2018 Annual Look Back

2018 was a big year - spiritually, personally and professionally. But honestly speaking, I had fears at the beginning of that year. Lots of doubts and fears caved in. There is so much to say about it as this has been a year of correction and breakthroughs. 

As an annual look back,  I wanted to share a few highlights here, and also encourage you to reflect on the year, perhaps writing down some of the major things so you can remember. 

The greatest change this year was my walk with God. I wrestled with God and disobeyed Him a lot of times, but I was just so blessed that He still reached out for me and extended his loving arms so I can be back into His presence. I started my journey January of 2018 - unsure, nervous and a bit lost and it was just around April when I really started attending a VG. 

January - 1st Family Staycation + random dates. I have always been dreaming to have a day or two of staycation with my family, and it happened this year. Using the Famous Agents points, we've booked a room in Fairmont Makati.  

Pool Time. 'twas raining, though. :)

Dinner, before going back home. 

Dinner to celebrate my 3rd year in CWT. 

February - The love month! My 1st Hot Air balloon festival experience, a quick Baguio trip, few eat outs with friends + spontaneous dates. 

Dust everywhere!

Strawberry ice cream in Strawberry farm. How's that? :)

Satinka naturals

Dinner on Vday after the service. 

March -  Bob and I, along with my college buddy went up North for the Holy Week.  On the same month, we also attended my college friend's wedding in Tagaytay. This is also the month I started my diet plan hahaha, a difficult one as this is also the month full  of catch up + eat outs. Who's foolin' who? 

Anda, Pangasinan

Morning walk at the beach. 

Sherlyn & Dexter's Wedding @ Casa De Corazon, Tagaytay

Catch up sesh with Jackie

Dinner with Pete @Gringo's

Thank you, Qantas 

April - Joined Minkah's outreach ministry in collaboration with SuperBook and few eat outs! Come on! :)  Minkah Ministries is a Christian NGO who helps underprivileged children by organizing a once a month outreach program to the street children of Barangay Valenzuela, Makati City. The ultimate aim of this group is to bring food that would help nourish the physical hunger at the same time spiritual hunger of the said children. 

Yes, I tried so hard to be on a diet again hahaha! Please dont judge me!

Brgy. Carmona, Makati

Filling Station

May – Summer time, but never had the chance to set my foot at the beach. Loser me! Had a few small celebration at home and at the office.

Mother's day celebration

VCS Kids

June – Summer time is over but  I finally had the chance to go to the beach for our annual team building! All of us were giddy and excited despite the weather condition that time. It’s June and we all know that it’s a rainy month! Anyway, God has blessed us with a nicer weather that day + lotsa food and good company! Just before the month ends, my team also had our very 1^st strat planning/ overnight stay and of course a quick dinner date. :)

Trying so hard to learn Calligraphy. 

Dinner time. 

Go! Blue team! 

July – Let’s get physical. A very active month indeed – weekly Zumba sesh, running clinic and few badminton games and a complimentary staycation in Somerset. What made this month memorable is the P&F. 

Shake it 😂😂😂

Badminton tournament 

Free staycation @Somerset

August – my bday month! Wohooo! Back to back bday celebration + surprises, family staycation (Raffles Makati) and a lot of eat out invites. I know, I know. It has been  a busy month as well in preparation for our much awaited Singles Retreat in Mt. Makiling. Finally met our tribomates and had our puyatan nights. 

Cheers to their 36th year! 

September – More puyatan nights for our ‘cheering’, banner, table centerpiece, daily social media entries! Believe me, it’s kinda exhausting but it’s very much rewarding. Gained few great friends and had a fresh encounter with God! A month that gave me a better and fresh perspective about relationships. The month that opened  the door for new opportunity! Oh by the way, I also got my driver's license - finally! 

The winning entry 👏👏

Bughaw's Blessing Booth :)

Bughaw's Tribal Costume :)

October – Bob’s bday celebration – cooked for him and serenade him (just kidding), played the ukulele as I sang the bday song! Yes, cheesy! Hahaha 💓💓

The last prayer and fasting of the year. God healed my aching shoulder and back!  

My VG also joined VMak's IDFF. I havent seen the final film though, but we pray that we're able to convey God's message, especially to those who are lost. This is also the month of eat outs (of course, what's new?!) Met my tribomates for our dinner slash awards night.

A week after, my friends and I went to Intramuros, it was my 1^st time to explore the walled city. I think I’ve been there one time but my memory’s a blur. 

By mid- October, another wedding took place. Travelled to Lumban Laguna to be part of their union. Met my old chums, who have their own kiddos already. They’re holding the baby’s hand, while I’m holding my phone hahaha! Nice one.

