celebraTINg exisTENce

Happy New Year!! Wishing you all the best for this year!

First and foremost, 2014 was by far my best year yet. Sabi ko nga, I may have had some bad days and experienced heartaches (hindi lang romantic kind) but I've felt several moments of ecstasy.

My five G's for 2014.

1. Gapang
2. Gastos
3. Gala

Gapang for all the "normal" days. Won't get into details. :))

Gastos. DUH. Won't get into details. :))

Gala. Super detailed: Click here. :))

And the fourth and fifth words? GRACE and GRATITUDE.

As I was looking back on how great (Oh, that's another G) 2014 was, I couldn't help but ask myself how in the world were those things possible and how was I able to get through with them. I may have posted a lot of things and events that happened in my life here but they're just the things that I was comfortable in sharing. For all that had been posted here and the rest that were left unshared, it was through His Grace that I was able to make it until now and for that I'll be forever Grateful.

In all honesty, I couldn't help but be anxious of our uncertain future. Will there be greater things that's going to happen? This is an absurd question though for I shouldn't worry that much. No matter happens in the future, no matter what kind of decisions I'll make, or no matter how many times I'd stumble and fall; I'm sure that He'll pick me up and help me stand again.

God, alam kong matigas ang ulo ko pero mas alam ko na sanay Ka sa'kin. Kaya, Kayo na po bahala ulit dahil kahit ganito ako at kahit mapilit ako sa mga bagay na gusto ko, mas alam Niyo pa rin kung anong mas dapat para sa'kin at hindi Niyo naman ako pinapabayaan.

When the clock struck 12 last night, I looked at the night sky with all the fireworks that lit it and I was beyond happy.

The Tin that was looking at all of those fireworks last night isn't the Tin that looked at the fireworks last New Year's Eve. I'm still a work in progress but I have come so far. Hindi ko man kaya i-point out lahat ng changes pero nagbago na talaga ko kahit papano sa lagay na 'to- better na ako na 'yung nagsusulat nito. Hehe! Wooo, Congrats naman sa'kin! At sa'yo na rin kung napagtya-tyagaan mo 'tong basahin :)))

Although my hope is to reach more places this year (explorelovehappinessmoney2015!), I kind of have this part of me that says, "Let's make this year less about you and more of others." I don't know how, I really don't, but isa po, God, sana kung makaalis man ako ulit ng maraming beses ngayong taon ay may mga puso po akong matutulungan at mai-inspire. Sabi nga ni Robert Powell, "Leave this world a little better than you found it." Although nandun naman 'yung fulfillment na nagawa kong umalis at magawang #explore2014 nga, sana sa pagtatapos ng taon na 'to, mas andun 'yung fulfillment kasi alam ko na may nagawa ako para sa iba. Hindi lang 'yung puro sarili ko 'yung may mabago kundi pati sa ibang tao/lugar din na makikilala/ pupuntahan ko. Sana... :))

Ay, I'll share with you something that I've read:

2015 is the year God will shift things in your favor. He is lining it all up. What you could not make happen on your own, God will cause you to accomplish. It will be bigger than you thought. It will happen quicker than you imagined, and it will be more rewarding than you ever dreamed possible.

Bago ko tapusin 'to, Happy third anniversary muna sa blog ko!! Woooooooooo grabe! Buti pa kami may anniversary! Cheers to my fourth year of blogging and another chance to become better at this. HAHA! Hindi ko talaga inasahan kahit kailan na maglalagay ako sa internet ng ganito kalaking bahagi ng buhay ko at hinahayaan ang ibang tao na basahin 'to pero sa ngayon, wala kong balak na huminto kaya magtiisan muna tayo. :)

P.S. Hindi ako possessive na tao o hindi ko lang siguro naipapahalata kung gaano ako possessive pero 2015? AKIN KA AT WALA KA NG MAGAGAWA PARA KUMONTRA! :)

I declare that 2015 will be my miracle year.
Here's to endless possibilities and seizing opportunities. God Bless us!

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What are the things/events that you're grateful for this year? :) Ako ito 'yung iba...

Parang uso ata 'yung mga ganito ngayon: throwback, looking back etc kaya makikiuso ako. Places lang mostly kasi active active ang travel department! Wooooo. Grabe. Paka-active ka ulit next year, travel department pls.! Ayyy, at finance and health department pala.

The influence gained from travelling will most often have a retrospective effect, for it is only in looking back will we realize how we have been enriched by our travels (Thoreaux, 2012).

