8 Things in College I did not bother investing my time and it paid off.

Well, wow?! How did we get into 9 years of throwback? Cheers to years of burning the midnight oil, horrible thesis defense, retiring professors and 1.1K likes of yearbook’s profile pictures. Haha!

While coming up with this, I was filled with endless credit for the pressures, possibilities, statistics, and individuals that have brought so much impact to how I have become. Right now, I wondered why I put that “statistics” (in here), hmmm perhaps Math has made me think a great writer for now. Lol.

The point is, all of us are formed by the best and worst of our choices – and college is one of  the homes that could have either broken or built us. How we decided to hold on to opportunities during our college years could highlight great or dreadful scenarios for a lifetime. And sometimes, for others it is ‘both.’

Inspired by one of the writer’s at Elitedaily, I would want to share what exactly were the things that I never bothered joining in my university’ (in fact, I did not even know where to go to college so I ended up dreaming of Harvard) Phew!

Seriously, below are what I did not mind investing my time as these experiences (I thought) were time-wasting.

So take the time. Wink!

1. Joining a sorority group.

I was an introvert. And “I am”. I heard many good feedbacks about girls’ united clubs and it was true. However, joining sorority/frat was maybe one of the scariest choices I might have done since painful initiations and shameful trials were for compliance. One thing I was thankful for is that I learned to be independent than to seek the approval of others. Standing alone and tapping myself was the bravest decision I ever made.

2. PMS

Because sex is now a necessity? Regardless of integrity?

Isn’t it called insanity? Or just a pleasure of today’s humanity?

Dating and hooking up make the heart beat

Tinder and condoms collide in a single click

Sex chooses no limit of age

I was afraid I was young – buckled in a cage

Blind of love, lost in the moment

Not afraid of failure, not afraid of guilt

Mama’s looking for her jewel , saving up money for dinner

Unknown to her , I was with a boner

Thinkin’ my life in a cage like this

Will my future kids imitate a mom writing this?

The man of her life was looking around dreamin’

For a jewel who’s pure, quite, unpretending

So I chose not to drop by holding hands and texting

Hooking up, kissing or whatever online dating

Let there be bullying or friends I’ll be losing

Time, I believe , I shouldn’t be wasting

Let the mystery of love be worth waiting.

3. Being too involved in many student council activities.

I think this is one of the most exciting parts for investing leadership which I disagree back then. I chose not to get involved since I figured out that most student-leaders were even voted for personal gain only to maintain their academic stance slash self-test.  This was all about record-breaking the worst for fame!

Most were doing this part for academics while some did run for election to secure an image deserved of respect and entitlement. At some sort this was not wrong,  yet most millennial leaders have been byproduct of self-entitlement. I wonder how leaders behave behind memes and selfies with the President.

Can we be a leader at home and see a leader helping neighbors? J

4. Dropping out a minor subject that gave me INC.

This was the moment I found so much forgiveness in second chances. If I dropped this one minor subject out I would have missed the details of catching opportunities. Indeed, there is opportunity in every struggle.

5. Wearing make up and lipstick.

I have seen what it takes for men to appreciate girls who wear make up and those who just stick to natural looks. And so my survey says that attitude matters when looks are underrated. haha

While staying good on my career now requires physical neatness I am thankful I do not overspend from buying lipstick and blush on.

While it builds confidence to being good-looking it gives peace to stay real.

6. Changing my Major.

I got saved because of my major. This must be the most important choice when I did not even know where to go after choosing Literature and Linguistics. I dreamed of being a journalist, FA or a geologist and yet it was in my most trying age when God orchestrates things through detours. And while shoving off to learn something new I am bound to loving entrepreneurship.

If changing major is one of the most confusing choices  I think it is not true. A person can learn something while hating it and learning two things at the same time is one big positive course to choosing a career.

In my experience, I figured out that I am now enjoying a hobby (a bit of entrepreneurship) that is far different from my degree. I enjoyed risk-taking!

7. Creating too many social media accounts.

I had Twittier, IG, Blogspot and FB feeding my night outs for social update and it then drained me into isolation. Having only 5 to 10 friends in my phone contacts was quite a  challenge making me question my worth in every friendship.

Creating social accounts while updating them all the time can form isolation, depression and even self-validation. I realized I have greater friends around than being too attached to the virtual world.

Having too many social media cycles was a depressing choice. We create a world that requires accounts only to validate our worth, brag our talent and appreciate our ‘presence’. This was one big YES to deleting them (even deactivating my facebook) just to test how the real world could eventually give an impact to my social life.

I suggest you (dear reader) to take time and reach out the person next to you than pressing on the like button only to make people feel you recognize them.

It is being in the moment when we see the meaning of being alive. I assure you, someone needs an encouragement in the real world.

