It's a prank!
I am not into pranks. I mentioned this in my previous article entitled "When pranks and jokes have gone too far. I don't usually pull pranks on others because I don't like being pranked either.
But I admit that there are times, just a few, that I've also played a prank on others. I did it to my family members, and it is not a serious prank that went too far.
There are two instances where what I did is still vivid in my memory and I still laugh every time I remember the reactions of the people I played a prank on.
Everyone in the Philippines is surely aware of the television show hosted by Willie Revillame. It is very known because it gives prizes to people in the form of money and gadgets. If you are fortunate enough, you might even be selected to play in one of the segments of the show and get a chance to win 1 million Philippine pesos or a house and lot. Almost every household in the Philippines knows this show and a lot of people want to be selected as one of the daily winners.
We used to watch it every day as well. My housemates never missed a day of watching the show, and we even participated in the 'Shopee Shake' segment, in which we shook our phones while the Shopee app was open to win Shopee coins that we could spend for online shopping on the same app. I was searching for a game on the Play Store one day when I came across an app about Kuya Will calling pranks. I decided to download the app to see what it was all about, and discovered that it is an app that allows someone to pretend that the famous game show host is calling.
That afternoon, I tried it on my sister to see if it works. Well, if you are into this kind of pranks, you should be good at acting. At that time, our television is turned off and everyone is minding their own business. My mom is looking after the store, my sister whom I aimed to play a prank was sitting across from me in our bedroom while the rest of our housemates are hanging out at the nipa hut outside, so it's perfect to start the 'show'.
My phone rang and I answered it, and I 'told' the caller about my name, and I was trying so hard to suppress my laughter when my sister looked at me for a second. And since they know me for putting my calls on loudspeaker, she wasn't suspicious. Then, I put on a weird yet excited face and told her:
*"Si kuya Will, Si kuya Will! Tumatawag, ikaw na sumagot kinakabahan ako, di ko alam sasabihin ko."* ("Kuya Will is calling! Answer it, I'm nervous I don't know what to say.") She looked like her mind is loading for 3 seconds and said *"Bakit ako? Ikaw na, baka hindi ako pwede"* (Why me? I might not be allowed to, you should do it") In a very excited tone, she was even jumping out of joy. She forgot that it was Saturday at that time and it's still lunchtime which is not the time that the game show host normally calls people. My sister then hurriedly went outside and excitedly told mom that I was picked as a winner at the said game show. They were all too excited and when I can no longer suppress my laughter because of their reactions, I laugh so hard in front of them while saying: "It's a praaaaank!"
I may not be able to fully convey how hilarious that time is, but it was so funny that I am even laughing while typing and remembering that moment.
The reason I remembered this is because, this afternoon, I pulled a little prank again. This time it was to my aunt. We haven't seen each other for more than a year already and we were surprised when she came and visited us today. But what annoyed me is that she was repeatedly asking me about my boyfriend. She even told me that she heard that I'm already getting married. I simply told her that we didn't push through the wedding because of the pandemic and that my boyfriend is unable to come because of the pandemic health protocols. She kept asking me to introduce my boyfriend to her too.
I remembered about the call prank I did before and I thought that there might also be a similar app on Playstore. I searched for the app and found one which will enable the user to pretend that a certain 'boyfriend' is calling. It features the members of the famous Kpop idol group BTS. Since my aunt is not familiar with Kpop and BTS, I was sure that she'll believe it.
I set the app to call after five minutes and when it rang, I told her that my boyfriend is calling. It was so funny when my aunt was trying so hard to speak English and introduced herself to Taehyung. pretended like I was translating what she was saying in Korean. And she believed it was real. What's more hilarious is when my father arrived home from work, she told him that he already have a son-in-law. I didn't tell her that it was just a fake video call and I'm sure she will tell our relatives about it too. Well, at least for now I won't have to worry about my relatives' pressuring me about getting a boyfriend, and worse, to get married lol.
I think it's not too late for this
It's 12:45 a.m. at the time of writing and like usual, here I am listening to the sound of the clock. Tik Tok tik tok. Everyone is sleeping soundly aside from me. I just finished watching an episode of Kdrama and I'm having the urge to open my laptop and try practicing what we will be doing at training tomorrow, or should I say 'later this morning'.
Since I can't sleep yet, I decided to make better use of my time and write an article. And since I don't have a topic in mind, I will just join the challenge of showing what's in my gallery.
Here it is...
The oldest photo in my gallery
I really love collecting old photos and looking back at the old times when I look at them. I have lots of old photos in my gallery but this one is the oldest. Guess who?
This is a photo of my maternal great-grandfather. I don't know when it was taken, but I'm thinking that it was in the 1930s or 1940s. I am not really sure. It was a photo taken during my great-grandparent's wedding, but I cut it because my great-grandma's face is no longer visible. I really hope there's a way to restore it so I can have a clear image of what she looks like. I heard that one of my grandfathers (grandma's sibling) looks after her and I'll tell you, he's very handsome. He had that real Latino vibe that he was often mistaken as a foreigner.
An embarrassing photo
This is probably the most embarrassing photo that is saved on my gallery. It was a photo I took more than a month ago when I got a pimple breakout. Just looking at this is tingling my face. I'm just thankful that we are wearing facemasks nowadays because if not, I would be too embarrassed to go outside when my face is like this. And this could also be the '***worst***' photo I have on my gallery.
A group photo
Like I said, I really like collecting old photos. This one appeared on my Facebook memories a week ago so I downloaded and saved it on my gallery. It was taken in 2012 during a group performance in Physical Education. It was actually a competition between all the courses in our school and my group and I represented our class for the ***traditional dance***. If my memory serves me right, we danced a Muslim dance called *Salidumay*. Our instructor really had a hard time teaching me that time since I am not a good dancer and it was so hard to remember the steps. I think we didn't even make it to the top 3 lol.
The best photo
This is what I consider the best photo. It's a photo of me and my parents during my graduation from college. My parents are not really fond of taking pictures, especially my mom. She's the most *killjoy* person I have ever known. She doesn't like taking photos with us. We don't even have a complete family picture. So I really treasure this photo because it's the second photo of the three of us. The first one is taken during my graduation from high school.
A beach photo
This photo gives me the Hometown Chachacha feels. I took it during my trip to the beach with my colleagues. Looking at this photo gives me peace. I feel like I want to go here alone and just stare at the vast emerald blue sea. I also want to go back to this place, and maybe I could, one day.
These are all random, isn't it? I was writing the article last night and didn't realize that I was already sleeping. Fortunately, I was able to retrieve it this morning. I just tried finishing the article before I attend my training. Have a happy day my dear readcashers.
Realizations while watching Single's Inferno
I first heard about this show from my friend. She told me about this Korean variety show that is being streamed on Netflix which features single men and women, but I wasn't interested at first. Then, several days ago, as I was scrolling on my Facebook newsfeed, I kept seeing posts and links about the mentioned variety show. As a result, I decided to binge-watch it since it only has 8 episodes.
If you haven't watched the show, then let me tell you about it.
***Single's Inferno*** is a reality dating show wherein a group of gorgeous and hot single men and women are placed on a deserted island. It's like a survival game because there's not much technology. They slept in tents, they cooked their food in a cauldron and they have to fetch water from afar. They are not allowed to bring their phones as well, and the only way for them to escape is to go on a date in a luxury hotel they called *paradise.* And to do that they must choose someone from the opposite sex and that person must choose them as well. I will not spill more beans so as not to spoil those who might want to watch the variety show as well.
While watching the show, I had some realizations, and here are some:
The first impression doesn't always last, but it is important to make a strong impression.
First impression is always important as it affects how people will treat us. People say that first impression lasts, but as I said in my blog before, this does not always hold true in my experience. Song Ji-A is the one who makes the most impression in the show; as soon as she steps foot on the island, the other contestants' gazes are drawn to her, particularly the guys. During their interview, the majority of them displayed interest in her and stated a desire to learn more about her. She was also a fan favorite of the viewers, as I saw on other blogs and social media posts. Her *strong* personality made some of the guys hard to approach her. One of them likes her right away, but he can't even talk to her; yet, as the show progressed, it became clear that Jia is a nice lady. On the other hand, one of the participants, An Yeawon, is not a fan of the crowd. Despite the fact that she is also incredibly attractive, has a lovely smile, and is really polite and nice, no one chose her in the first round.
We meet people every day, and from time to time we also meet new people, it is important to leave a strong impression as it may affect how they treat us. We may not be as pretty and gorgeous as the ladies on that variety show, but if we are confident and has a good attitude, people may like us too, and who knows, we may even stand out among the crowd.
You can't trust men's words.
One of the male participants clearly showed interest in one of the ladies. He was bold enough to confess to her that he likes her and that he would definitely choose her. They were able to escape the island and go to paradise. They had a great time in paradise and the guy expressed his feelings towards the lady. He was a smooth talker and assured her that he would only go to paradise with her, he doesn't even care about their age. But the next day, when they went back to the island, a new rule was imposed for the second selection of who's going to be their date. They were told not to choose the previous girl or guy they went to paradise with. *Kang So-Yeon* (the name of the lady I was talking about) thought that Oh Jin Taek would want to stay on the island with her, based on what he told her during their date in paradise. So she picked a guy that she is sure will not pick her, thinking that Oh Jin Taek is thinking the same. But Oh Jin Taek actually chose a girl that he has a chance with.
