Finding Hope

  As many of you know, I recently took the Civil Engineering licensure exam. The decision to register was not an easy one, as I was facing many challenges at the time. However, time has flown by, and I find myself reflecting on the countless sleepless nights spent solving board exam problems, struggling with my weak math skills, and persevering through my Civil Engineering journey. Despite not being the top student in my class, nor a gifted mathematician, I persisted and did my best to pass my subjects, hoping that my efforts will soon be rewarded. As the board exam results draw near, I am writing this to remind myself that I will be proud of my best effort, regardless of the outcome. While my best may not be the best in the eyes of others, I overcame my anxiety and self-doubt and fought to move forward. My mother's reassurance that she is proud of me for graduating and earning my degree has given me a great deal of comfort. However, passing the licensure exam still means a lot to ...

  Lately, my dreams have been taking me on incredible adventures - I get to meet all kinds of people, from hopeful dreamers to scary zombies, aliens, and even heroes and villains! It's like I'm creating a whole new world in my head, a world that's so different from my regular routine. But let's be real - some days, I just want to hide under my blankets and forget about everything. Sadly, that's not how life works! We have to face our struggles to move forward, even if it hurts. The good news is that the lessons we learn from those tough moments make us stronger and wiser. And when we feel lost, we can always count on God's love and compassion to guide us through. So, while my dreams might be a temporary escape, I know that facing reality head-on is the only way to truly grow.

Believe me or not, I wanted to be an actor when I was in Grade 6 (hahaha). Although what I really wanted back then was to be an Archaeologist or Scientist, there was a part of me that wanted to perform on stage or on camera. I started to realize this when I joined a theatre workshop in the summer of 2009. I was eleven at that time, and theatre performers from Manila/Zamboanga offered to teach us the basics of theatre arts. I had fun doing all the activities, we were tasked to create a play for the culmination of the workshop and we decided to make a fantasy story and was set in a kingdom where 'engkanto' lived and prospered.  I was cast as the King of the engkantos, together with me were high school students and some faculty members. By the end of the program I was awarded 'Best Actor”, it was the first time that I felt so fulfilled about something. I continued this newfound passion until high school and although I can't really tell if I'm good or not, at least I wa...

  Upon returning here after more than a year, I've come to a realization. I have fallen in love with the people and places that have become my home away from home. In Zamboanga, watching the sunset fills me with peace, while in Dumaguete, the sunrise makes me feel at home. The flavors of the food here in Zamboanga remind me of the dishes back in our home in Bongao, and in Dumaguete, the taste of puto tsokolate and my perfected chicken adobo bring back memories of my college years. Having lived in Dumaguete for over seven years, I've become more fluent in Bisaya than my mother tongue, Tausug. My accent has adapted to the Bisaya dialect, which can be noticed in my speech. Hearing people talk in Tausug or Chavacano now feels different, and even visitors need to speak in Filipino to communicate easily. Falling in love doesn't always mean romantic love. I have also fallen in love with my friends in Dumaguete, while still loving my long-time friends here. It's been years sinc...