Reflection Four: Farewell

          Back in freshman year, whenever I felt like giving up, there’s this little voice inside of me, telling me that I must not. No matter how terrible I felt going to school on some days, I always found myself going to school to attend my classes and I constantly found myself walking around the school and appreciate how great it is. 

          It’s funny how I had always wanted to escape away, and how I had this in mind back then, considering it was only my first year in secondary. Exciting classes, those simple to moderate to hard exams, the pasang-awa scores, boring lessons, incomplete notes or having no notes at all… I guess these were what made me almost give up then. Three years later and after a whole lot of sleepless nights, coffee cups, skipped classes just to rush another’s deadline, I managed to finish my journey in highschool, my journey in ISNHS. 

          I would like to leave this to you: All those hardships we’ve had in the past that bent us multiple times, it will all pass. I remember my dreams that I let shattered behind me. But in the end, I picked up the pieces and recreated those dreams again. Four years in ISNHS, I realized I should not find the missing pieces of the puzzle of success I am trying to complete. Because if you keep looking for them, you will never ever succeed in completing your puzzle. Can’t find success? Create it yourself, then. You are the puzzle-maker of your own success, there are no patterns for it, just willpower.

My Dream. My Future: Ten years from now

          I am actually not certain to what I will be ten years as of now. But as an idealist, I perceive myself as a professional artist, holding set of brushes, painting walls and on different extents of canvas, doing obras and displaying it in my own art gallery, sketching something on a sketch pad while on a plane to some state I feel like to visit, doodling on a hankie paper in a coffee shop someplace in Paris, and still dreaming things I could possibly daydream as an individual. 

          Ten years from now, I in addition see myself as a writer, an inspiration to the people who read my works, a way to put down the unenthusiastic part of our livfeg, and a motivation to continue living. I don’t want my work of art to be displayed barely in bookstores and comprise thousands of fans for the reason that they merely like my works. I want my writings to be carried by the people, not inside their bags nor inside their hands, but in their mind and hearts eternally. 

          Ten years from now, I am not certain if I’ll have my own family but if that happens, I want to live on a residence by the seaside. And every daybreak, me and my partner with our children will have breakfast on a terrace with a breathtaking view of the azure salt water. We’ll breathe in the cool gentle wind of the ocean and feel the warm radiance of the sun. And by the end of daytime, instead of watching a motion picture in cinemas that I barely understand, we’ll watch the sundown and chat about life and death and how rough it is to live and how ominous it is to pass away. 

        Ten years from now, I don’t see for myself as a millionaire. I don’t see myself possess branded things that worth a million peso bill. I don’t see myself as someone who’s known to business given that I pay the highest tax in the entire humankind. I just glimpse myself as a grown-up lady with a simple life and a happy family with optimistic thoughts, contented hearts, fulfilled dreams, and accomplished goals.

Change begin with ourselves

          I desire to amend myself for the better. I will not care that much. Be more happy. Try to use up my instance doing things that I love the most. Spend most of my time outside my room. And get to know life better. Choose correctly. Be Mature, because I always think like a kid when it comes to my actual state of affairs. Be more adventurous. Know how take good care of myself. Know how time management is. Learn how to be productive.. Be optimistic. Love those people who truly loves me. 

          Nobody ever said that altering for the better was easy but I can guarantee you it is not impossible. Everyone can accomplish it but not a lot of people do. If you do make a decision to persevere throughout this complicated journey, almost immediately enough you will spot the never-ending benefits. You will be a happier person, your self esteem will mount up, living gets easier, the right people will come up to you, problems become simpler to resolve, blessing will pour into your life, your individuality will enhance, people will adore you even more and be enthused by your change making them pleased in exchange, you will adore yourself, you will become beautiful on the within but also beautiful and radiant on the outside. So what’s stopping you? Don’t do this for others but for yourself because everybody deserves this. Take the opportunity of everyday, new chances, new opportunities, and re-create a new you.