1. Best Valentine's Day(te)

This wasn't the romantic kind of date but I really enjoyed walking around the 21st travel expo even if out of 100 available tours, I can only join 1at sa hindi pa sossy 'yon. Hahaha. All I had in mind were Malaysia and Singapore because our plane tickets were bought last 2013 so 'yun lang ang plano ko that time perooooo 2014 has given me so much. :))) This is the reason why I decided to include this here, kasi nung time na 'yun, akala ko Malaysia at Singapore lang, hindi pala. Mas marami pala.

Maybe, just maybe, 2015 will be more generous and give me a chance to tour South Korea and other countries. I'm not expecting (Swear, universe. Wala talaga kong expectations HAHA). I'm so abusive, aren't I? HAHAHAHA But whatevs, there's nothing wrong in wishing and making parinig sa universe...

2. Best Spontaneous Road Trip

Of all the times that I went out of town, this has got to be the only spontaneous one. I have been wearing a miraculous medal necklace for almost five years now... wearing it religiously everyday. Okay fine, paminsan pag nags-swimming ako, hindi ko suot pero dala ko and during all my trips (MY TRIPS AWKWARD HAHAHA) I always brought with me an extra piece.

Being a Marian is the reason why this trip to Regina Rosarii in Tanay, Rizal is one of the best because it felt like Mama Mary called us to visit her. I hope the Our Lady of Miraculous Medal Shrine in Paris, France calls me in the next few years too ganyan. Pls? Pls? haha

3. Best Lunch

What is more fun than eating lunch with your friends? Being able to submerse your feet in cool flowing water while eating. As much as possible, I'm that person who would stay away from Filipino cuisine when eating out but when I go out of town, eating local cuisine becomes more interesting and enjoyable. E sa malayo eh! HAHA. Basta, this experience of dining here in Labasin Waterfalls of Villa Escudero Plantations and Resort, Quezon is something I'd recommend to others: foreigners and locals alike. It's like a cultural experience eh, may museum, food, shows etc.

4. Best Boat Ride

Kalokohan. :)))) Ito lang naman kaya 'yung lakwatsa ko na kinailangan kong sumakay ng bangka. I was a fearful child that I don't remember enjoying boat rides because all I did while riding a boat was cry. Well, don't ask me where did that child go 'cause I don't know either. Minsan lumalabas pa rin siya kasi may fears pa rin naman ako pero most of time times, wala na. Boat? hahaha. DUH.

The boat ride to Capones Island and Anawangin Cove in Zambales took around an hour (one-way). So for an hour, I had the chance to say thanks to God that I was able to get over the fear and for allowing me to see the beauty of His creations.

4. Favorite Region

This blog has been a witness of my desire to visit a place only to find myself there after several months. I don't keep a journal and that's the reason why most of my posts here may be categorized as TMI because you just can't separate your life from your stories eh. No matter how hard I try to produce more "professional" post, I can't. My personality always interferes, hindi talaga pang PRO. HAHAHAHA! Anyway, I write to share information to those who are searching and but it's more of I write to have posts that I can look back to in the future. Effective sa'kin eh. :)

In my Nayong Pilipino post, sabi ko, be my lucky charm to Sagada, Banaue and Baguio. Guess what? Nakapunta ko ng Baguio twice at may possibility na mapuntahan ko 'yung dalawa next year. Kung tatanungin mo ko ngayon kung alin sa mga region sa Pilipinas ang favorite ko, ang isasagot ko sa'yo, Cordillera Administrative Region.

5. Best Dugyot Moment

My first mountain climbing experience was in Pico de Loro at nalagay ko naman na 'yun dito, na sobrang dumi ko talaga pagkatapos mag descend sa summit. Pero hindi ko nalagay na dahil hindi ko matanggap na... :))

Diba, hinatid kami sa MOA tapos naglakad-lakad pa kami kasi nga naghanap muna kami ng kakainan. HAHAHA. Tapos pauwi, nag-bus lang ako kasi nakakatamad na pumila sa MRT. Pagkauwi ko, nag-shower muna ko bago matulog tas nung naghuhugas ako ng mapapayat kong legs... putik at hindi bula ang nakita ko. Nagtaka nga ko at pagtingin ko sa legs ko. Jeskerlerd. Puro putik/lupa pala ko!! Naka-shorts lang ako nun sa MOA oh. HAHAHAHAHA. Kaloka. Buti hindi ako inabutan ng wet wipes ng mga tao. Bangag level 1,000!!!!

Bottomline: No matter where you've gone and what you've been through, you must make sure that you're somehow presentable and neat.

