Happy New Year!

 

Starting 2026 right by posting a photo of BWS 💙💛

2025 was a sorta okay year. 2024 was an emotional rollercoaster na punung-puno ng pag-o-overthink and thank God medyo na-tame ang aking overthinking spree come 2025. Maybe 2024 was just full of unplanned events that, looking back, had significant effects on the status quo.

Oh well. I'm glad I'm medyo back to my old self. 

I have so much to be grateful for this 2025 🙏

• Overall, we are all healthy ☺ They were a few instances that required hospitalization but everything's A-OK right now. Hopefully 2026 will be better, health-wise, for all of us. 
• I survived without any assistants. Mahirap pero naitawid ko. Well, I still had help- super grateful for Mads and Nico who helped me on their free time. I wouldn't do it again next Christmas season though- the mind is willing but the body is weak. 
• Trips with the family ♥ January in Capiz and Boracay; August in Taiwan. 
• My customers ♥ Most of my orders were and are still repeat orders and I am grateful for my customers for their continued patronage of my services & products, but I still need to find new markets to sell my products. 
• My family. They have always been supportive and understanding of me. 
• Business may have been not as good, but I was still able to afford my concerts ☺ Day6, J-Hope, Byeon Woo-seok (and a fan meet) and the Odette Quesada & Ogie Alcasid concert. This 2026, with BTS comeback, I pray to secure good tickets. 
• I completed Simbang Gabi again! 

I'm sure I have so much to be thankful for, hindi lang ito. I feel so blessed. Always.

No solid plans for 2026. I'm just going to wing it again and hope for the best.

Thank You, Lord, for all the blessings. Thank You for your provisions. 

Hi Self!

Just an update to remind myself months or years from now of what I was preoccupied with at this point in time...

I recently realized that I, once again, have regained my sipag and motivation to work. I lost my motivation before leaving for the US (which was last second half of 2023) and still didn't have it when I returned last year June and even until 1st half of this year. I guess it was BTS's announcement of their 2026 world tour. PRIORITIES. Lol. So, now, even if I am alone in my workshop and it is Christmas season- I am merrily working on orders. I'll have to make do with what I have and what I can accommodate.  Maybe if I'll need an extra set of hands, I'll hire on-call help. Next year na si Madam Meme na nagpaparamdam. 

Speaking of Madam M... I already asked her to come back just for three months, October to December this year, to help me with production. This was last year. She said yes naman. And, I also asked her in person when we met her in province earlier this year- she said, 'Diba nag-oo na ako, ate?' O e diba malinaw na dapat? She suddenly messaged me around July or August na baka hindi pa siya puede kasi nga maliit pa yung ampon niya achuchuchu... Okay, fine. I contacted the other option, Nica. Nica said yes also pagkatapos lang ng birthday niya which was in the latter days of September. Biglang nagmessage ang Madam M kung puede siya na lang. Sabi ko pupunta si Nica at message siya Nica kako baka kasi mag-iba isip. Anywaaaay, that was my bad. I don't know what Madam M said to Nica basta biglang hindi na tutuloy ang Nica at nakahanap na ng ibang work mas malapit sa kanila. EH BAKIT HINDI AKO MINESSAGE PARA MAGTANONG KUNG HINDI KO NA SIYA PAPUPUNTAHIN??? So sa inis ko, hindi ko rin papapuntahin si Madam M... hanggang kaya ko. One thing I learned from these helps leaving at the most inopportune time without consideration is gamitan lang 'yan. That mentality will keep me from having sama ng loob. I mean, when I returned from the US it was when I needed their help the most being I can't and shouldn't strain myself too much, and it was also when they left me alone. Pero actually, I feel, it was a blessing in disguise. Business was slooooow and at least I didn't have to think about pang-sweldo with just me working on orders. So ayun, everything happens for a reason. 

Moving on. 

I have been to an osteopath twice just recently. I discovered I have a neck injury, which she's trying to correct/heal. The neck injury I must have gotten from getting massages from blind masseurs. Sabi nung bulag na masahista frozen shoulder DAW- so pinatunog niya yung mga buto-buto ko, hinigit mga braso etc. and there's this one time that when he rotated my arm, sumakit na yung right shoulder ko after that session. Hay. I actually like going to the osteopath, I like being the dry needling part most especially when done on my upper back and shoulders. Mahal lang siya, beh. Not LOL. Nakakaloka, tumatanda na talaga ako- I feel it in my fingers, I feel it in my toes. Still, not LOL. 

