08

Yesterday, we attended a Sunday mass. It was Palm Sunday, it marks the beginning of Holy week. Everyone had their own ornate palm fronds and the mass was one hour late but I didn't felt mad about it. Jesus had to die crucified and who am I to complain for a small inconvenience. Right? 

07

Can't believe it's down to 2 months left, time flies so fast. I feel like I've missed a lot of things because of that. A lot of things had happened this year and I hate how I have no recent travels or plans at all. Sometimes, I wonder if people experience this too. That kind of feeling when you have all the things to do in your head, then all of a sudden the days gone by and you haven't started anything yet. 

06

01

Yesterday, I came across a blog that I’ve been following since before the pandemic. Those were the days when I felt so lost and confused about entering medical school while staying at my job. This blog, to be specific, is written by a medical student who shares her journey through med school. Her small wins and even her struggles. I read about how she felt discouraged during her clerkship, and I was tempted to reach out to her. But I hesitated, afraid it might feel awkward. I wanted to tell her that I’ve been following her journey since her second year. 

I turned 26

Three days ago, I turned 26. Nothing special really, I didn't even blew a candle for the two cakes I received. As you get older, birthdays come and go. I didn't even feel sad for just a few simple greetings and few important people who remembers it. I'm just grateful to be living my 26 year old self with a healthy life and happy family and that feels significant to me than anything else. 

Maybe the things that stayed with me as I turned a year older can be sum up in a list:  

How to make Millions before grandma dies

Last night, I went out with my family and boyfriend to watch the movie called How to make Millions before grandma dies. I've got lots of realizations and thoughts about the movie as a girl who grew up with my grandma. The filmmaker once said, "I realized that people who watched this film didn’t talk much about the film, but they use the film to talk about their lives, so these reactions have taught me a lot on about how this film has affected the psychology of the audience.” Indeed, the movie resonates with a lot of people and every family has a story. 

ODD CAFE

The day we went to makati is really unplanned. We just finished our morning class, so me and my friend decided to go cafe hopping in makati for a breather. We tried this cozy and artsy cafe called odd cafe situated in Salcedo Village, Makati. I ordered the peach mango for 180php. I also heard that this cafe is 100% vegan when it comes to their menu. 

Tagaytay

It feels like a breath of fresh air when something is going well after all the struggles I've been through in these past few months. I had an opportunity to spent the long weekends with my family after they decided to book a last minute hotel reservation for an unplanned staycation in tagaytay. The funniest thing is that, my boyfriend who happened to visit was also invited to join.

A sunset a day, keep the blues away.

These past few days I want to experience what they call 'retail therapy' but it's hard when you can't even save. Kidding aside, I have the urge to earn and study at the same time. I wonder if I could find a part-time job and juggle between working and studying at the same time. But I also want to have time for social things. Time to walk outside and somehow take rest. 

Never Lie by Freida McFadden

It's been forever since I felt enthralled on a book that I read at one sitting. This book is such a compelling read that it allows the reader to look inside the mind of a mentally unstable person and how it feels to observe truth, lies and deception into the characters. Without spoiling the book, the setting of the story revolves around a secluded castle-like estate miles away which is owned by a renowned Psychiatrist, Dr, Adrienne Hale. She disappeared without a trace and her gigantic estate captivated the attention of a newly-wed couple, Tricia and Ethan while searching the house of their dreams. The couple stayed for a refuge in that secluded manor while trapped in a blizzard. One night, Tricia discovered lots of mysterious audio tapes from the Psychiatrist herself interviewing her patients. She became invested on listening to each of the tapes and the truth it might unfold. 

Dreams

Dreams take many forms. In my dream that night, I was alone in a middle of a vast and pellucid blue ocean on a big raft made out of bamboo and nothing but calmness surrounds me. In that dream, I saw a big (orca) whale and without destination in mind, I let myself afloat and be carried by the gentle waves. I stare at the unknown horizon. 