This made me realize that you can't trust what men say. They would say they like you, but the truth is, they have 'reserves'. Once they realize that something would go wrong between them and the girl they are chasing after, they would switch to another girl. **Don't feel special when a guy treats you nicely**, because he may be nice to everyone too.
Don't chase after guys.
One of the participants also showed that it is important to focus more on yourself instead of chasing after guys. If you see that the guy's emotions or feelings towards you are wavering, then let it be. Just because he showed interest in you, doesn't mean you have to commit yourself to that guy. Don't chase after him, because there is still a lot of fish in the sea, so don't focus on that guy alone. Instead, reflect on yourself to see and realize why that guy chose to go after other girls. Maybe you are not showing interest in him, or maybe you are not leaving hints that his feelings will be reciprocated so he chooses to look after a girl who will reciprocate his feelings. Whatever the reason, if the guy really likes you, he would not look at someone else anymore.
I could still go and ramble on about this variety show, but I will stop here as I may be leaving too much spoiler.
Soon I'll be...
If you are fond of watching short videos on *Tiktok,* I'm sure you already encountered a video with the song **7 years** playing in the background. Are you familiar with that song?
I used to not pay attention to that song, but these days I feel like I can relate to it.
*Once I was seven years old, my mama told me*
*Go make yourself some friends or you'll be lonely*
*Once I was seven years old*
When I was seven and even up to my teenage years, my mom would nag me from time to time why I don't have many friends. As I was growing up, I don't have that many friends. My mom would always nag me and would criticize me telling me that I may have fewer friends because I am ill-mannered, a snob, and bitchy. Little did she know that I am not really comfortable in having lots of friends, I prefer few but real friends. I'd still opt to have fewer friends and read books rather than play with my peers if I could go back in time.
*Once I was 11 years old, my daddy told me*
*Go get yourself a wife or you'll be lonely*
*Once I was 11 years old*
Contrary to this, my parents never encouraged young love. hey are incredibly rigid, so even when it was usual for teenagers to have crushes, I kept my crushes hidden. They were barely eighteen when they married, so I believe my mother was unable to enjoy those days and years that she was supposed to enjoy since she was working and taking care of me and my siblings. Though there are times when I can't help but blame her because it was her fault for choosing that life, I am also thankful that they were very stern because that way, I've reached this age when I am still free of worries regarding family problems. I am thankful that I am able to enjoy my youth, do things that others can't do because they married young.
However, the irony is that, as a result of their strictness, I am now adamant about remaining single for a longer period of time. And now it's their turn to encourage me to get married. Sometimes, whenever my dad and his long-time childhood friends would have a get-together, his friends would tell stories and brag about their grandkids, but he's the only one who could not relate. I feel a little sad for him, but I'm still headstrong about my decision.
*Once I was 20 years old, my story got told*
*Before the morning sun, when life was lonely*
*Once I was 20 years old*
*I only see my goals, I don't believe in failure*
*'Cause I know the smallest voices, they can make it major*
*I got my boys with me atleast those in favor*
*And if we don't meet before I leave, I hope I'll see you later*
Many people find the ages of eighteen to twenty to be perplexing. The majority of people are still undecided about what they truly want to do. Others, on the other hand, have a clear idea of what they desire. Some are pursuing careers, while others are starting families. But, as for me, I'm still undecided about what I want to do with my twenties. I went to school with the intention of graduating and receiving a diploma, but I'm not sure if I enjoy it. I started to enjoy what I was doing as time went on. I pictured myself doing that job in some way. I set a goal for myself and concentrated on it.
*Soon we'll (I'll) be 30 years old*
*I'm still learning about life*
When the pandemic began, I was 25 years old. I still can't believe how quickly time has passed, and I'll be 27 in no time. I'm not sure what the future holds for me, but one thing is certain: I'm not ready to become thirty.
Random Thought
Have you ever experienced telling someone a secret? Perhaps a close friend or your best friend.
I've never trusted anyone with my secrets since I was a child. I used to be skeptical of the people around me, therefore I never expressed my feelings to anyone. I'm not comfortable sharing my secrets with anyone, no matter how close we are. Others may criticize me, and some may argue that I am not a loyal friend for doing so. That is, nonetheless, who I am and that's what my personality is. Blame it on the environment in which I grew up.
I didn't have many close friends in elementary school. My cousins are my only close buddies, yet if I tell them something, they use it against me whenever we argue and fight. When I got in high school, it was difficult for me to develop friendships with my peers since they thought I was a snob who didn't want to talk to anyone. However, I have made a few great friends throughout the years. Yet, that does not imply that I trust them with my secrets.
I'm thinking it's not just about trust issues, but also about how difficult it is for me to explain and express myself and my sentiments and feelings verbally. So, rather than telling anyone, I just write it down in my diary. When I was in high school, I used to keep a diary, and I never forgot to write in it every night before going to sleep, and that is how I managed to get through my teenage years without having to reveal my secrets to anyone.
But, as we all know, the only constant in this life is change. And I, too, had changed over the years. I learned to trust others, and especially my friends. I made friends who I can call true friends, and I put my trust in them. I was ultimately able to trust those friends after considerable time spent getting to know them.
But why am I even telling you about it?
Well, it's just that, until now I'm still thinking about the conversation I had with my friend @JulyAnn. Like I said in my previous blog, we had a small get-together and we talked about a lot of stuff and it including love life. That time, I asked Julie to tell us the whole story about her heartbreak. You can read about it here. https://read.cash/@JulyAnn/discharging-the-bottled-up-feelings-1efc5e7c
While she's telling us her story, the rest of us are teary-eyed because we all have a similar experience. But I, on the other hand, was unable to contain my tears. Because what happened to her is exactly what I experienced.
**"She betrayed you."**
That's the line I could utter after I heard the story, and it hurts. My heart ached for my friend and my heart ached to reminisce what happened in the past.
That was when we accepted a new friend in our group. We trusted her. I trusted her. We told her everything thinking that it's okay since she's our *friend'.* But as a meme I read a few days ago **"never advice, never trust a girl who is in love. She will tell her boy everything like a radio."** And I'll say that is true. Later on, we found out that she told her boyfriend everything that we told her. Everything that I told her. I felt betrayed and I regretted telling her everything. **I should have never trusted anyone.** No matter how close we are, I should've never told her anything. I didn't see it coming and now what we have is awkwardness. And whenever I think about what she did, I still feel humiliated and betrayed.
So whatever aspect it may be in life, I decided not to trust anyone anymore. Because in the end, I only have myself.
When pranks and jokes have gone too far
*Are you familiar with the story* ***“The boy who cried wolf?”*** *If you are not, then let me tell you about it. It is among Aesop's fables that tell a story about a young shepherd who, because of boredom pretended that there is a wolf attacking the sheep he is herding. He did it to prank people and help him. When he cried out for help, the people responded, only to discover that the shepherd had duped them. The shepherd did it several times, and each time he cried for help, the locals came to his aid. Eventually, they realized that the shepherd was just fooling them, so they agreed that if the shepherd asks for help once again, they would not help him. Then they heard the shepherd calling again for help because a wolf was attacking his flock again. Because of the shepherd's deception, they all opted not to help. However, at that moment, it was true that a wolf was actually attacking, and no one even helped the young shepherd. Only then did he realize that his previous pranks on the people were wrong. But it was too late because the wolf has already attacked his flock.*
**"It's a praaaaaaank!"**
Right now, pranks are all the trend. They do it usually for content and some do it just for fun. The continuous pranks and gags can make watching videos online annoying at times.
A week ago, I happen to watch a video of Toni G. pranking her sister Alex. Those who are fond of watching and following local celebrities will know how much of a prankster Alex also is. As Toni said, Alex is the most prankster among pranksters. And one time she said that no one could ever prank her. Toni intends to make her face her words by playing a practical joke on her. So she got together with their coworkers and planned a prank on her sister. However, based on what I observed in the video, Melai, their friend, appears to be the one who is more upset by the prank than Alex. Toni feigned to faint during their shoot, and medics came in to "bring Toni to the hospital". Melai made me feel sorry for her because she seemed so serious and worried. Those who witnessed the events and those who participated in the prank, on the other hand, were overjoyed.
Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of the siblings because they are both good in their own fields. Toni as a singer and an actress and Alex as an actress and comedian. I was even a subscriber of her Youtube channel because most of her videos are hilarious. However, while I was watching the video, I thought *"what if the person who saw it had heart disease"*, *"what if that person couldn't handle the prank?"* Yes, sometimes it's fun to prank and joke around, but it's different when it's too much.