Anyway, ayan lang muna. I hope to get more orders since Christmas is just 75 days away. 

Work muna tayo po, opo :P 

The BWS Experience

And so it happened...

Finally, I was able to attend a Byeon Woo-seok fanmeet!

Last year was such a letdown because I failed to secure tickets, but yes, this year sumakses tayo ;) I think Dunkin' announced the fanmeet around May. I knew I had to get tix, by hook or by crook. This ahjumma,  who used to dismiss fanmeets as a waste of money (because it costs as much as a concert and would last only for an hour or so), was willing to spend 7500 for SVIP tickets. Well, that was when I thought there was a meet & greet/hi-bye session. When I found out that there was none of that, okay na ako sa VIP or Patron. 

There were three of us planning to watch- me, my friend AS and cousin M. Feeling ko napilitan lang si AS to watch para samahan ako, to which I am very thankful. When I told M about the fanmeet, super game naman siya. When the mechanics on how to get tickets came out, M and I planned on going to the venue early so we'll be able to surely secure tickets. Ticket selling starts at 6am on July 5. We planned on being there at 5am. Feeling ko pa na ang aga-aga ko na niyan... but, boy, was I wrong. 

A week before ticket selling, I was invited to AS's niece's birthday party. She asked me what my plans were and I told her that M and I were planning to going at 5am on the day itself. Sabi niya sa akin, "Ano ka ba? Wala ka nang maabutan niyan! Yung iba nagca-camp na." Natulala ako bigla. Nag-iisip na kung gagawin ko ba 'yun? GAGAWIN KO BA 'YUN??? (Oo, ginawa ko)

AS said she'll accompany me to "camp" so we could secure tickets. Plan was I will "overnight" in their house and we will be at Dunkin' Sheridan at 12 midnight. With AS's sleuthing powers, she found GCs that were talking about their plans on camping for the ticket selling. Original venue we wanted to go to was their Sheridan branch because it's the newest and biggest and I assume maganda at malinis ang CR. May mga ganun pa akong considerations, diba? So anyway, as early as July 3 in the afternoon, there were people already there. In the GC, para walang dayaan in the unofficial queueing, you had to send your photo in the store with a timestamp of the time and location every three hours. EVERY. THREE. HOURS. Which means that if you don't live nearby, you had to stay there. Around July 4 PM, less than 5 pa naman sila so no need to worry pa. Dumadami na sila by nighttime and at around July 5 around noon, there were already 50 of them.

I left home at around 230pm July 4. Planned to pass by Dunkin' Pasig (our back-up branch in case masyado nang maraming tao sa Sheridan), then pass by the Sheridan branch just to see what's the ganap, then to AS's house where we would be killing time before leaving at 12mn. 

Arrived at Dunkin' Pasig at around 3:30pm. The volunteer fan was sitting at the first table. I asked about the queue and she gave me two numbers. Their queueing system in Pasig was, aside from your number, you had to post a selfie in the store every three hours. So makakaalis pa ba ako? That was when, my friends, I decided to stay there. I mean, andun na ako plus I really wanted these tickets, diba? But, still I couldn't believe what I was doing at that time. Napapailing talaga ako. OMG Byeon Woo-seok, look what you made me do? LOL. 

AS arrived at 9pm. I think the official queue started at around 11pm. So we spent the night sitting on monobloc chairs, on the sidewalk of Pasig, under a tent. Buti na lang hindi umulan. Overnight, I think I only got around 45 mins of sleep. Ang sakit ng katawan ko. 

The process was slow cos they started making people write on that paper na hindi ko naman alam kung anong silbi dahil marami pa rin namang scalpers ang nakakuha ng tickets and wala namang nag-check ng ID upon entry (kasi ano naman iche-check nila?) at 6am. They could have done that earlier para at 6 sharp, puede na pumasok yung una. Well, we were done naman na by 7:30am. We got lower box tickets. I wanted Patron sana, but oh well wala na so ano gagawin ko? Still, I was happy that we were able to secure tickets already. Pasok na sa banga, in other words ;) 

official queue numbers

the loot

After two weeks of wait, it's D-DAY. At may bagyo, bow. M and I agreed to meet in Gateway at 3pm. Sabi niya hindi ba masyadong maaga? I said, I will be there at 3pm. She can meet me later when she arrives. Punta na lang din daw siya nang maaga :) You see, I live in a flood-prone area and since it has been raining incessantly, I had to leave before the area gets flooded. At this point, I don't care if I won't be able to come home after after the event. What's important is that I get to the event. Crazy, diba? LOL. I mean, I can sleep at my cousin's house or I can always book a room somewhere in Araneta. Mapupunta sa wala yung pinila ko overnight? Sorry, NO. 