6. Best I'm So Lost Moment

Ang dami sanang best sa Singapore kasi ang dami kong first time dun sa bansang 'yun but if I were to choose which one (one kasi paulit-ulit lang naman kaming nawala pero plural kasi maraming beses nga. K.) they're the times that we got lost while commuting. I've always took pride in my talent to remember places fast, but somehow, Singapore has managed to remove the pride I have kasi hindi talaga nag-exist 'yung Tin na magaling sa directions dun. As in, hanggang pag-uwi ko ng Pilipinas, pakiramdam ko nawawala pa rin ako. But if there are two things that I learned during those times: 1. It's okay to ask if you're lost. 2. Be open to adjustments when things don't go as planned. Pero 'yun nga, being lost is part of the journey. May incidental learnings naman lagi along the way.

7. Best Sunset

Madilim na sa Genting Highlands tapos pagbaba namin pabalik sa Kuala Lumpur an hour later, sunset pa lang ng around 7 PM. Alam mo 'yung, mababasa mong sa ibang lugar may mga midnight sun phenomenon saka 'yung mga lugar na hindi around 6 PM nagsu-sun set saka nagsa-sunrise, tapos finally, ma-experience mo na. Wala, nakakakilig saka nakakatuwa. I've seen a lot of sunsets, yes, I've seen a lot more beautiful than this pero 'yung kung ano 'yung kwento behind this sunset, siguro 'yun talaga 'yung nagpa-best dito.

It's a humbling, really. Para bang tinawanan ako ng universe at sinabing, "HAHAHAHA! Akala mo ba 'yung buhay mo 'yun lang 'yon? There's more to learn at maraming mas significant sa'yo kaya paka-humble ka lang lagi!" Pero alam mo kung ano nakakatuwa? In-assume ko na sa kabila ng pagtawa niyang 'yon e ang willingness naman niyang ituro sa'kin ang mga bagay na hindi ko alam at ipakita sa'kin ang mga pangyayari na hindi ko alam na nage-exist.

8. Best Waves

HAHAHAHAHA BASTA ANG ALAM KO: I LOVE YOU, TERNATE CAVITE!

Lalo na 'yung area ng Pico de Loro saka Katungkulan Beach. Malalaman mo na kaya mong pagtiisan 'yung mountain climbing hanggang sa makarating ka sa summit at kaya mo rin enjoyin ang malalaking waves kahit may times na itutumba ka na lang niya pag hindi ka ready. Ito rin 'yung unang beses na natulog ako sa tent saka nakapag-night swimming sa dagat.

Uulitin ko ba? 'Yung batang ako, hindi mo mapapaligo sa dagat kasi 'yung pakiramdam ng pag-apak sa buhangin, kinatatakutan ko na. Pero dito, night swimming na nga, nakapaa pa ko. Sana, sana, sana tumanda ako na isa isang nawawala 'yung fears na meron ako at hindi nadadagdagan lang sa paglipas ng panahon.

9. Best Fangirling Moment

Hindi natin alam kung ano 'yung mga kaya natin gawin unless we're in a certain situation where we can't just be ourselves, diba? Kailangan naka-level up. That's exactly what happened when I watched the movie, "The Janitor". Well, alam kong makapal 'yung mukha ko at assertive ako lalo pag may gusto ako pero iba pa rin 'to. The best fangirling moment ever. HAHAHA. Hello, Tom at Dennis. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Kung ganito na ko kay Tom Rodriguez, paano pa pag nasa harap ko na si John Lloyd Cruz saka si Lee Min Ho (At Hong Joong Hyun these days)? Nai-imagine mo ba 'yung fangirl monster that I can become? Ako hindi. Baka sobrang lala.

This showed na kung meron akong gusto, kailangan ko lang siyang gustuhin ng sobra kasi achieve na achieve talaga kahit ano pa 'yan. Hahahahaha.

10. Grateful (Best in being grateful. hahahaha. Push ko 'to)

Wala kong maisip na best anything kasi, baka magtampo 'yung ibang simbahan na napuntahan ko this year. Haha. Pero siguro, andito kasi sa St. Pio Shrine sa Batangas 'yung matagal ko na gustong puntahan tapos 'yun nga, eventually, napuntahan ko kaya masaya 'yung feeling.

Pag andun ka, meron dalawang color ng roses na pwede kang i-offer: red and white. Red for prayers and petitions and white naman for thanksgiving. Nung nalaman ko 'yun, white agad ako. Dami kong natutunan, dami kong nagawa, dami kong napuntahan kaya sobrang grateful ko at gusto ko hindi mawawala sa'kin 'yung feeling na 'yun. Maganda o hindi maganda, 'yung galak sa puso ko sana hindi mawala.

11. Best Street/ Best Walkathon

YAN . ITO NA NGA BA SINASABI KO, BAGUIO EH.