I'll admit there have been times when my jokes have gone too far. I had a gay friend in college, and I used to tease and joke on him. I once teased him and joked that he was already a 'man,' and that he should just date one of our female friends, and who knows, they might end up together in the future. When our other friends heard the joke, they joined in the fun and teased him for the rest of the day. We had no idea he was already upset and hurt. Little did we know he was crying because of the jokes that went too far. Unfortunately, I only found out about how I had hurt my friend a few days ago. But all is well and I already said sorry to him.
The majority of people enjoy humor. Yes, jokes are usually quite amusing. Friendship jokes are quite popular at times. But it's annoying when it's too much and we don't realize that someone is already annoyed or that the joke has gone too far. Worse, there are times when others are able to damage others as a result of the crunch in-jokes. There are also individuals who are overly affected by the hurtful joke and will eventually ignore the person who made it, ruining their friendship. Worse, there are certain jokes that go too far and cause serious harm to others. People can become disappointed and even sad as a result of harsh jokes.
**But why do people love to play pranks and jokes on others?**
Well, there might be different answers to that questions. Other people have a hypertrophied or even exaggerated sense of enjoyment so they find it hard to contain themselves which results to doing below the belt pranks and jokes.
Like the shepherd in the story **The boy who cried wolf**, others mights do it just for fun.
Others do it for the sake of competition and to get back to others. My siblings and I, for example, would frequently get into a fight as children because one of us would make a joke. Others will undoubtedly want revenge and will do something much worse, and the individual who perpetrated the prank originally will also be retaliated against. It turns into a never-ending game of prank-get-back-prank.
Closing Remarks
There’s nothing wrong with joking or sometimes, even pranks. Especially if the intention is to make people laugh or entertain them. Consider how dreary and uninteresting the world would be if there was no humour or if no one knew how to make others laugh. When there is tension, having at least one person who can joke and make people laugh can alleviate the stress. The Society is happy when there are people who are humorous. Sometimes when we joke someone, it is a sign of good relationship with that person or a manisfestation of being affection with each other. But it's a different matter when a fun is offensive. What if the revelry is about a person’s weakness? It will definitely hurt that person’s feelings. It's also not good if a joke or prank causes fear and shame in others, even if that's not the joker's intention. What I'm trying to say is that we need to be careful with our jokes.
What to do this year
***New year new life.***
That's what most people say the start of a new year. Do you have any plans for this year? A new goal perhaps?
I'm still thinking about what to do. These past few days, I've been thinking long and hard about what I really want and what goals to pursue. I am not getting any younger so I need to carefully think about what to do in life. I'm thinking about plans B, C, and so on if my previous plans don't work.
I'm expected to be a public servant, a full-time elementary school teacher, based on my educational history. If you want to be a public school teacher in the Philippines, you must pass a set of tests known as ranking. After resigning from a good position in a BPO company, I underwent ranking for the first time in 2020. Previously, my goal was to advance as a professional in that industry, possibly as a trainer, manager, or support person. But, after receiving my professional license, I've had to renounce that goal in order to focus on my career. I decided to leave the company with the money I had saved over the course of a year. I then enrolled in a brief course to improve my chances of becoming a public school teacher. Unfortunately, I didn't make it. Out of the over 150 applicants, no one made it. But I didn't lose hope. I finally got teaching experiences this year as a substitute teacher, a volunteer tutor, and currently a volunteer learning facilitator. I was hoping that these experiences will boost my chance of being included in the registry of qualified applicants this year.
I don't want to keep my hopes up like the previous one though. That time I was certain that I would get in. I was certain about being appointed as a public teacher but after 10 months of waiting for the result, all I got is a disappointment. So, this time I am no longer hoping for too much. Instead, I am preparing myself for a plan B in case my plan A does not work.
Actually, I am currently having second thoughts about whether I really want to be confined in the 4 corners of the classroom my whole life until my retirement. I am an adventurous person and I don't like to do things in a routine. I easily get tired of a daily routine. I want every day to be spontaneous and fun and I can't imagine what would it be like if I'll just go to school every day for a long time.
I want to do something that really interests me. For a long time, I was thinking about going abroad and working. And since I don't know yet whether I'll be hired by the Department of Education this year, I am already planning a plan B of what to do in life. I promised myself that this will be the last time I am going to undergo the ranking. This will be the ultimatum for me and if I still won't make it this year, it is better to choose a different path.
Here's what I am planning to do this year.
**Improve my Korean and study for the EPS-TOPIK exam.** Over the last few days, I am spending my time watching videos on youtube about how to get a job in Korea. It's been my long-time dream to go there one day, and I am thinking about looking and applying for a job in that country. And most videos I found say that I need to pass the **EPS-TOPIK** first. It's a test being administered to evaluate the Korean language skills of a foreigner that is planning to work in Korea. Since I already have a background in Korean and Hangeul because of my fondness for Kdramas, I'm sure this will be a piece of cake for me.
**Pass the EPS-TOPIK exam.** Upon checking, there is no schedule for the exam yet due to the pandemic protocols. But I'm hoping to take the exam before this year ends and hopefully, pass it as well.
**Get a passport**. This is already planned last year, but due to hindrances last year, I wasn't able to. I'm positive that I can already make this possible this year.
**Apply as a full-time ESL tutor.** Of course, I need to have a plan C if in case plans A and B fails. So my plan is to look for an ESL (English as Second Language) teaching job. Maybe I could start with a small company first for experience and move on to a better company.
**Apply for a job at NCR.** If in case these plans are still not achieved, I am thinking about working at the National Capital Region instead. I want to be free and I don't want to continue living with my parents. I want to experience an independent life, so I'm thinking about moving to NCR, finding a job, and then going back to my plan B, which is to go to Korea. :)
I have no idea what will happen this year, but I do plan to spend less money on my wants and desires. I want to work hard and achieve my goals, and once I've done that, I'll probably be able to treat myself to some luxury.
The best Sageuk
It is time for *Sageuk* again.
*Historical dramas, such as traditional theater plays, films, or television shows, are referred to as* ***Sageuk*** *in Korean.* ***Sageuk*** *is a term used in English literature to describe historical films and television programs. South Korean historical dramas are commonly referred to as 고전 영화 or classic film in North Korea.*
- **Wikipedia**
2021 seemed to be a year of good *Sageuk* dramas. Few of which are:
***River where the moon rises***
***Lovers of the red sky***
***The King's Affection***
***Lovers of the Red sky***
***Secret royal inspector and Joy***
***The red sleeve cuff***
***Moonshine***
Out of these historical Kdramas of 2021, I only finished watching **The King's Affection,** and I can say that it is totally worth watching. I'll rate this 8.5/10. I am actually not familiar with the actors so I didn't watch it at first. However, the plot piqued my interest, so I began watching and finally fell in love with the cast and the story. I was worried that the lead actress wouldn't be able to portray a male character successfully, but she did. This is highly recommended.
I am also currently watching **Secret royal Inspector.** *Ok Taecyeon* is the major reason I watched it. I've admired him since I first saw him on Dream High in 2011. And I've liked 2 PM, the Korean male idol group he's in, since then. I stopped watching it at episode 6 though because the update is too slow and I was also busy. But since it is already nearly complete, I will continue to binge-watch soon.
Aside from the latter, I am also watching **The red sleeve cuff.** I thought I wouldn't like the drama because I am not very familiar with the lead actress. And I only saw Lee Junho sing and dance. My friend suggested it and I was hesitant when I started. But eventually, I fell in love with the entire drama including the story, the plot, and the actor's visuals. I thought I am not going to stan an actor after the *heartbreak* I experienced with Kim Seon Ho, but I was wrong. I am completely whipped by Lee Junho. But not only that, he has great chemistry with the main actress as well as with the rest of the cast too. I am not going to say much about the drama as it may spoil those who want to watch it too. All I can say is that this drama is 10/10, and if you are looking for something to binge-watch, this is highly recommended.
**Moonshine** has just started two weeks ago and I haven't started watching it yet, I plan to watch it once it reaches episode 12. I think it will be a good drama as well since it is being starred by *Hyeri* and *Yoo Seung Ho,* who are both great actors.
Okay, all I talk about these days are Kdramas. It said that what the mouth says is the contains of the heart. These days, I spend my free time watching dramas so I can only talk about them.
And speaking of *Sageuk,* Here are the best historical Kdramas for me. If you haven't seen these, these are highly recommended. If you're looking for something to watch, then try watching any of these.
Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo
It's been 5 years since I watched this drama, but the heartbreak that it gave me is still remaining in my heart. This drama is on top of my list of Sageuk. This will make a person feel all the emotions. The cheerfulness and clumsiness of *Hae Soo (*played by IU) will make you laugh, even her 'conflicts' with one of the Prince's. The first few episodes are so funny that they will bring tears of joy. But there are episodes that you'll also feel giddy and wishes the best for the romance between characters. Other episodes will make you fuming mad, that is if your emotions are easily get swayed and that's me. There are times I almost shouted out of frustration, but I have to control my feelings *because it's just a drama.* And there are also episodes when the tears of joy because of the funny episodes will turn into tears of sadness. Even if you are just watching it, you'll feel the heartbreak that every character has been through. I smiled, I laughed, I cried with the characters. But overall, this is a 10/10 drama. It also has the best soundtracks which made it more meaningful. Until now, I still listen to the OSTs of the drama.
Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth
This is also one of the best *Sageuk* for me. If you are looking for a drama that has good visuals, then this is for you. It has the overflowing visuals of Park Seo Joon, Park Hyung Sik, Kim Taehyung, Choi Minho, Go Ara, and the badass princess, Seo Ye Ji. What really caught my attention is the faceless King, *Sam Maek Jong.* If you want to know what happened here, just watch the drama. It is also a 10/10 for me, watching this also triggered mixed emotions.
Love In The Moonlight/Moonlight Drawn by Clouds
Another *Sageuk* that was released in 2016. It was starred by Park Bo Gum and Kim Yoo Jung. They are both so cute in this drama.
*It's a lovely but tragic love story, a voyage of friendship and trust in which some flowers wilt and die while others blossom and grow fonder of each other. I like how the title Moonlight Drawn By Clouds reflects the core theme of the story, which is that no king shines brightly on his own, but rather when surrounded by people, much like the moon does when there are clouds around it.*
These are the best and unforgettable Sageuks for me. I was just prompted to write this while watching the last two episodes of *The Red Sleeve Cuff.* I had to pause the video and hurried over in front of my laptop before I ever forget about it. I hope you enjoyed reading!
`Lead image: istockphoto.com`
Drawing no more
We would usually plan something, but in the end, it'll all end up *just a plan.* We call it drawing cause it never happens. Many could relate to that for sure. Planning a trip with your friends usually ends in vain, so we call it drawing.
It's been weeks since my college friends and I were talking and planning about going on a trip. We planned to go to a local tourist spot in our province. We deliberated but were still undecided where to go. Someone suggested going to *Kawa-kawa,* the local tourist spot that is most accessible and the nearest too. But some didn't like the idea, especially me. I didn't like the idea of going to *Kawa-kawa* because I've been there a lot of times, and I want to go somewhere where I haven't been to. So we changed the plan and someone suggested going to the beach located near one of our friend's houses. But I was hesitant because we don't know how to drive and we do not have a private vehicle. If we go there, it will be hard to go to our friend's house where we plan to spend the night.
Another one wants to go to a Christmas village nearby, but it will be boring too. And finally, one suggested going to our classmate's house. We call her *Nanay*, a Filipino word that means mom or mother. When we were in college, she's already 50 years old and she's the oldest among us. So we call her Nanay and she treats us like her own children. She doesn't have any child of her own and her husband is working abroad, so we would usually spend our free time at her house. But after we graduated, we had different schedules and priorities and seldom visits her as a group. So we decided to pay her a visit and we would just bring food. That night, our group chat on messenger was too loud, but out of the seven members of the group, only three are determined to go. And the next day, it was indeed was just the three of us who went. We planned to meet each other at the mall at 8:30 am because we shave to shop for the stuff we will bring to Nanay's house. But *Filipino time* as always, we met there past 9 am. I was the first to arrive at the mall and waited for them. @JulyAnn finally arrived and we decided to go and shop for food while waiting for the other friend.
We went downstairs and entered the supermarket. We initially planned to buy fresh chicken and make it into fried chicken. And we will just purchase another dish from a local restaurant. But when we were already inside the supermarket, we changed our minds. We decided to cook fried chicken and french fries. And for dessert, we will just go with ice cream. We didn't purchase a lot of stuff because we were certain that Nanay will prepare as well like she always does.
We didn't wait for the other friend because he still have some errands to take care of. We proceeded to the jeepney stop and not long after, we reached our Nanay's house. It was only a 10-minute ride away from our town. She's too happy to see us and like we had predicted, she really prepared.
Since my friends are not that good in the kitchen, I was in charge of helping Nanay to prepare the food, while talking about random stuff nonstop and with background music playing.
After the long talks, we were finally done with the first two dishes.
Sinigang was prepared by Nanay. While I cooked the fried chicken. It's my first time to try this dish but it ended up so good (according to them). Every time I cook fried chicken, I would just marinate it in breading mix. But I learned from another friend, the night before to marinate it in a mixture of sugar, ketchup, and soy sauce before coating it with the breading mix. It turned out well for a first-timer.
Nanay also prepared fried mackerel, which I forgot to take a photo of before we ate, stir-fried shrimps and fried banana with cheese. It was a feast I must say. All we did yesterday is eat while telling lots of stories.
After lunch, I cooked the french fries we bought from the market. We decided to move out of the dining area and proceeded to the living room to continue chatting and eating.
This time, we chatted over a bottle of soju. It's actually an alcohol mix I made. If you're curious, it is a mixture of soda (Sprite), Soju, and Delight probiotic drink.
We also had some ice cream which I was craving that day. It was almost 7 pm when we decided to go home.
It was such a great day. We were able to have some fun. Yes, just sitting there, eating, and chatting is my definition of fun. It's exactly what I want because I'm not as exhausted as I would be if we went somewhere strenuous. Most importantly, we were able to pay a visit to a dear friend.
The trip/drawing that had been planned was finally accomplished.
A not-so-productive day
How was your day? No one has asked me that question for a long time now. So I am going to write about it instead. Just like how I used to update my diary back in high school. It's 10:51 at the time of writing and I am not sure how long I'm going to write this. Since we are on a holiday vacation, I have a lot of time on my hands right now which explains why I am able to write a blog every after two days.
I wrote *a not-so-productive day* as the title because I feel like I just wasted this day for nothing. Well, I deserve to do this since I am currently on holiday vacation and will be back to work in January. I can't really organize my thoughts right now but I want to do something productive before going to bed. I just went inside my room a few minutes ago. Turned on my laptop and changed into clean clothes while waiting for it to open. I just finished watching three episodes of the Korean drama entitled ***Bad and Crazy.*** It's a new drama currently aired on Fridays and Saturdays. I was intrigued to watch it because one of the actors that I like is the lead actor in the drama. I normally watch dramas either on my mobile phone or laptop because that way I can concentrate more. But since I was charging my phone, I decided to watch the drama outside along with my siblings and cousins, and after finishing the third episode, decided to tuck myself to bed. And I suddenly thought how unproductive my day went.
I got out of bed late this morning, but that doesn't imply I woke up late. Despite the fact that I slept late and have no reason to wake up early because I don't have work, I awoke at 6 a.m. and did nothing but stare at the ceiling. I opened my phone and scrolled after 15 minutes. I'm bored. Even though it's only daybreak, I'm already bored. When you're single, you don't have somebody to greet you with a good morning message. So I went to Facebook and viewed a couple of videos. I also looked through my account's memories to see if there was anything I'd posted years ago that would remind me of how goofy and *jeje* I was back then, but I couldn't find anything.
After several minutes, I remembered that I downloaded the latest episodes of ***The Red Sleeve Cuff*****,** the other day and was unable to watch it since I finished ***The King's Affection*** first last night. And I was also refraining from watching everything because I don't want to finish it yet. It's one of my favorites so far and I don't want to say goodbye yet by finishing the episodes quickly. But since I want to see my new *crush,* I decided to watch for a few minutes. I started watching at approximately 7:30 a.m. and decided to get out of my room around 9:00 a.m. to make myself a cup of coffee. My mother and siblings were getting ready to leave to go see our cousins who had arrived here from Manila for a visit. They asked if I wanted to accompany them, but I declined. I don't want to appear to be overly fond of my relatives when, in truth, I am not. I told them I'd stay at home because I had a lot on my schedule (and that is to watch Kdramas lol). They tried to persuade me to go, but I was sure that I would not. I didn't want to change my decision, so I went back to my room to finish my coffee and the bread I was eating.
I kept watching the drama until 2:30 p.m. when I paused it. I realized it was already late and I hadn't eaten lunch, which explains why my stomach was grumbling. I had a yearning for spaghetti and decided to cook to satisfy my cravings. I invited my cousins to eat the spaghetti with me and I went back to my room after the meal. I went on Instagram and stalked the account of my new celebrity crush, falling asleep in the process. When I awoke from my nap, it was already 5:30 p.m. When I stepped outside, I found that my cousin had not done the dishes, and when I reminded him that he needed to, he refused. What can I expect from a child? Because I don't want to see grime in the kitchen, I opted to do it myself.
While I was doing the dishes, my mother and siblings arrived. We ate dinner that they had prepared. And it was then that I began watching Bad and Crazy. This is the epitome of inefficiency. Well, I'm just going to enjoy this while I still can.
How about you? How was your day?
It's weird
Today, like the usual I woke up upon hearing the noises coming from outside. As I opened my eyes, my other senses are also automatically activated and then there's that weird smell again. I smelled my clothes thinking that it's coming from me. But I doubt it because I cleaned myself before I went to sleep last night. I sniffed and sniffed once again. Maybe it's coming from somewhere in the room. But no.
I decided to go out and I almost puked as I was greeted by the foul smell of the stir-fried onion and garlic coming from what my mom is cooking. I immediately ran back to my room as I was also feeling dizzy because of the smell.