It's More Fun in Ilocos Sur: Kannawidan Festival

          Region of Ilocos Sur has of late renowned its Kannawidan Ylocos Festival. And time scripts the district’s 193rd year based on the Royal Decree dated February 2, 1818 untying Ilocos Sur from Ilocos Norte. Preceding to this day, the draw out of Bangui in Ilocos Norte along Luna La Union is called Ylocos which is a expression to refer to the coastal residents. It factually meant “from the lowlands”. 

          Vigan which is very particular in Ilocos Sur is recognized as the Heart of Ilocandia by the Philippine Historical Committee. It’s a region very rich in traditions and heritage. Kannawidan means way of life and this region got to showcase all what it has.

          In attendance was the ancestral presentation of the civilizing communities of Ilocos Sur which is so mesmerizing. They displayed their talents as well as their native costumes. Longanisa, bagnet, garlic, bibingka, tinubong and a lot of other food as well as handicrafts showcased the foodstuffs of the region. There was even eating contests of these delicacies of Ilocos Sur as well as basi drinking contest. Customary playoffs were played and bingo as well. There were Sarsuela and Komedya Ilocana which were given away as drama play. Choir competition was as well apprehended. 

          And a clash of wits and beauty was witnessed during the Saniata ti Ilocos Sur pageant. Art expositions and contests were also carried out. On the spot painting was ended by the Saturday group from Manila while The Ilocandia Photographic Society put up its photography exhibit at the Archbishop’s Palace. 

          What an entertaining week of festivity of the Kannawidan Festival in Ilocos Sur.

New Year New Me

          This leads to my plans in 2014, which is to not over think everything. Thus, having no plan at all. 2013 made me realize that serendipity is friendlier to me than my usual life plans. So this year, I’ll probably just go with the flow of my life’s turn of events. Anyway, I think it’s what I’m good at. Even with friends and family, I just always go with the flow. But this time, I’ll go with the flow in search for a constant. It doesn’t mean that I’ll stop living and not chase my dreams. Finding a life and myself, and fighting for my dreams are exactly what I ought to do. 

          In 2014, I am most likely to make more mistakes. I don’t want damage. I just want to break the constant cycle I was in where I kept my feelings to myself, pretended that I was on the same page just to please them, and been a hypocrite not only to others but also to myself because I was afraid to experience more sadness and disappointments. This year, I want to slowly teach myself to be brave in facing all those fears. If I have to get hurt a million times more I was at Christmas, then so be it. If they think I’m being awful, then I just have to let them be. I am not really changing and I don’t want to be bad. I am just realizing some hard stuff. I just don’t want to do nothing and be more confused. I need the rebellion Katniss did that brought change to Panem. I need to rebel against myself – who I think I am and got used to. 

          Perhaps life just knows great timing – both in a bad and good way. I was thinking about my faith and I was answered by questions. I don’t know. I’ll never know unless I’ll try. That is my goal and target starting this 2014.

Reflection Three: Thoughts and Observations

          I really have to figure out how to get my act together on here, I need a reminder that it’s not normal to exist in a parallel universe called the internet. Part of me wants to master all the intricacies and idiosyncracies of this place, shrink it down and make it more manageable so I can get out my message of getting rid of your smart phone and tablet, and to sign off of social media like Facebook and Twitter. But another part of me says that’s self-defeating, if you have no apprehension, no sense of urgency, won’t your message suffer as a result? But I guess the essential thing, and the main point I got out of this is, don’t get comfortable, don’t act like you’re part of a community or something, because all this can be gone when you wake up the next day…even more so than in real life.

Quintessence of Christmas

           It’s at all times been said that Christmas is a time for giving, sharing and forbearing. But, it’s precise for us to be thankful in everything that we are receiving and experiencing. Whether it is good or dreadful, we necessitate to be thankful because this is the means of God for us to see and understand that things that we are taking for granted.

          The essence of Christmas should always be in our heart. Whether it is ber-months or not, day by day is still Christmas because of HIM. 

          We are always asking for things to come about, why not make a move to make it happen and surely God will lend a hand.