in a short time. I pray for a successful and meaningful event. More importantly, I pray for a blessed marriage that comes after the ceremony and celebrations. The wedding stamps the beginning of a happy ending, the start of forever. And so now we begin counting the days until we finally spend a lifetime together. Photos by Keir Ashley Lim

I wrote this one time when I heard about the news of our dear bamboo tree being cut down for the works to be done in our creek. It's sad to say goodbye to things that we have been attached to. What more difficulty it is to say goodbye to a living thing that has been a part of our lives. With its shade gone, our neighborhood feels empty and exposed. I feel so melancholic about it. This is my poem for it, to remember it always... Goodbye Dear Tree It had always been there Since I could remember It was planted long ago By a fellow neighbor who Loved nature so He died protecting it Tall and strong Yet pliant and humble Its shade has been caring Strong and protecting Even as heat rose In the years that came We have seen it grown Towering over us Green and soothing A pillar from nature That creatures came home To its simple stature But alas one day To save man from its doing News came that it had to be Cut down for our safety Replaced by stones Stacked hard...

We always have this one or two coworkers whom we never like or get along in the office. Sometimes it makes you question what's wrong with yourself. Why is he or she treating you this way? But when you hear other people saying the same comment about them, you feel a sense of relief that you're not the only one putting up with all the drama this certain person is giving you. But that doesn't change the fact that you have to deal with them. One way or another, your paths cross. You get astoundingly long narrations in their emails. You hear some irksome comments from them. You receive unnecessary criticisms rather than constructive feedback. The list goes on. In a company that's full of varied and complex personalities, it is inevitable that some people won't get along with each other very well. But that doesn't necessarily mean they have a terrible attitude or what. Their personalities simply don't match with everyone. Now we go back to the dilemma on how...

Keen and I have been going to Aurora Quezon street to buy fresh buko juice and we have been passing by this new Japanese restaurant in the area. It wasn't anything fancy but it looked nice with all the street dining feels. We tried to eat there twice but the place was always full. Finally on our third attempt, there was a table for two available. The restaurant was called Sukidesu. Their place was small and a bit cramped. But everything else looked decent and the staff were attentive despite being busy. Keen and I looked at the menu and we were really surprised with the very affordable prices. Their gyoza was only 45php and chicken karaage 50php. We ordered both with a bowl of ajitama ramen and sukidesu maki. Ajitama Ramen Ajitama ramen was served first. The serving was just enough for one person and its price. The soup was surprisingly good too. As you can see in the photo the broth is rich and the eggs were done perfectly. Keen and I agreed it was next best ramen in ...

Keen and I just celebrated our 27th monthsary. It's going to be a few months, more like a few weeks, before Keen and I will tie the knot. There are many words to describe how we feel - ecstatic, excited, nervous and pressured. We are very ecstatic and excited about our wedding. Since we started our relationship, here have been plans already about marriage. And now that the date for the wedding has been finalized, we can't wait to begin the rest of our lives together. Of course, we can't help but be nervous and pressured as well. We only had less than a year to prepare everything. Although we do have our trustworthy wedding coordinator to help us out which is quite a relief. We also feel blessed to have gone this far. We've had many blessings that allowed to afford such a celebration. Although we've allocated many resources for this celebration, we remind ourselves that what's more important is what comes after the ceremony: married life. They say ...