So I was there. Had very early dinner and coffee. Got our banners. Walang nakuha na freebies from other fans :( Went inside and got our tote bags, etc. And come 7pm...

Araneta was packed

in fair, hindi naman siya ga-langgam kalaki from
where we were

Sunjaeyaaaaa!

for a big dude, he looks so adorable

adorable

super adorable!

but of course, the highlight-
BWS singing

He sang three songs all from Lovely Runner's OST! And super happy that I Think I Did was included ☺

Three days after, I am still basking in the euphoric experience of seeing (albeit from afar) and hearing him sing live. Estoy feliz. Y agradecida. I hope there's a next time. 

P.S. I liked how the emcee hosted the show. I have nothing against Kring Kim (I actually watch her podcasts) but I didn't like how she hosted BWS's fanmeet last year. 

OMG It's Been a Year

Naiinis ako na I haven't been journaling as much. I really want to, hindi lang talaga kinakaya ng aking katawang lupa bilang wala na ako ulit minions. Of course having assistants make life much easier, but I have to admit I am liking the peace and quiet. But then again, I'd rather have someone who will help me with business stuff. Well I guess when the stars align, makakahanap din ako ng magaling na minion. 

Just a quick update with what happened these past 12 months...

Nawalan ng Minions, Nakahanap Ulit, Nagbakasyon Tapos Hindi Bumalik

As aforementioned, both of my assistants left. I know only one was coming back. I was sort of confident she'd be coming back. Tapos ayun tumawag. Mag-aaral daw siya ulit. Well, who am I to tell her to not pursue her studies- good for her, actually. Not good for me, but I know I can manage. Just right before Christmas, a former minion contacted me. Thank God that I found help just right before the busiest days. After the holidays, she asked permission if she could go home to Sorsogon to celebrate her son's 2nd birthday. Ayun siempre confident na naman ako na babalik siya. At first she was answering my messages, coordinating with me as to when she'll come back; then suddenly, no more replies. Na-ghost ako bish! Anyway, kinakaya ko naman. There are people who have been helping me- THANK GOD! 

My takeaway from this- I shouldn't take things personal. Before, when employees leave, I feel bad and take it personal. But now I realize na gamitan lang 'to. Hahaha! So I guess I'll contact her when I need help again, but for now I can manage by myself. 

Korea 2025

I celebrated my 42nd in Seoul ♥ I enjoyed it. There were some things I wished we had done differently, but meh, okay na rin. I can always go back, I guess. We were with Ate's officemate and officemate's niece. I did enjoy their company. It was fun. I just missed taking the train and checking out the city by foot. I mean, you see more of the place if you walk around. Bish, wala akong nakitang poster/ad ni Byeon Wooseok! I think we were to blame na rin bilang wala kaming plano. Also, I should have pushed for Suwon. Siguro kung nakita ko lang yung gate ng bahay ni Sunjae at nakapag-Cafe Mongted ako, I would have felt accomplished hahaha. Anubeh. But yeah, that's how I felt. Most especially during our last day. We could have done more than wait on our companions. And now I want to go back!! While Byeon Wooseok's ads are still aplenty!

rainy day in Bukchon Hanok village 

We meet again, Granhand :) 

I like their clean aesthetic

lunch. not very Korean, imho lol

Hongdae ata

dinner

Gamaksan suspension bridge

Imjingak

bullet-riddled train in Imjingak

frog in Imjingak

DMZ nga

that's North Korea across the river

LDR kami ni BWS

Kim Hyeyoon ad

ayan, LDR kami ulit

view of the Seoul Tower from our hostel

art biennale in Gwangju (JHOPE!!)

an art installation in the Gwangju Biennale

but of course, Compose Coffee

yes magsusugar ako para sayo, bhie LOL

to the mothership

BTS was on break- military service eme

Seoul nightscape

Seoul Tower

We were able to go to a lot of places naman, but I feel I could have seen more had we taken the train. Ang pagta-taxi ay sana pag-uwi na sa gabi pag sobrang borlogs na. 

Takeaway from this experience- MAG-PLANO! Plus if traveling with other people, we should make our own itinerary tapos assemble na lang after kanya-kanyang gala at nighttime or late afternoon for dinner, because sayang ang oras. 