It's been almost two months since I'm like this. I ignored it at first and didn't say anything about it. But as days pass, it's becoming weirder and weirder, and can't help but complain about it.
How it started
The problem started in August or September. I am not that good at remembering dates so I can't really tell the exact date, but I'm sure it was around those months. Almost everyone in our neighborhood is getting sick. They were infected with colds and are having fevers. In our family, the first one to get infected is my father. He got a fever and later on he also acquired colds and cough. After a week, he is still unwell and lost his sense of taste and smell. He also had difficulty in breathing. We suspected it was COVID, but he doesn't want to get a check-up and relied on herbal medicine since, in the first place, he is not allowed to take synthetic meds because of his allergies. After two weeks, he is already a little better and that's when my sister also acquired cough and colds and lost her sense of smell. I was even joking with her and teasing her that she had covid.
I went on with my daily routines like usual. One day, I went to school, but since my colleague who always gives me a ride back and forth to work has some errands to take care of that day, I decided to go home early to catch the last trip. The sun was scorching hot that day and I had to wait for the jeepney and endure the heat even though I was in a shade, I can still feel humid and it makes me dizzy. I was also hungry, but can't eat because the jeepney might leave me behind. I got home past 1 pm that day and had my lunch late. After eating my lunch I went to bed because I wasn't feeling well. When I woke up, I already had a high fever and was chilling. That's when it started. After a few days, I acquired coughs and colds and the fever stayed for almost a week.
Then one afternoon, I suddenly could not smell the alcohol. I thought it's already expired so I smelled it one more time. That's when I suddenly felt afraid that I might have lost my sense of smell too, just like my sister and my father. I sniffed everything around the house and confirmed that I really lost it.
Fast forward....
After 2 weeks, I was finally feeling better. I can smell a little and after a month. My sense of smell went back to normal, as well as my sense of taste.
But I just woke up one day with that weird smell. I already posted this on noise.cash and some users told me that I am having post-covid symptoms.
So I asked my friend who tested positive of covid-19 about her experience, what she felt and whether she also experience the loss of sense of taste and smell and how is she feeling nowadays. She told me that even though she was positive of covid, she didn't experience most of the COVID-9 symptoms. I told her about my experience and she concluded that it was definitely covid if ever I had myself checked by a doctor.
She also told me that the symptom I currently have is one of the symptoms that her doctor told her. And it will take 3 months to 1 year before I really get my normal sense of taste and smell.
I just hope for it to return to normal soon because it is so hard. I can't enjoy food no matter how delicious it is. I can't enjoy my coffee because it smells weird. Most of the time, I would just skip a meal or eat a little amount because I do not like the taste and the smell. I told my sister that living will be tiresome if this will continue for a long time. I'd rather lose my sense of smell permanently than have this weird sense of smell.
You're a Kdrama Fan girl/boy if you...
Korean dramas became so popular. I started watching series in 2011 when there are still a few who love watching series. When I was in college, there are only a few of us in the class who loves binge-watching Kdramas. Then in just an instant, in 2016 when most of my favorite dramas were aired, a lot of people started to like Kdramas too. The majority of our class started coming to me and my friend to ask for copies, since that time it is not so easy to download and obtain copies. Nowadays, a lot of pages and groups are created on Facebook and they mostly share about new or ongoing dramas, memes, and news. I usually follow those pages because it's good to know that there are also others who can relate to what I feel.
When I'm watching a certain drama and there's a life lesson or funny scene and lines that I could relate to, I would take a screenshot of it. Then when I log in to Facebook, I would see other people who posted the same photo I took a screenshot of, I would feel happy. Because I know that there are those who could relate to me.
My sister would always call me a fangirl and she would laugh at me. But I am not offended because that is actually true. I'll say you are a K-drama fangirl or fanboy if you...
Tried to learn Korean or Hangeul at least once.
If you also love to watch Kdrama's isn't it awesome to watch it without subtitles? When you can just focus on the scenes instead of watching and reading the subtitles at the same time. As a drama fangirl, I feel great when I am watching a drama and I could understand a bit of what they are saying even without the subtitles. So I was determined to learn hangeul, the Korean alphabet, and the way of writing. I learned the alphabet within 3 days but I could still forget it from time to time. But after a lot of practice, I could finally read the words written in Korean. I am following some actors and actresses I like and I don't have to click on the *translation* button to read what they wrote. I also have Korean installed on my keyboard.
Used Korean words when talking to people.
*Yeoboseyo? Wae? Eotteoke?!Arraseo. Ne. Annyeong. Choeun Achim!*
If you're a Kdrama fan, I'm sure you've also used these words when talking to other people such as your family members and friends. There are times when I would automatically answer a call and say "*Yeoboseyo*?". Before, my mom would scold me for doing that, but they are used to it now.
Bought Korean-inspired merchandise.
Let's start with soju. A Korean alcoholic beverage that will never be absent in Kdramas. I could always see those characters drinking like it's not an alcoholic beverage so I was curious what it really tastes like. So I also bought and tried it. Aside from soju, I also purchased chopsticks and I use them during almost every meal. I also purchased dresses that are inspired by Kdramas.
Tried Korean Foods.
Perhaps, one of the scenes that fascinates me the most when watching Kdramas is the scenes where the characters eat. I'm always fascinated by the way they eat and they make it look like the food is super delicious. And I'm always curious about the taste of those foods. So as a Kdrama fangirl I tried some of the foods such as *tteokbokki*, *odeng* (Korean fish cake), *samgyupsal* (Korean barbeque), and corn dogs. I even tried to cook corn dogs once, but it was an epic fail.
New oppa or unnie added to heart when watching a new drama.
Probably doesn't need any explanation. Kdrama fans would always dote on a new oppa (big brother) and unnie (big sister) whenever there is a new drama. I have lots of oppas that I want and most of the time, I would only watch a drama because a certain actor or actress I like is the lead of that drama, but usually ends up liking the other actors too. I watched the drama *Start Up* before because I like Suzy and Nam Joo Hyuk, but I ended up liking Kim Seon Ho and started binge-watching his other dramas. It broke my heart when he was caught in a scandal right after his drama ended. But I've moved on now and currently have a crush on 2 PM's Lee Joon Ho. I really like his acting on his recent drama entitled *The Red Sleeve Cuff.*
**Do you also like Kdramas? Which of these did you do?**
Lead image. https://www.kindpng.com/imgv/hibwbmT_transparent-love-png-kpop-fan-girl-png-download/
Life lessons I learned
Life lessons I learned
I was trying to write and publish an article yesterday but it looks like, it was one of those days when I couldn’t think of anything to write once again. There are topics that I started writing about, but I have to stop in the middle while writing because I couldn’t think of anything to continue and go on with the topic.
So today, I will just free write about the life lessons I learned so far.
**We all have different clocks.**
I am not pertaining to a literal clock, but a life clock. Most probably that it is not just me who feels hopeless at times. When most of the people my age, when most of my friends are already certain about what they want in life, building families, having kids, having a stable job, here I am still uncertain of what the future holds for me. What I really want to do is still vague. Sometimes, I can’t help but to compare myself to others, thinking that I am already too late. But that was before I learned that life is not actually a race in which I have to compete with others. It is me against myself. And I don’t have to compare my life with other people because I have my own timeline. What’s important is that I am doing better than I was previously. What’s important is that I am not stuck and stagnant. I am taking small steps, but small steps are still steps that will surely take me to my destination, though it is still unknown.
**Real friendship doesn’t need daily conversation.**
When I was younger, I try so hard so as not to offend my friends. I only have a few friends back then and I can’t bear to lose one because I am not that friendly before. When we got phones, we would make sure to text each other every day to maintain our friendship. But it came to a point when we got different goals and we have different activities and we couldn’t talk to each other anymore. It really hurts when I couldn’t talk to my friends. But as I grow older, I became more mature and realized that we don’t need to talk to each other every day, update each other on what is happening to our lives and chat or text each other every day to continue being friends. We now have different priorities. We have to deal with adulting and prioritize the more important things in life. A day or week or even month of not talking doesn’t make our friendship any less as long as we always have our friends in our hearts. It is not good to think that someone is ignoring you just because they are unable to reply even though they’ve read your message. Probably, they are dealing with problems and don’t want to talk yet or maybe they don’t have the energy to reply. We should understand those friends.
Yielding and forgiving the person who hurt you doesn't mean you're weak
When I was young, I don't easily forgive the people who hurt me. I could not forgive those who disreapected me because I don't want them to think that I am weak and I'm afraid they'll do the same thing to me again. But I learned that when I don't forgive, I am hurting myself more. It doeasn't feel good when you are holding a grudge against someone. But when you learn to forgive, you'll be happier. It feels like a heavy baggage has been lifted off your chest.
Told myself not to shop online; BUT....
What did you order during the last 12.12 and 12.15 payday sales? Did you make any purchases during that time? Or are you someone who didn't even bat an eye no matter how many advertisements you saw?
As for me, I like to shop online using the Shopee app. Since I began purchasing products online, I have actually purchased all of the items I need online rather than going out and exhausting myself by searching for the item in physical stores. However, these applications frequently entice consumers with sales so that you, as a buyer, are compelled to buy something even if you don't need it simply because it is on sale.
