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“She was a girl of twelve, and in every way she was but a child. A rather dull child who always lagged behind others of her age, whether in study or in playā¦
She had gotten a little bit used to being always behindā¦
She still was slow to learn, still not prone to brilliance. It did not enter her head that there are such things as play, and a gameā¦
She’s a woman wise and waryā¦
She looked, and upon the crossed wood was the agonized Christ, His eyes soft and deep and tender, even in His agony.”
~Mills of Gods, S
trella Alfon
“She was a girl of twelve, and in every way she was but a child. A rather dull child who always lagged behind others of her age, whether in study or in playā¦
She had gotten a little bit used to being always behindā¦
She still was slow to learn, still not prone to brilliance. It did not enter her head that there are such things as play, and a gameā¦
She’s a woman wise and waryā¦
She looked, and upon the crossed wood was the agonized Christ, His eyes soft and deep and tender, even in His agony.”
~Mills of Gods, Strella Alfon
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When Weight Carries Weight
It’s kinda delightful to gain even just half a kilogram. Some people may think that the lean ones worry about anything but weight, that they can eat all they want and still remain lean. But for those who, all their life, did literally everything just to gain a pound, how they wish it’s that simple.…
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“Black Dog:Being a Teacher”
I rarely recommend a drama series, even if it’s a Kdrama. But I just finished watching one of the most heartwarming drama series on my list since I became a Kdrama fanatic. Revolving around a school setting, this Kdrama somehow depicts the struggles of teachers (in the Korean education system) as they pave their ways…
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Government Work: What’s In It For Me?
It felt surreal the day I took the oath of office exactly one year ago. Not long after, I landed back to the planet black and blueā¦ Working in the public sphere makes me more grounded, forever grateful for the values impressed on me by my former company; I get to use them in full…
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Sunday Devotional #1
Kindness is often overlooked and misinterpreted these days. Being unkind becomes the trend as can be seen in social media, TV shows, at work, at home, everywhere. People love themselves too much. We live in a culture where loving oneself is greatly promoted. Nothing wrong with it except that it’s taken wrongly out of context.…
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123rd Philippine Civil Service Anniversary
A reminder that as public servants, we have the privilege and the power to transform public service through our collaborative efforts and individual improvement. Not just for us, but for the next generation of servant-heroes.
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Going Home: What’s There For Me?
Riverside, August 2021, after jogging time. Around this time, God put the desire in my heart to go home. It meant letting go of my old job and a chance to climb one rung up the corporate ladder. After many hesitations and prayers for clarity, I handed my resignation letter and headed home two months…
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A Note From the K-Drama Called NOT OTHERS
Life is like an endless rail. The things you thought you passed by come back to you. It’s up to you to decide how to confront that moment. If you look to the side while running, someone is running at the same speed as you. Even when you want to collapse for a moment, someone…
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The Wasted Years, Or So I Thought
If I could talk to my 16-year old self, I’d ask her, “What do you really want to become? What are your long-term goals in life?” Being the first child in the family who would be able to go to college, I was pressed by self-imposed pressures such as, “finish a degree that will certainly…
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August 4: Single Working Women’s Day
August 4 is celebrated globally as the Single Working Women’s Day. Single Working Women’s Day was created by Barbara Payne to honor the significant contributions of single working women in the economy and society. There was a time in history when women struggled to work through life on their own just because they’re women. They…
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Untitled No. 1
I tried really hard not to be fierce but in the end my pen prevailed. It’s not intended for anything other than for my own sake, to let it off my chest and once again be freed from that frustrating feeling. “When will you marry?” Did someone happen to ask you this question? And when…
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AN OPEN LETTER TO MY BOSS
To the Long-Serving MCR, I honestly didn’t know how to write the first paragraph, but let me start with your words that resonated with me the mostāthat I’ll probably remember for a long time. “Let them exist in this world.” These words, to some extent, reflect your heart for people. Civil registration acknowledges the person’s…
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Save the Best to Last
Ever wondered what your future would be like with the man of your dream?Or maybe the question is, have you ever dreamed of it? For some people, that dream had gone out of the window a long time ago, while others are still dreamy over a fairytale-like, prince charming-thing, Cinderella love story. Ladies today (not…
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Mother’s Day Special 2023
It’s two weeks past MOTHER’S DAY, but maybe this month is emblematic of the musing I’m having these days. If you’re a motherā most likely you hold the rangiest influence within the family. You’re called the “Ilaw ng Tahanan” for a reason: The WARMTH that enfolds home in the coldest seasons, and the BEAM that…
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God, Is There A Cat in Heaven?