High School Homecoming Chenes

It's been 25 years since I graduated from high school. 25 YEARS! Um, it was one event I honestly could have foregone- kung hindi lang ako nahiya because I was supposedly a part of the committee, pero sa totoo lang hindi kasi wala naman talaga akong ginawa. Bish, kinunan lang naman ako ng kidney. I guess I have a valid excuse for not being bibo with the preparations etc.

I enjoyed high school. I'm grateful for the friendships I started since then. Only a few have remained solid- mga 2 lang hahaha! But still I am grateful that high school for me was a pleasant experience, that I was not traumatized in any way. I was surprised to learn that a lot didn't want to attend because they didn't like HS because of the bullies, a few power-tripping teachers at kung ano pang ibang rason. 

My takeaway from this event- people don't really grow up. After 25 years, people are still the same. Siguro a few nagkakaroon ng realization at character development, but most, sadly, are still the same. Lalo na yung feeling nila cool sila. Haha. No. Mukha kayong tanga na feeling niyo ang cool niyo. Anyway, I don't think I'll be attending a reunion again anytime soon. The whole time I was just with my BFF who I meet every now and then naman. 

Capiz Vacation

Last January, we went back to the province for Uncle Er's 55th sacerdotal anniversary. I had fun because I think we were a bit more prepared- we booked a nice airbnb, Dad's friend lent us his van and AD was there to drive it (in other words, we were able to move around freely). 

Since we were already there, we also attended a family reunion in my Dad's side. Okay naman. Also, I don't get the logic of family reunions when you tend to stick lang din with relatives you already know. 

After the reunion ganap, side trip to Boracay with the sisterettes ☺

welcome back to me lol

vowed for this to be the last colored drink I take for the year...
LIE!

masarap :)

isa pang masarap charot
oo masarap mag-relax sa buhangin

masarap pero overpriced

skies were a bit gloomy...

so none of those breathtaking sunsets during this visit
actually, this one's not so bad

the day we return to the main island

colors

Day6 Concert ♥

Since Wooseok sort of introduced me to Day6's music, I've been hooked :) I failed to get a ticket last December as it was sold out already when I decided to buy; but, lo and behold, just two days before someone sold me their tickets at a discount. MAHAL TALAGA AKO NI GOD ;) Bawal inggitera :P 

Malapit na kaming umalis. Will end this update now. BRB. 

Love Love Lovely Runner

It's been a while since Lovely Runner's last episode and I have still not moved on from that beauty of a drama. I tell you my attachment to that drama is on another level because it served as my comfort drama while I was counting the days before I come home. Lovely Runner would end on the same day I came back in the country- dito ko na napanuod the final episode. 

I wasn't really expecting that much from this drama. AC and I started watching Lovely Runner  right after we were done watching Wedding Impossible, which was one helluva disappointment of a drama. That kdrama was hard to watch. I am actually shocked that I did finish watching it- maybe I was somewhat hoping for the drama's redemption towards the end, eh waley. I did finish it largely because of the male lead (ML). Anyway, back to LR. I think I did enjoy episode 1, but the clincher was episode 2's ending. Absolutely didn't see that one coming and I was delighted and surprised. 

I rate this kdrama 100/10. I like it that much. Dramas usually start strong but come mid episodes, it slightly gets boring then either picks up or totally bombs towards the end. BUT THIS DRAMA DOESN'T HAVE ANY OF THAT. IT WAS SO GOOD THROUGH AND THROUGH. After watching the end of episode 2, I thought that I need to rewatch episode 1. I must rewatch episode 1 and 2 before next week's episode 3 and 4.  Ah basta I was hooked. 

The story was really good. SO GOOD. Of course I also have some questions, but with these dramas I practice suspension of disbelief. Plus, it's a fantasy drama. Everything is possible. 

Another contributing factor to LR's beauty is the chemistry between the ML and female lead (FL). Tapos nagre-release pa sila ng behind-the-scenes right after, OMG I totally am shipping these two IRL. Before, I couldn't get CLOY's fans who wanted Son Ye-jin and Hyun Bin to end up together, but now I totally get it. I want them to end up together for realzzzzz. Cos if not, why does Byeon Woo-seok stare at Kim Hye-yoon like that?? WHY? If he isn't crushing on her for real, looking at her like that should be illegal. Honestly, I hope he's not paasa. If ever they are dating, I think they wouldn't admit it cos the drama's done and doing so might affect their future projects. Meydo different case with the CLOY couple because those two were actually of marrying age or at least I feel they're in that age where they want to marry and start a family. HY and WS, I feel, still have a lot going for them and cannot be tied to a love team. ALTHOUGH I DO WANT THEM TO MAKE A REMAKE OF GOONG. The leads' chemistry, I tell you, is off the charts. It's been a while since I've kicked the air because of kilig and I've been kicking the air every episode. This has got to be my favorite drama of 2024 and definitely one of my faves of all time. 