When I have a free shipping voucher on my account, I am tempted to immediately buy a product, even if I don't actually need it. Despite the fact that these things are not particularly costly. Last month, for example, I purchased an eye makeup set that included mascara, eyeliner, an eyelash curler, and an eyebrow card tool. A ponytail hair rope, earrings, a necklace, a blackhead remover, and a spatula were among the items I purchased! On Facebook, there's a group where the admins post items for sale, and I'm frequently notified when they do. And I automatically buy things I don't need just because they're on sale.
So I decided not to be affected by the days where they have a lot of items on sale.
But before the 12.12 sale, I received some free shipping vouchers on my account just like the previous months. So without thinking twice, here are the stuff I purchased:
Korean Mask KF94 Mask
The original price of this item is Php. 200 ($4) which included ten pieces of KF94 mask but it was on sale for only Php 16. Just in time, I am already running out face masks since there is only 2 left out of the box of face mask I bought last month. I don't think this is a ***'budol'*** because face mask is a necessity nowadays. It's also less expensive to buy a set rather than buying one from a local store every time I go out. I also avoid using washable ones because they are inconvenient to wash after each use and I dislike how they look after they have been used for a long time.
Shorts
This item is originally sold at Php 99 (approximately $2) per piece, but it was on sale for only 28 pesos. I decided to purchase this item because these days I like wearing shorts at home. It is very affordable, I only added a little amount for the shipping and handling fee.
**SET OF PEN**
This set of pens is a true '***budol***' since I don't actually need this. I still have a lot of pens I bought from a physical store last time, It is originally sold for Php 100 ($2) but it was on sale for only 9 pesos. I thought that it's very cheap and the reviews say that the items are good. I thought I can use it for scribbling or writing letters or for designing. Well, I can just use it anytime. It's a pre-order so I was surprised when it was already shipped last nigth.
YOGA MAT
Maybe I can use this yoga mat when doing some exercises. Or maybe when I want to lay on the floor while watching Korean dramas. You see, I love laying on the cold floor when I am watching dramas because I am comfortable that way. So maybe I could use this Yoga mat when I do that. It is originally sold for $4 but I got it for more than $2. So I think it's a good buy.
Denim Jacket
This one is not mine nor am I giving it as a gift. This is my brother's. He ordered it using my account since he doesn't know how to shop online, he asked me to purchase it for him instead. It is sold at Php 699 but it is on sale for Php. 452. Though it is already on sale, I would still not purchase an item with that price, especially an item of clothing.
If you'll notice, most of the items I purchased are very cheap. Oh yes, like I mentioned in my previous article, I love cheap items! So even though, I buy things out of impulse, I still choose the cheap ones. Last month I even purchased 2 pairs of sunglasses for only 1 peso each. And I also got items for only 9 pesos each.
The funny thing is that, when the courier would shout my name, our neighbor would also go out and stare at me like I've got a lot of money. She didn't know that those are just items on sale lol.
What about you, what items did you purchase last 12.12 and payday sale?
I misbehaved and I don't regret it
Don't tell me that your child is a well-behaved and well-mannered kid unless you've seen him or her behave at school unaware that you are looking.
*My child will never do that! I know him better than anyone. He's well-mannered and never once misbehaved. He's the most obedient kid I have ever known! So don't tell me that my child misbehaved like that! How dare you punish him! I will never let this pass!*
Is this something you've heard before? A woman went viral on the internet a few years ago when she approached Raffy Tulfo, a well-known Filipino figure who reputedly helps people in need. This woman appears to want her son's teacher to be punished as well for disciplining her son for misbehaving. She expressed her disappointment after learning of the teacher's reprimanding of her child.
Upon finding out about this video, I concluded my opening sentence. Because I myself am a witness that children behave differently at school than they do at home. I myself, have proved that what parents know about their child is not always accurate. My parents thought that I am a reserved and timid child. Well, that's partly true. But there are instances that I misbehaved in school too.
Playing in the river during recess and after school.
When I was in second grade, there is a river located approximately 500 meters away from the school. My friend Kim, and I accidentally discovered it when we had gardening one time. From that day on, we spent most of our break time/recess in that river. We played in the water and tried catching fish and tadpoles. But it seems that the snack breaks are not enough for us, so after the dismissal one afternoon, we didn't go home yet. Instead, we went to the river and discovered that there is a wide forest if we walk further. As curious kids, we were fascinated and wanted to know what's in there. We had forgotten that it was getting late, and little did we know that we are getting farther away from the riverbank.
Fortunately, after nearly an hour of walking, we were able to find our way back, because if we hadn't, we would have been trapped in that forest, and who knows what might have happened to us, since it began to rain heavily just minutes after we returned to the school grounds, and the river overflowed due to the flood. I felt really bad since I was already on my way home when I ran into my father, who seemed concerned because it was late and I hadn't arrived yet. So I told him where I went, I was scolded and after that, I never went to that river again.
Fought with my classmate.
Fighting is common to kids. I am not the type of kid that always gets into a fight, but I have a classmate back then who's very fond of teasing me. From the second grade until we finished in sixth school, we never stopped bickering anytime we had the opportunity. I forgot what had happened in fourth grade, and for unclear reasons, we fought and slandered each other. After I fought back and scratched his skin, our teacher arrived. The teacher was furious with us, and as a punishment, she made us clean the entire library, which was, at the time, the largest room in the school. She told us to reflect on what we did while cleaning and to make sure not to fight once again.
I can still remember the look I had while applying floor wax on the floor and James was scrubbing it with the coconut husk - I was shooting imaginary daggers at him, while he's just there staring at me with an annoying smirk. Looking back while I'm writing this, maybe that boy has a crush on me back then lol.
'*Smuggled*' books at the library
When I was younger, I used to enjoy reading books. I even spend most of my snack and lunch breaks reading books in the library. An organization contributed a large number of English-language storybooks to our school library when I was in fifth grade. And I thought that the time I spent there during my lunch break would not be sufficient for me to read all of the books. So Errol, a fellow bookworm, and I decided to smuggle some books from the library. But after some time, we were bugged by our conscience and decided to return the books so other kids could read them too.
Jumping over the school fence
Jumping over the fence or 'over da bakod' as we called it, is very common to high school students. Back then, I had a lot of classmates, notably guys who would always skip class and jump over the fence because the guard would never allow them to go during class hours. I never skipped class, but I did get out of school early by jumping over the fence. That happened to me when I was in my third year. The guards won't open the gates until it is already 5 pm. My classmates and I are so eager to go home though, fortunately, it so happens that our class president is the president of the student council. So we asked for her permission and made her promise not to tell the teachers that we will be jumping over the fence. Good thing she was a supportive class president.
Skipped class
Okay, I'm taking back what I just that I never skipped class. There are actually a few times that I skipped my afternoon classes and went to the library instead. There is a large municipal library in the town where my school is located where you can find all kinds of literature. It's a two-story structure with a cozy area upstairs with a set of tables and seats where you may spend time reading the books. During those times, smartphones and easy internet access are not yet common. If you want to connect to the internet, you have to use a computer.
So books are really my life and I am willing not to attend my classes just so I can spend time reading books. I don't regret those times that I didn't attend my classes for the sake of books because those are some of the best moments of my life. I can still remember when I can feel the serenity while sitting on the alleys in between the bookshelves while loving the smell of old books!
That's all I remember about misbehaving back then, and I don't regret it. What about you? Ever had similar experiences?
`Lead image: depositphotos.com`
Visiting the Cagsawa Ruins
SC's adventures: Cagsawa Ruins
This happened a while ago, but I was too preoccupied to remember. My trip to Legazpi City with my friends took place in October. We started by going to the PRC (Professional Regulation Commission) office to obtain some documents. We haven't seen each other in a long time. We planned to go somewhere after we finished our errands. Most of us were not yet COVID-vaccinated at the time, so we couldn't go to the mall since we wouldn't be allowed to enter the mall's premises.
I'm already exhausted, but since I'm too busy with work, I thought that it is a good time to go with my friends. We all decided to visit the Cagsawa Ruins.
Cagsawa ruins are the remnants of the Cagsawa church, which was buried in lahar in February 1814 when Mayon Volcano erupted. It is the volcano's most powerful and deadly eruption ever recorded. It not only buried the Cagsawa church, but it also killed thousands of people and submerged the nearby towns in lahar.
The church was buried when the Mayon volcano erupted, leaving only the belfry, which is now known as Cagsawa ruins. It is now a well-known tourist spot in Albay since visitors can see the spectacular Mayon volcano from here. The perfect-cone-shaped volcano can be seen perfectly. In fact, when we visited the place last time, I've seen tourists who looked like they came from out of town.
Upon arriving at the place, we paid the entrance fee which is only 20 Philippine peso ($0.40)
My friend @JulyAnn and I took a selfie right after we got inside. We're already looking tired after having to get up and traveling early that day. And we had to wait a long time at the PRC office because of the long queue. Despite this, we felt compelled to take a selfie for the sake of documentation lol.