8. Coffee overdose.

I started appreciating wellness  when I did squats (thanks Boo!) until I figured out milk was better than this endorphin stimulant. It was easy to sleep and wake up uneasy without too being dependent on any sugar condiment diet. I maintained my weight and this served me push through sweating for nutrition.

So, regardless of meta-analyis and studies shown in the websites, I could say that being a pillow addict is better than waking up with bulging eyebags.

My New Beauty Gadget

It’s been months since I posted about my personal life and now I’m back with a new beauty gadget in my pouch!!!!

Yeeyyy! So now I’d like to post this because it has really made an impact in my confidence level.Haha

So proud to have my new baby beauty gadget!

Facts about my new baby:

√ has micropulse oscillating technology for deep cleansing

√has won a global beauty gadget award

√ 100% quality product

√ minimizes pores

√ sweeps away rough skin

√ increases cell turnover

√stimulates tired skin

√improves skin density and volume

√skin looks energized and toned

#ctto

My skin transformation 🙂

One thing I’ve realized: ” Skincare is essential.”

Kalonbarak Skyline Ridge Escapade

Kalilangan Festival

Exploring the festive ambiance of General Santos City’s culture and tradition would leave you astounded and here are some of those who brought the city’s royalty into life.

Alone. Not lonely.

Sometimes I realize, we dont have to follow the norm to be happy and to be satisfied. I realize we need a “me-time”, reflect, search for new places, meet new people and meet strangers until we see that no one holds us back because we are young and free! (Who tells age can limit us?)

We need to get off some luggages, make mistakes, get up and learn more. Being in 20s is to be yourself and not be too serious about life (partly).

We gotta enjoy every moment and not be too focused on our obligations.

So what if get failing grades, if we dont have a very amazing job or we are not yet ready to settle down?

We have our own perfect time! 😊

What amazed me about life is that, we have to meet a lot of people and then filter everything they teach us. Once we filter the experiences and the moments we spent with them we will get back into realization that we can be the best that we can if we listen to their stories and use those to help us grow.

God is also a mentor and our path and blessings are just around the corner. Life is not tough. Life is just simple.

Row your boat gently down the stream merily (3x) life is but a dream.

Phew!

10 amazing facts about Kingjames

If there is one thing life has taught me about friendship – that is to meet a lot of people and know their stories. And knowing stories is not just an easy thing. Sometimes, you happen to jump off the fence, filter what you’ve heard and learn to see the reality of cultural differences.

So in my 6 months of Postgrad studies I met a muslim student whom I never thought would help me see the importance of frienship beyond culture and tradition.

Meet kingjames sindab hadji najeeb. King is a muslim. I happened to just meet this guy when I went to graduate school until I found out he already saw me more than twice in college.

Anyway, below are just some of the things that make these folk amazing:

1. A good brother. Usahay na lang ng itreat iyang pamilya kung musahod. Tama ba king?Usahay wala nay bilin.

2. He’s one text away. He knows you’re in need once he sees you silent.

3. He is chivalrous. Well, gamay na lang na sila karong panahon.

4. He is hardworking . Okay, plus good looking. Ambot nganong single gihapon hangtud karon.

5. Crush niya si Potsy. Awww❤

6. He is a BS Economics graduate now a public servant in a Health Insurance Company (murag trivia na man ni)

7. He is somewhat attractive to gays… At least diba kay Sir Stan***😂

8. An obssessed fan of Sarah Geronimo. #Oppo at mano po

9. He is really a text a away. Repeat. A text away (Loader man gud siya)😂

10. He is a Maranao who can speak Bisaya fluently! Much of religious variations, he is a proof that a great friend is someone you can call a King!

Thanks King. Happy Birthday!

Kalonbarak, Malungon, Sarangani Province

Plaza Heneral Santos

10 Principles to Financial Freedom

Dilaab: Pas. Joel Jumalon

Most of us millennials admit that money is one important spice to the version Y.O.L.O. College served as preparation for our lives ahead but not until searching for a stable job came as a huge and a tricky challenge leaving us muted when we seem too broke with many desired dreams.

Financial Freedom nowadays seems like a distant destination knowing how the economy runs down for competitions. But, should we let those whims and dreams dry out only because American Dream ended on 90’s?

From A to J, Let us learn from the 10 principles shared by Pastor Joel Jumalon.

A – dministrator. Everything is not yours dear. Learn to see that things – intangible things – do not last. You live to become an administrator.  We do not possess any of this world but we can live by how we handle financial situations. Psalm 24:1

B – udget. Live within your means. You don’t need to prove luxury is happiness. What you have is who you really are and self-validity will only stress you out. When you learn budgeting, you will be happy you have more at the end of the day.

C – ut your credit cards (if necessary)

D – emolish debt. Pay it off asap! Simplify your lifestyle. Again, budget your money. Pay your tithes, claim God’s promise.

E – ducate yourself. The great equalizer: A proven way to escape poverty. Buy books and listen to podcasts. TAKE THIS QUOTE: Never stop learning because life never stops teaching.