If there's one thing na na-realize ko this year, 'yun e 'yung mahilig ako talaga sa fog. Ang saya. Nung mga panahong nasa Baguio kami, siguro kahit paglakarin mo lang ako ng 12 hours hindi ako magre-reklamo basta hindi umuulan. Iba talaga 'yung pakiramdam dun. Partida, bago pa 'to nag Where do broken hearts go kaya hindi masasabi na ka ko gusto dun kasi broken ako.

Mababaw naman kaligayan ko at iniisip ko nga, madali ako mag-notice ng mga little things sa buhay pero pagkatapos ng Genting Highlands, Baguio at Mt. Pulag? Parang naging million pesos entertainment na sa'kin ang tignan ang formation ng clouds ngayon. Magastos man lumakwatsa, siguro isa sa mga binabayaran dun e 'yung change of view mo sa mga bagay na naiwan mo. Mas ma-appreciate mo 'yung malapit kapag nakita mo 'yung malayo. Ge. Ang weird nito.

'Yung gusto ko lagi, maraming makitang bago kaya pag napuntahan na as much as possible, ayoko muna bumalik at titingin muna sa iba. Pero Baguio? Exception siya. Cordillera Administrative Region, pwede bang 1 Million times ako bumiyahe paakyat? Plsss? Hahahaha.

12. Best Burgis Moment

Sa lahat, ito lang naman 'yung time na nagpaka-burgis ako. Itong sa EDSA Shangri-la lang kaya natatangi.

Minsan iniisip ko, "Bakit hindi pwede na makuha ko lahat?" Hindi ba pwedeng kung gusto ko na sosyal, makukuha ko agad? Hindi ba pwedeng pag may gusto akong puntahan, mapuntahan ko agad? Hindi ba pwedeng pag matutulog ako sa ibang lugar, laging sa 5 star hotel? Pero titingin pa rin ako sa sarili ko, sa mga bagay na meron ako, sa mga pangyayaring naranasan ko, tas sasabihin ko ulit, "Ano bang problema mo? Arte arte mo." Hahahaha.

Salamat na once in a while nabibigyan ako ng pagkakataon na maka-experience kung paano 'yung kagaya nitong 5-star hotel treatment. Salamat na once in a while nabibigyan ako ng pagkakataon na maka-experience kung paano matulog sa bus o sa tent. Higit sa lahat, salamat kasi nagkaroon ako ng pagkakataon na ma-experience lahat ng na-experience ko... nang ako kadalasan 'yung nag-iipon at namo-mroblema kung paano. Ang laki na ng pinagbago ko kahit hindi halata. #damingsinabi

13. Best Sunrise

Best? Kahit superlative na 'yan sa good, better, best e understatement pa rin 'yan para i-describe kung ano 'yung meron sa summit ng Mt. Pulag. Kagaya na lang nung sa candy crush na laro: sweet, tasty, delicious, divine, sugar crush ganyan para maraming adjectives na magamit kahit hindi naman bagay ipang-describe sa bundok kasi hindi ko naman kinain 'yung bundok.

Seriously speaking, pag naghalo na 'yung hirap mo, 'yung frustrations, 'yung pagod mo, 'yung sakit ng ulo mo tas papakitaan ka ng ganito kagandang sunrise at sea of clouds? Ewan ko na lang kung may mabanggit ka pang ibang salita maliban sa, "Salamat." Mas banal pa 'yung akyat na 'to kesa sa isang araw na pagvi-Visita Iglesia eh. Akala ko lalampas na ko ng langit kakahingi ng guidance. hehe.

Mt. Pulag talaga 'yung sa tingin kong number 1 sa lahat ng pinuntahan kong lugar ngayong taon. Iba. Sobrang iba. Full details: here.

14. Best Pool

Sige, as for the water quality, tingin ko wala pang nakakatalo sa pool ng EDSA Shangri-la pero kasi 'yung infinity pool, 'yung view na may mountains, Laguna bay saka Manila skyline tas sobrang relaxing pa, 'yun 'yung mga naging reason kung bakit best pool 'tong inifinity pool sa Luljetta.

Uhmm, no matter how busy you are, you should always make time for your friends and for something that nourishes your soul.

Mas marami pa sana ko gustong ilagay pero sige, hanggang number 14 na lang muna dahil 2014 naman. Hehe.

Sa pagtatapos ng "nobelang" ito na puro pagpaparinig lang 'yung iba kasi hindi talaga ako maubusan ng gustong puntahan:

Sabi ni David Steindl-Rast, "Gratefulness is the key to a happy life that we hold in our hands, because if we are not grateful, then no matter how much we have we will not be happy -- because we will always want to have something else or something more.”

MARAMING SALAMAT, UNIVERSE PARA SA ISANG AMAZING NA 2014. MARAMING SALAMAT DIN PARA SA MAS AMAZING NA FUTURE. Hehehe.

May God bless us all.

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