One morning a few weeks after Tiger’s disappearance, I suddenly asked the Lord in prayer, “God, is there a cat in heaven? If there is, then I am more than blessed to see Tiger there someday.” Losing a pet, for me, has always been the same as losing a family.I lost one recently, and perhaps…
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Writing My Heart Out
Writing has always been my run-to since eons ago, simply because it’s my avenue of expressing myself when I could not, verbally. That’s why when I began sharing snippets of it to people, I’d struggle ordering my thoughts and conveying them in a manner comprehensible by others. It felt like my first time to stand…
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HELLO LOVE, GOODBYE 2022
Six days down the 2023 lane, I finally held my pen and notebook, dashed off and put together the bits and pieces from last year’s highlightsā¦ I couldn’t be more grateful to God! Having been able to reach the end of 2022 alive and sane is already a miracle in itself. I kickstarted 2022 in…
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One Year With You
November 25, 2021āExactly one year ago, I made a dubious one-moment decision of adopting these cutiesā¦ I gaped at them while they were being laid in a box, my eyes sparked with curiosity, my heart wailing. Their eyes half opened, their faces blotched and messy, their meows feeble and low. I tried negotiating them with…
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To the Doctor of Our Batch
“I will always remember: It was a hot afternoon during our 1:00 line formation.I diffidently approached you and handed out a letter.I was asking permission if we could be friends. LOL.You said yes, so we became officially friends.” That was year 2002, in our 5th grade. Our friendship has come a very long way since…
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The Warrior is A Child: MaryJoy’s 30th Birthday Special
A Birthday Tribute to One of My Closest Friends M – MatureThe older you get the wiser and bolder you become ā this saying doesn’t apply to everyone, but to you it’s indeed true.Life has its own ways to teach us many things, and I must say you’re a good student. A – AdmirableYour resilience…
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In the Silence
Today I met someone who told me these words: “Everybody wants to talk, so it’s hard to find someone like you who prefers to listen.” These words mean a lot to me. It’s a compliment to be noticed for something that’s part of who I am. To be silent is not totally me but is…
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To the Lady With A Golden Voice and A Golden Heart
To My Ever Dearest Keycia A.K.A. Ammat, September 8 ā I can still remember this particular date and always will, I guess, simply because it’s your birthday. It’s been 20+ years since I first heard your sweet, golden voice. So that means we have known each other for more than two decades now (Can you…
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He’s My Home
I wandered around finding home. Today He prompts me in Matthew 2. Jesus, as a child, went here and there, too. And even as an adult during His ministry days, He was an outcast in His own town. Yet He knew who He was and His earthly purpose. I pray that as I navigate life,…
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ģģ ė³“ė¤ ė ģķ“ Better Than Before
My Korean Journey of A Thousand Miles (Part 1) Year 2009. Someone gave me a book entitled Employment Permit System Korean Language Test 1 (EPS KLT 1) along with other modules for studying the Korean Language. Since I couldn’t read a single Korean character, curiosity brought me to open the pages and try to study…
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Inked
Inked on my right hand is a faint initial of my name. Fifteen years ago I patterned this by myself out of impulsiveness, as a result of emotional turbulence and despondency, a maladaptive coping mechanism, and teenage rebellion. For many years it was nothing but dirt on my skinā¦ It was a symbol of shame…
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Why Do I Like Korean (Part 2)
One prominent word that you associate with Korean is K-pop. If you are a Korean language learner (or even if you are not), you probably heard that term. K-pop or short for Korean pop is a genre of music originating in South Korea. (Wikipedia) An idol, in fandom culture in South Korea, refers to a…
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BTS – Behind the Scene
Following the “shocking” news of BTS’ hiatus from group activities, I got into some personal reflections, not as a fan but as an individual who, like them, is also experiencing issues on which direction to take. The glitz and glamour of this world are not enough to make you stay where you are. You can…
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Dogs Have Feelings, Too (Part 2)
Dogs are man’s best friend. Would you believe that I experienced having a dog as a best friend – literally? To put it simply as to why, you see, I was a lonesome ranger when I was younger, had no close friend close enough to consider my best friend. The one right by my side…
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Dogs Have Feelings, Too
July 19, 2019 The white dog is the happy-go-lucky one. Her name is Chuchay. She roams around the neighborhood day in day out and barely stays around her original home. The brownish dog, on the other hand, is the homebody. Her name is Panda. She can’t go farther than her master’s yard. She is scarred,…
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Youth So Beautiful
Youth. Who could forget those memories, of a drifting boat in a calm pond, the cool humming breeze of yuletide seasons, the summer heat that stung our bare faces, the playful looks, the soft strum of a guitar, the sweet smell of stationery, of roses and woods… Who could not smile, a bittersweet smile, as…
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Why Do I Like Korean (Part 1)
A curious person once asked me, “Why do you like Korean so much when you can’t even understand what they are saying?” I don’t usually think of myself as a fanatic of Korean drama. But in retrospect, there’s a point in time when I did become oneš Here are some reasons why I like Korean…
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The Nine Awesome Years of My Life
10 years ago fresh from college, I was lost not in many crossroads but in one particular road, not knowing how to start the trek. I had nothing in mind but to get started and then just cross the bridge when I get there. So I was thrown in a job not related to my…
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When Waiting Doesn’t Make Sense
In a world where almost everything is instantly served, it is incredibly difficult to stay in line and wait. While waiting requires faith and patience, it entails disappointments and setbacks. Today I’m about to reach one of my finish lines. It took me nine long years to finally be able to let go of something…
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To the Aspiring Police Officers