Dinner + Awarding 

November – Victory weekend + Church community, random dates + eat outs. This month is truly a huge one! Fresh and deeper encounter with God. New learnings about the church community. Met new friends. Received the big news – promotion! Thankful and blessed. However, by the end of the month, my dad had an heart attack. He’s alive and healty as of this post, though. Thanks be to God.

One2one is done. 🙌🙌

Victory Weekend💓💓💓💓

Nice art work, don't you agree? Love the notes too. 

1st Wednesday service with these couple. 

December - Festive Season. God has shown His faithfulness through healing and finances. Despite the financial and health issues, we have peace. We’ve got friends who covered us in prayers and even helped us to settle the bill.

Christmas parties everywhere! Attended the CWT’s appreciation night, Bughaw’s dinner + simple party, hosted a gift giving party at home for the church members and for the less fortunate ones.. It was our 1^st time to have games, presentation and exchange gift at home during the Christmas Eve.

Christmas dinner - Tribo Bughaw

Appreciation Night 

Last dinner for 2018

2018 , like I said, was amazingly full but it was a great year that I’ll look back on fondly. Little did I know that there’s a lot of 1^st times this year! There’s a few lowlights but I opted not to focus on those experiences/emotions. I’d rather share all the great things that happened to me, to give me the oomph to continue and to inspire people.

I can’t wrap this post without saying THANK YOU ! It would be awfully sad and unrewarding if I didn’t have the pleasure of interacting with you as a reader through my blog and IG. Though I have stayed quiet for quite some time, there are some of you who’s sending me messages and well wishes.  I’m grateful to have such wonderful readers and I hope you know that I’m always thinking about the content that would be beneficial, motivating, engaging, or thought-provoking to read as there are so many blogs, so many Instagram accounts, and so many other things demanding our attention daily. I’m so glad you take the time to read and follow along, it means a lot! Thank you. May we all have an amazing year ahead. Our breakthrough’s on its way!

💓💓💓
Ash

Unanswered. Pending.

I promised myself not to scribble anything about us, the absence of us, the what could have been us, and the “current state of us – because my world’s kinda chaotic right now and I am trying to fathom the whole thing.

I guess our story is uncontrollably laden with frenzied extremes; rife with tough relationship algorithms; fueled with the overwhelming sequence of holding on and letting go- that keeping it all inside will make me a captive in the fortress called “Us But Not Quite”.

So I've decided to bring it to light to clear the cobwebs in my heart and free my soul from the heartbreaking state that we both created.

Where should I start? Where should I begin? Should I start on the day you told me you liked me? That it’s good to see the front row peeks of me every morning?

We met at the crucial time when we’re both healing – we found solace in each other’s arms.

We always have the hellos and good mornings and a lot of goodnight texts/chats. We were inseparable. You saw a woman with a fiery spirit, you saw the child within me, you saw how stubborn I can be. You appreciate everything about me. You remember what I wore to work that day, describing me as if I were one of the pretty girls in the building. My heart skipped a beat because of you.t.

You wanted to know me more. You persevered and called me uncompromisingly.  I am amused with your flair of proper grammar and interest about a lot of things. You taught me almost everything – darts, basketball, swimming, insurance, abacus, and even assisted me in my teaching demonstrations, among other things. You're my go-to guy.

We talked about love, misadventures, and its quirks like love-sick teenagers. We talked about our daily struggles and joys. We traded Bible verses and devotions, videos, quotes, songs, and pictures of our mundane or bizarre lives. You even sent me a short poem one morning, and loads of sweet messages.

And, despite your machismo, chagrin, and self-preservation, you sent me gratuitous "selfie shots" just to make me laugh. We got a lot more than we bargained for. We could tell that something special was developing between us. We also have more in common than we realized. We bared our souls to each other without fear of being judged. We also noticed that a spark was slowly igniting.

You said you found comfort in me, which scares you because you don't want to rely on me. You were terrified, as am I. You admitted to enjoying the warm, fuzzy feeling of falling in love with the unknown. You imagined soft sunlight, new beginnings, morning cuddles, and waking up beside me. While I was sitting at the counter in your adorable kitchen, we talked about anything and everything. I enjoy the comfort of that old familiar sensation of falling in love.

But those happy times were fleeting - everything changed in less than a year. And eventually I noticed you drawing yourself away from me, as if I didn't exist. Yet you're sometimes here to throw curveballs and mixed signals. And here I am, still crazy at how you gave me just enough to keep me on my toes but not enough to keep me standing. I'll never understand what went wrong, why you can't cross the fence anymore. I wasn't sure if you lost interest or found someone new. But we should still need a closure, a farewell, an explanation no matter how pathetic that may be, so I can let you go.