After taking a selfie I also took a photo of the belfry.
Like the Mayon volcano, it also looks like standing proudly in this photo.
Fortunately, there are a few people during the time that we came here since there is a pandemic going on. Unlike when we came here in 2019 when it is so hard to take a photo without any photo bomber.
Then I went off to photograph a landscape that I used to see on postcards when I was a child. My parents never took me to this popular tourist site when I was a kid, despite the fact that we lived close by. That is one of the reasons why, now that I am older, I enjoy touring new places.
How do you like this photo?
I had a little touch of editing and applied a preset to this photo and now it looks aesthetic to me. I really love how it turned out.
We were a little tired and the sun is also scorching hot during that time, so we decided to take a shade under the canopy of the big and sturdy trees, a few meters away from where we are taking photos.
And while resting, my friends were taking Tiktok videos and I on the other hand was busily taking photos of the place for me to share here.
Look at these boulders; they come from the previous eruption of the volcano. And there are even bigger ones that have been thrown away hundreds of kilometers elsewhere. Think about what would happen if the volcano erupted and these boulders landed on your roof! Imagine this: folks have actually experienced it!
There are also cottages across the field where tires tourists can take a rest while chilling with Bicolano's famous delicacy - the Sili (chili) ice cream.
Well, of course, I can't leave the place without a cool photo of me. Thankfully, @JulyAnn was there to take this photo of me in panorama mode. It took us more than ten shots before we got this. The volcano is already starting to hide behind the white clouds though during this time.
A few moments later, the sky looked like it's going to have a rain shower, so we had to hurry and find a shade where won't be drenched in the rain.
We ran as quickly as we could when the rain started to fall, and thankfully, we were able to find a shade as the rain became more intense. I noticed this store only a few meters away and encouraged my buddies to accompany me there.
Before the pandemic, there were several shops here selling locally produced products made of local materials, such as bags, shirts, Pili nut pendants, and other items worth purchasing as a keepsake. Some of the products are also available in other parts of the Philippines, however, they are less expensive here, where they originated.
After we bought some sweets, we decides to go home.
There is another adventure here that I haven't tried yet - the ATV adventure and I hope that I could ride that and try the adventure on my next visit.
A simple token of encouragement and appreciation
Have you ever been given a gift as a token of gratitude? What about receiving a letter?
Those that were born in the 1980s and 1990s are certain to have written and received love letters. Unlike today's millennials, baby boomers enjoyed the opportunity to connect with their pen pals. In fact, I was fortunate enough to read the letters written by a grandfather and grandmother I knew. It's wonderful, and simply reading their letters makes me happy.
I've never gotten a letter, but I think writing one is a thoughtful gesture. Nowadays, our generation enjoys writing long sweet messages for their loved ones and putting them on social media. But, as an old soul, that gesture makes me cringe, especially when I imagine that hundreds, if not thousands, of others, would see that message, even those you don't know.
I still believe that receiving a hand-written letter from someone is one of the greatest things in life, regardless of how advanced technology has become. It's nice to read a long, sweet message privately, and to know how much effort the giver put into writing that letter
With this in mind, I made a vow to spend the rest of my life with the first guy who wrote me a handwritten letter; blame it on the hopeless romantic in me.
Why am I even discussing letters? Well, last week, I wrote letters to random people to encourage them. Some are given to the couriers who deliver the parcels I purchased from online shopping apps.
Isn't it good to receive an inspiring letter from someone you don't even know in this day and age when life is hard due to the pandemic and other issues?
I used to write letters, but I'm not confident in my penmanship, so I just print them before. However, I then understood that a handwritten letter is much better because it reflects my sincerity and efforts.
PREPARATION
I first prepared the materials before beginning to write the letters. On the internet, I looked for lovely backdrops and borders. I went for the stylish ones and made sure they wouldn't cause any misunderstandings. After that, I print it out on bond paper. It's more convenient this way because I won't have to buy stationery paper.
After that, I considered the persons to whom I'd be giving the letters. After I figured that out, I contemplated the message I'd like to put in the letter.
I take my time writing because I don't want to make any mistakes and I want it to be neat and tidy so that the reader can understand what I'm saying. Here's the final result after 3 hours of writing:
I love how it turned out to be.
LETTER WRITING
The letters that I wrote are intended to encourage people. And nowadays, where will we ever find a positive and encouraging thought? Well, I believe it is the bible.
Here are the sample letters that I wrote.
*Hello,*
*Thank you for delivering my parcel! We appreciate what you do for us and the community.*
*We k ow that these days are difficult, full of worries and stress. But notice what the bible says in Proverbs 14:30 "A CALM HEART GIVES LIFE TO THE BODY." The bible tells us that being worry-free is one of the keys to a happy life.*
*Please visit the website jw.org or jw.org/tl if you want to k ow more about how to ha e a happy and worry-free life.*
*Ingat po lagi (Take care always) and have a nice day :)*
*-Shiela*
I gave this to a delivery rider the next day. Unlike the nice delivery guy before, he will only yell our name outdoors each time he delivers our package instead of getting off of his motorcycle. But I simply let him be because he's probably exhausted from delivering the packages already, especially since he always comes in the afternoon.
I thanked him and handed him the letter before he left, telling him to read it when he got home.
Do you have any idea what's surprising? He was already polite when he brought my next parcel after 5 days. He got off his motorcycle and looked for me. Unlike before, he's already smiling and looked friendly. I guess he appreciated the letter I gave him.
Here's another letter I meant to hand out to sales staff and those who work at the baggage counter when I go grocery shopping.
How about you> Have you received this kind of letter before? :)
Fully Vaccinated At Last
Like I said in my previous article, it is not easy to get the vaccine against covid-19. It took a long time and I even went through hoops just to have it. What's worse, I recently had an unpleasant experience, which I previously shared as well. So, after all of that humiliation, I decided to give up and wait *forever* for the health officials to visit our house and put us on the waiting list. I expected to receive the vaccine sometime next year. https://read.cash/@sc/vaccination-gone-wrong-f4dac174
Weeks passed and I was taking care of some documents needed for my job. I was supposed to submit a barangay clearance as proof of residency for my job application but it is hard to obtain one from the barangay where I work as a volunteer teacher. So I decided to obtain one from where I grew up. We have a lot of relatives there so getting one is a piece of cake. I sent a message to my mom's friend who works in that barangay to make a clearance for me and I'd drop by to get it. When she told me that it is ready for pick up, I immediately went there. But to my surprise, there's a lot of people and I can't even recognize the faces.
There are also barangay police stationed near the gate, who refused to let me in when I attempted to do so. I inquire as to what is going on because I have no idea why they refuse to let me in. That's when I learned there was a vaccination currently happening. So I told the barangay police to let me in because I'm not getting vaccinated, I have an appointment with the barangay secretary, and I'll be going inside the hall rather than the covered court. They're still apprehensive, but fortunately, my aunt *(mom's friend and not a real aunt)* spotted me and told the guards to let me through. And she assured me that I could because I was a resident of that barangay as well. But I'll have to wait a little longer since they may be out of vaccination forms.
When I learned that she would procure a form for me, I was delighted. I informed her I'd return when I finished my lunch. I expected to receive the form at 1 p.m., but my aunt handed it to me at 12 p.m. The issue, however, is that the queue is too long since people have come from neighboring barangays as well. That time, I was frantic to get in early because if I didn't, I wouldn't be able to travel home because the last trip to our town leaves at 1:30 p.m. So when my aunt said she'd seek her connections to assist me in getting in, I agreed. She told me to get inside at her cue, and I did, but the guards won't let me in again because they saw that I just had arrived, when my aunt told them that I am ****'s *(my father's name)* daughter, I overtook perhaps 300 persons in line. My father's family is well-known in the area and the barangay police' who are guarding the area are my dad's friends and relatives.
When I finally got inside, I was laughing silently because I just watched a video a day before that shows the same scenario. I just proved again that connections are important, especially when you are transacting with government employees.
MY FIRST DOSE
After waiting in a queue for around 10 minutes, I was finally moved to another line, where we could sit on chairs. This is the initial screening line.
While sitting and waiting to get in front of the queue. Some health workers assisted me to have my temperature and blood pressure checked. Fortunately, I have normal blood pressure. So I was allowed to proceed to the initial screening.
It was eventually my turn for screening after 30 minutes of waiting. I was assigned to the only guy in the group and I noticed that he's around the same age as me (and he's kinda cute lol), so I was relieved because the ladies looks like they'll eat you alive. He asked me these questions:
*How are you?*
*How do you feel?*
*Did you have lunch?*
*Are you nervous?*
*Do you have allergies?*
*Have you been sick this past week?*
After answering his questions, he signed my ***Resbakuna*** form and instructed me to proceed to another queue. It is finally my turn to get the vaccine.
***🎶🎶 Oh no... Oh no... Oh nooooo noooo nooo nooo nooo! 🎶🎶***
While I was filming the vaccination being administered by a health worker, that song kept playing in my head.