Let's talk about insecurities

Some days I spend most of the hours of my day scrolling through instagram. I prevented myself from following certain artists, famous people etc. because just like somebody else, I'm afraid to feel insecure that I filter those I want to follow.

Holiday Break

A few more days before resume of classes and I've been contemplating about life lately. The month of December has been great to me. Before the year 2023 ended, we stayed in the Province and celebrated Christmas with the whole family. My vacation was so great, bunch of group games for the holidays, good food and people full of laughter. I also dye my hair for the first time (After 24 years) I realized how I never experienced dyeing my hair other than its natural black color. I always have people complimenting my hair while growing up that I don't want to ruin it. Just like what everybody says "A girl's hair is their crowning glory" because just like a crown, you can never take that off especially when everything messed up. I dye my hair by a few highlights of caramel brown and tried bleaching for the first time as recommended by my sister who said that "dyeing your hair is life changing." 

What I've learned this year, 2023

Another year will soon finally ends. A few more weeks before 2024 and I'm still overwhelmed with a lot of happenings from the year 2023. As you can see, (if you have noticed some of my post from a few years ago) I always leave sentiments whenever a year ends. This 2023, I just wanted to share some of my learnings and thoughts as I finally open a new chapter of the year 2024. This year, I've learned a few things just like any other years that had already passed. I feel motivated to write this entry because there's a lot of things that I wanted to share. 

DISNEY PIXAR: Soul (2020)

It's been a long time since I've watched Pixar movies. I decided to have an entry for this animated Pixar movie, Soul. I have a lot of takeaway from the story which really inspired me to do this post. In the movie, I had some realizations. 

[! SPOILER ALERT]

In Pixar Animation Studio film “Soul,” Joe Gardner is a middle-school band teacher whose true passion is playing jazz. A single unexpected step sends him to the cosmic realms where he finds the “You Seminar” - a fantastical place where Joe is forced to think again about what it truly means to have soul. These are some of the life lessons or my realizations from the movie. 

Apologue Coffee & Pastry, Binondo Manila

I've been to Binondo many times, but it was my first time to see a cafe in Benavidez Street at Binondo, Manila. I'm so glad to discover this newly opened cafe as it seems rare to have aesthetic cafe around Binondo and it's walking distance away from our school. Before we visit the cafe, we went to a Chinese restaurant because my friend introduced us to oyster cake.

04

01

I'm not feeling well tonight. I just felt weak and I decided to use a benztdamine spray to soothe the pain in my throat caused by cold. I can't sleep even when I played Ruby by Foster the people. I even watched Based on a true story and finished three episodes already. I did try reading for a bit, but I have not yet been visited by sleepiness that I decided to just write an entry for this blog: 

03

01

It was Friday when we arrived in Manila from Bicol, today is Sunday afternoon and time had gone so fast but it feels like my mind is still in a full vacation mode. Yesterday, it took me time to process that I need to finish reports and essays that are due next week. I miss my hometown and the slow mornings, where time doesn't move forward when its supposed to.

02

01

Yesterday, I stroll around the streets of Escolta and Ongpin. As I ride at the back of an old tricycle going to the Lucky Chinatown mall and seeing lots of Chinese arcs and the big dome shaped Binondo Church, I remember lots of fond memories while growing up. We used to have our family's old office in Escolta. When the pandemic happened, we are forced to leave our office behind and moved the office back into our home, when the term "work from home" started. 

O1

01

We define ourselves with the things we're good at. From all the things we love to do. If you're good at painting, you're a painter. If you can sing, you're a singer and if you're good at swimming, you're a swimmer. But what if you're not so good at something you do? What does that make you? 

2023 reads

Hi Readers! It's been a year and a half since I updated you with a list of the books I've read. It took me a year to finish books because of a busy schedule and lots of school stuff. This is another list of all the books I've already read since the start of the year 2023. This list will go on, as long as the year finally ends. I hope you find it an inspiration to somehow find happiness in reading books and making time for the little things you love.