Walang itatapon dito sa drama na 'to. Even the OST is good. Just listening to the songs remind you of specific scenes. I remember when I was still in NY and I guess just finished watching episode 2, I had I Think I Did on repeat for hours. The last time I did that was with John Legend's Everybody Knows. Every song in that soundtrack is just lovely, plus the original songs performed by the fictional band, Eclipse- perfection ;) WS's vocals were also a surprise. I am so in love with both his speaking and singing voice. Too bad I wasn't able to secure a ticket to his fan meet :( Funny how I previously thought that fan meets are a waste of one's money cos fan meets usually last for an hour (?) tapos same price as concert tickets? Well, I still do think fan meets are a waste of money but I was willing to waste my money just to see WS in person and hear him sing Sonaki live. Tapos kinanta niya pa I Think I Did! So I'm sad that I didn't get tickets to his fan meet. Boohoo. Dagdag na lang natin sa aking SK budget this September. 

Kim Hye-yoon was a discovery for me. I actually watched Extraordinary You last year but didn't get to finish it because I didn't like the story that much. Watched it because of Rowoon though, LOL. Naumay siguro ako with HY's too much aegyo, I dunno. But here in LR, for me, mas litaw yung acting prowess niya. And the boys said that it was her who helped them get into their characters. I feel bad that she isn't getting that much attention. I love WS but he has overshadowed our dear HY. Sabi naman ng ate ko expected naman kasi who watches romcoms/kdramas? Women, mostly. So it's just expected that the MLs would get more attention. Don't we all want our own Sunjaes, yes? I just hope that HY also gets the recognition due her. Sana bumaha din ng scripts for future projects for her. 

Back to the drama... it is a romcom but when you think about it, it's actually a sad kdrama most of the time. How many times did we see Sunjae die? It was heart-wrenching every time Im Sol would deny her feelings and hurt Sunjae because she thought that would stop him from dying. And it was also agonizing for our dear Sol to erase herself from Sunjae's life- and to live for 15 years doing that on purpose. And that is why we need that one hour of fluff for the ending. I am happy with that ending. I hope they also get that ending in real life. With each other. Please. Hihi. 

Love love love this drama to death. I do hope I get to watch another one like this this year. I also hope I get to watch more good projects from these two actors, whether individually or together (but I really hope they do work on another project together... Goong remake please. Or Full House. Please). 

So let's finish this post now so I have enough time to lurk in Twitter and get into the subeom vortex before I go to sleep. Good night! 

Back to Life.

 Back to reality. 

After almost five months, I'm back in the Philippines. Honestly, it didn't feel that long. I did miss everyone here, most especially my Mom and Dad, my sisters, my friends, my everyday life, but I think I also enjoyed my time there. It wasn't the best and most comfortable of situations- I was living in my sister's living room. However, I was able to visit a lot of places, do a lot of things, see beautiful sights, meet relatives and also a few new people. 

While I was there I couldn't wait to get back home- counting the days until I'm finally sleeping on my own bed; I didn't expect to feel this overwhelming feeling. I don't even know from where it's coming from. Five months ago, I felt this when I had to go to New York for my sister's kidney transplant and now I'm back, I'm experiencing it all over again. 

I just want to get this off my chest. 

Anyway, I have so many kwento I want to blog about but will be doing that another time. I wish I really can do this religiously cos this is my depository of memories. Memories that could have otherwise been forgotten, I do get reminded when I past posts. So, late man ang new year resolution ko for 2024- it will be simply to update this blog more often. Wala ako sa wisyo this year to want or do something career-wise or anything related with being a proper adult. 

I'm in Love ♥♥♥

Breaking my blogging hiatus just to say that I AM IN LOVE WITH LOVELY RUNNER! This series has got me squeeing and swooning the entire duration of the drama and even after (much much after) that. I am just waiting for the final two episodes but MAAAAN! I AM SO OVER THE MOON with this show ♥♥♥ 

source: i.mydramalist.com