Being a watcher during my three younger siblings’ quests to find their spots in the profession they chose to pursue, I became not just an eyewitness, but I also bore half of the demands and the overall weight of aspiring to become a police officer… To be a police, in general, is both an honor…
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“Triggers”
Triggers or “being triggered” is often casually used nowadays. But there is more depth to it than what we already know. There is a distinction between discomfort and being triggered. Discomfort as the word implies is the feeling of not being comfortable when dealing, hearing, or seeing certain things or phenomena. While a trigger has…
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The Passive Aggressive Side of Me
Disclaimer: Passive aggressive personality disorder, or PAPD, is not an actual medical diagnosis (it was a proposed diagnosis but was removed from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders, Fifth Edition), and is now considered as a personality trait, behavioral pattern, or a personality syndrome. (medicalnewstoday.com) However, it can point to an underlying…
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A Little Different Makes A Difference
You can say it differently. People say things in different ways. We say words based on the mood of the moment. We would verbally express ourselves based on our feelings, emotions, circumstances, the situation, people we’re talking to, and it all depends on variables. But how many regrets have you had in life because of…
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To Love And Live
The opposite of love is not hate, it is indifference. It’s when your heart hardened. Calloused. Stiffed. Cold and hidden.You don’t necessarily hate a person, you just don’t care. So it is broken. Darkened. Bound by selfish concerns. And worst, it beats just to make you exist. But never to live. To counterattack indifference, I…
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A Little Cat, A Big Dream
Afternoon of August 1, 2021, I saw this little kitten in the street, picked it up and took to the house. The kitten was abandoned, bound to straying; dirty and stinky, tiny and weak I could barely hear a ‘meow’ sound, didn’t have any desire to eat or drink, eventually died after some time, after…
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“Am I My Brother’s Keeper?”
Long time ago (again I say this was a long time ago), my older brother was my definition of pet peeve, sometimes the devil. First and foremost, it sprang from an unmet expectation; of a big brother who protects and cares for his little sisterābecause that’s what I saw from other siblings in our class.…
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Compassion, Dear
“If you truly and completely understand another human being, the only emotional response you can have is compassion.” Anonymous Is it? Really? Such a reaction because I know I don’t come close to that. Ideally, this is definitely a big check.But easier said than done… How about these:What if they have hurt me?What if I’m…
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Scarecrow No More
This is a picture that has captured one of my me-times, when I was playfully trying to rehearse poses during a photo op at the top of the mountain, not knowing that the camera was already on. I looked so natural at that time because I knew no one was noticing me. Minutes later in…
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The Constant Among the Variables
“In a world full of change, God is the only constant BEING. He is the true and the highest epitome of constancy in a world where the only THING constant is change.” Prayer and Fasting 2021 One of the promises we can always hold on to this year is found in Hebrews 13:8. The Bible…
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A Little Progress is Progress
This is my hugot for the day! After a tiring day, you need to refocus and get yourself together. Before you call it a day, pause for a minute and ask yourself, “What progress did I make today?” If your answer is none, ask it again tomorrow. Progress, no matter how little and slow, is…
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My 29th, My 2020
When we look back at 2020, there are many things we’d like to change or skip. With all the catastrophic events happening almost simultaneously, we may feel like we lost one year of our lives. One after the other, things messed up leaving us crumbling and grumbling. Maybe years from now, 2020 will be a…
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On Your Mark, Get Set, 29!
We all go through the process of adulting. To other people it is exaggeratingly tough and burdensome, while to others it is relatively fun and exciting. When people reach that stage, certain expectations and cultural impositions are normally set either by themselves, their families and friends, or sometimes by the society, such as being a…
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Work, Where is Your Sting (Part 2)
What are you willing to give up in the name of your job? Yes, I know those feelingsāthat feeling of having no choice because your work is the source of your income (and that’s something we should be grateful for and we should be working on with all our best, sincerest efforts while we are…
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The Little Girl in the Lawn
I often go nostalgic over thinking of the pastāthe good, old times when I was a little girl who became the happiest just by catching butterflies in the lawn. Life was so simple, fun, and fine. When the realities of life hit me down to the core, oh how I missed that little girl in…
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Marry, Why?
Why are you not married yet? You are turning 30, and still single? Are you also bombarded with such questions? Like you want to answer in questions also;are we supposed to marry when turning 30?Are we required to be in a relationship just because of age? Is marriage that urgent? But a gentle yet firm…
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It’s Okay To Not Be Okay (Part 2)
A Reflection So, officially it’s now over, Two thumbs up for the finale, my fluttering heart is full.š While so much lessons can be learned from each of the characters, both main and supporting, I’d like to delve deeper on the underlying issue of everything that transpired in the drama. When we got a glimpse…
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It’s Okay To Not Be Okay (Part 1)
A Reflection As the hit series Psycho But It’s Okay (literal title) is nearing its finale, I just came up with some thoughts since this series keeps striking a nerve in me as it focuses on mental health issue. The dark fairytale theme is quite unusual. The contrast between the characters in terms of personality…
Just a few things…
āDo not say a little in many words but a great deal in few.ā
ā Pythagoras
āOur greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fail.ā
ā Confucius
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