F – amily Planning. Plan your children’s future. It is not about the number of children. It is also about their well-being. Plan it.

G – ratefulness. Be generous to others. Cultivate a winning attitude. Your attitude determines your altitude. Be thankful of your work. No one has ever become poor by giving away.

Matthew 10:42

People will be generous when they are contented. The happiest people do not necessarily have the best things. They only appreciate the things that they have.

H – onesty and harwork. Money comes and goes and earning your pay is not really easy. Work hard but with joy because it is an essential ingredient for success. Proverbs 28:6, Proverbs 13:4

I – nvest for the future. Invest also in eternity. Nothing lasts but you can leave something you’ll be grateful when you are done. When you plan, you can plant! Start to make your own money. Luke 12:20-21

Your cell group is also a good investment. Revelation 20:12

J – 10-20-70 is the secret formula

Tithe – 10%

Save – 20%

Spend – 70%

Good Job! Allow God to change your heart.

THE BATTLE OF WAITING

O1:45 p.m. The screeching rays of the sun engulfed my entire confidence as I walked through the exasperating pavement of the university. No matter how hard I tried to cover my skin and cheeks from the scorching blows of sun rays,I could not help but fight again the bursting impatience and complains triggering my melancholic temperament. I disliked doing soliloquy. I preferred to keep silent while pacing on the stony aisles going to my desired destination. I was not a loner. It was just that I used to mull over the things I had in mind and solve them by myself amidst the presence of people passing by and fro. Some kind of a habit meditating in the middle of an endless noise. The world it is ! I was born to live here… that no matter where I go, there I am.
I mindlessly griped my bag strap. It had been my company for a countless ‘friendship-holding-hands’. Through making an expressive clasp from this strap, I felt like no one could ever drag me off. Hundred steps, I did not notice. I inevitably sensed something was going to hit me. I stopped. Then, ignored. Though quite exhausted, I kept on striding while carrying the burdened silence. It seemed that everyone’s eye was glued at staring at me. Immediately, an aggravating shyness blurted out my countenance compensating over my spine and shattered my adrenaline. ‘Why don’t these souls stop on observing and talking about me? I’m not famous… and I hate fame.’ my mind obnoxiously sounded. Still, I gripped harder and walked as if I was in stupor. Near half an hour passed and the deafening meditation was over. I bid goodbye to my friendly bag strap.

As I stopped for a while, the earth suddenly revolved for its changing task. The cloud had driven out the sun elsewhere as I no longer felt its painful pierce from the rays. A new breeze and a swirling mist assembled to bustle for a rain. Rapidly, they fell as an unstoppable million of warriors descending to conquer an oppressive land. Looking for a place to stand by, there, I witnessed the battle of rain. Staring at nowhere, I heaved a big sigh. I had thought of the things I forgot to reach out.
Too many weeks I missed going out, days to find rest, moments to talk with mama, hours to pray long and nights to watch the stars. There are lots of things I had skipped or even had forgotten to dwell on. I even missed my Facebook account to which I could steal a wee hour checking on my notifications and messages during my research periods. Only from reading his replies I spared a time to meet a part of myself. Yes. Only a part. Because I left the portion of my heart to someone I cannot show what I felt. He had my heart that was what I knew. Yet, he cannot totally own it. Perhaps.
Dealing with commitment without preparation would be the most frustrating stand of being a woman. Establishing a godly standard should train her to face the future with fullness of patience and purity. She must indeed wait for the man she desires as well as the man should wait until the most perfect time has come.

‘I knew it..He’s gonna wait for me. He promised to be faithful ’til we graduate… even without constant communication.’ “ How is he?” I muttered. “When was the last time we saw each other? ..I can’t remember. Half an hour ended and I was caught by the wind.
The battle was over. I could count the warriors falling down the trees and bushes. They had successfully made an engrossing hush from the struggle of war. What a refreshing existence to meet the ardent embrace of quietness. From then, I stepped out of the little shed and waved for a ride. I’ll go for Fb. I missed it. Words that suddenly popped on my mind. I glanced back to the place where I had been a minute ago. The little canopy, the rain, the leaves and the silence. .. But no. I don’t miss Facebook. I miss him. As I left, I was trapped on a shadow of nostalgia. That moment shattered my hope and strength. I managed not to be carried away. But the leaf with the single drop of water flashed back. I was reminded not to send messages to him again. He was already in a relationship with someone else. He had forgotten to wait for me. He had forgotten his promises.

An abrupt melancholy engrossed my broken heart. I tried to hide the tears. But I realized, I had also been a prisoner of the past. By then, I let them fall like warriors fighting against the hidden pain – seeking for a place to hide. No need to hold them back! I had to cry to win thebattle. I had to accept we’re over. Pain was not the ending. Brokenness was for a new beginning.