I am looking at the other side while taking the video because I can't bear to see the needle. But to my surprise, it didn't actually hurt. But, much to my amazement, it didn't hurt. I only found out it was done when the lady told me it was finished and that I could go to the *post-vaccination and releasing area.* I expressed my gratitude to her and the other personnel who helped me and went out.
**SECOND DOSE**
A month after my first dose of the vaccine, I was scheduled for my second dose. This time, since I am not in a hurry, I am resolute about not getting any help from the people I know. I want to make sure that I'd go through the right process.
I went a little late because I assumed there wouldn't be many people. However, when I arrived at 9:30 a.m., I was surprised to find a massive crowd and a queue that measured one kilometer. From that point forward, I knew I was doomed and I regretted not waking up and preparing early. Still, I went through the right process. There is an initial registration and screening, just as there was during my first dose. Following my screening, I was advised to go ahead and obtain my vaccination, despite the fact that I would have to wait in a huge line. Fortunately, I ran into an elementary school friend who was also receiving her second dose at the time. We were at the end of the line, but we didn't mind because we were talking about a lot of things and hadn't seen each other in years. After two hours, we were finally in the middle of the line, and that's when we parted ways because we have different brands.
Look at this pool of people. I'm afraid that this is where I would get the virus. There is no social distancing.
While standing outside the covered court, I noticed several folks with blood dripping from their arms after getting the vaccine. It made me anxious and frightened that something similar would happen to me. So when it was time for me to take a shot, I was a little nervous. It ached and sting a lot more than my first dose. And I could feel the needle piercing my flesh when the shot was being administered. The health worker who gave me my first shot was much better than the one who gave me my second.
Finally, at 1:45 pm, I was done getting the vaccine and I went home.
After receiving the vaccine, most people experience a variety of adverse effects. Fortunately, it appears that I have a strong immune system since neither the first nor the second dose made me sick. It only ached where the needle had punctured the skin. The second dose was even more painful than the first. Furthermore, my left arm was numb for a few days and that was it.
How about you? Are you fully vaccinated?
Vaccination Gone Wrong
Have you received a COVID-19 vaccine? It's been two years since the pandemic began, and in the Philippines, the so-called herd immunity has yet to be attained. For various reasons, it appears that many people are still resolute about not having the vaccine. My father, for example, is adamant about not taking the vaccine because, in addition to having medication allergies, he does not want to be injected with actual coronavirus - even if it is a dead virus or just the DNA
I, on the other hand, had been wanting to get vaccinated for a long time because I frequently travel to the city, and the last time I was there, there was a certain mall where unvaccinated persons were not permitted to get inside. I'd like to get the vaccine to reduce my risk of being ill.
In the area where I live, it appears that getting the vaccine is taking a long time. There are numerous processes. We must first wait for the barangay health workers assigned to our neighborhood to arrive and give them our names so that we can be put on the list. However, it has been a month since I enquired, and no health personnel has come to our house to ask for our names. So I asked a friend who works at the barangay hall, and she advised me to go straight to the barangay health center to have my name added to the list. Then I'd have to wait a few weeks for them to give me my schedule. A month has passed and still no news from the barangay.
One day, my colleague told me that I can just get a vaccine from their city since they also accept walk-ins as long as I tell them that I live in one of the barangays in that city. She gave me her complete residential address, which I was supposed to present at the screening. I told her I'd give that a try, though I was apprehensive because I'm not used to lying, even if it's a white lie.
It's just a nearby city, so I tried to go there and went straight into the gymnasium where vaccinations were being administered. That day, the inside of the gymnasium looked like this. There are a lot of people, and it seems that getting my vaccination that day will be impossible.
I asked the people who are arrived first where I should proceed as soon as I went inside. They told me to go be 'screened' first so I went there. I was asked for my identification card so I presented my license issued by the Professional Regulation Commission. They demanded a different ID, but because I am from a different town, I informed the lady that I did not have any other identification. She informed me that I would be unable to receive a vaccine if I do not reside in the city. In comparison to recent weeks, when people who came from a different town could receive a vaccine from that city, it appears that they are already rigorous.
Here's our non verbatim:
Screener: (*With a straight and unfriendly face, gave me a sheet of paper*) Fill up this form. (*In a serious tone)*
Me: (*Got the pen inside my bag*) Okay ma'am.
Screener: Where's your ID?
Me: (*Gave her my PRC ID*) Here ma'am.
Screener: Don't you have any other IDs? I can't let you proceed with the screening if you can't present to me an ID that has your address.
Me: Sorry, that's the only ID I have.
Screener: How about a driver's license?
Me: I don't have one. I don't even know how to drive (*With a face like this: 😅)*
Screener: Okay then, what's your address?
Me: (*Suddenly became nervous and forgot the address that my colleague told me*.) Ah... Ahmm. Wait hehehe...
*(I reached for my phone inside my bag and scrolled on my messenger... After a few seconds..)*
In Barangay Tinampo, Sitio Tibangray *(In a very low voice. it's obvious that it''s not true hahaha)*
Screener: Where exactly in Tinampo?
Me: Ah... Uh.. Ahm..
Screener: Sorry miss, but if you can't present an ID, I can't let you proceed. Just come back when you have an ID with an address already. *(In a stern looking face)* Okay you may leave this place.
Me: Okay sure. I'll be back. Uh.. Can I have that form please? *(I'm afraid that they would talk behind my back once I leave the place lol)*
And that's another entry for the most embarrassing moment of my life. I exited the place with grace, good thing that I am wearing a face mask and a face shield so people won't recognize me.
I was still worried though that they might look me up, so the neurotic in me who loves to overthink, immediately deactivated my Facebook account right after I left the place.
But don't worry I am now fully vaccinated. The story will be in my next article.
A Day at Home
What do you do when you're at home? Me, I spend the entire day inside my room, sometimes at the hut outside - working. Sometimes I spend the day watching dramas and videos on tiktok to take a break from work.
That's how I spend most of my days. Yes, I don't generally do the chores because my other siblings are in charge of it. When I'm in the mood, I'll also cook. Furthermore, I rarely perform other household activities such as cleaning since if I do, I will most likely spend the entire day cleaning the entire house.
And that is just what apparently happened.
I woke early since I expected my tutee to arrive early; her mother and I had agreed to tutor the child early so that she could still complete her module on time. So, no matter how lazy I am, I had to go out of my room.
**6:45 -** Normally, when I have to go to school, this is already late. I have to make sure that I'm ready to leave home at this time. But when I'm not working, I'm still in bed at this moment. But today, I got out of bed, fixed my bedding, and cleaned my room. I checked on my social media accounts too. I forgot to check my noise.cash account though. I went outside after cleaning my room and settled myself with a cup of black coffee. I prefer black coffee to coffee with creamer or milk because it does not trigger my acid reflux. I also picked some bread to go with my coffee.
**7:30 am -** I decided to watch some videos on television after staring at the ceiling for a long while and drinking my coffee at the same time. I watched some Zumba tutorial videos which reminded me that I am unable to dance in the past few days due to work commitments. So, while I awaited my tutee, I decided to get some workouts. On YouTube, I copied some abs workout challenges. I've been doing this for a while because I've gained a lot of belly fat and want to get rid of it. My belly is already hurting a little and sweat is dripping from my face when I heard the sound of a motorcycle which stopped in front of our gate. It was a cue that I have to stop my workout because my tutee has arrived.
**8:30 am-** I tutored my tutee, and we completed the activities from her module that we hadn't done the day before. She's full of enthusiasm as usual, and fortunately, I was able to keep up with her energy! We did a variety of things, and she had a great time because she enjoys art and art-related activities. I had a lot of fun tutoring her too because she wasn't misbehaving at all, and I even forgot the time and we ended up going over time.
**9:50 am-** I said my goodbyes to my tutee and returned to the room. I went over some documents and then prepared myself to go to my sister's and cousin's school to get a new module for them. Unfortunately, the teachers are not around so I couldn't get fetch their module for them.
**11:00 am**- Few minutes after I got home, I realized that it's already lunchtime so we ate our lunch which my dad prepared before they left for work.
When I went to the restroom to take a pee, I noticed the dirt, so I immediately went to my mom's grocery store after having my lunch to get some cleaning supplies. I decided to clean up the comfort room. I proceeded to clean the outdoors after cleaning the comfort room. It was too late for me to realize I was also cleaning the kitchen. I cleaned all of the cooking utensils, pots, and even the large cauldrons we only use for special occasions. I scrubbed the entire kitchen and washed every single utensil. After that, I sought the help of my younger sister to tidy the living room. When I was finished, I took my phone that I was charging, and when I looked at the time - it's already beyond 4:00 pm! That explains why my stomach is grumbling already! See, when I start holding cleaning utensils, I'm completely hooked.
**4:30 pm onwards** - I was already resting when my cousin, who's also my close friend sent me a message on messenger. We talked until 6 pm and when we bid each other goodbye, I finally was able to take a bath lol. And now at **11:10,** I am here, writing this article. I was just done talking to my cousin's crush and I couldn't stand him so told him to go to sleep so I can focus on writing.
This is enough for now. Thank you for taking the time to read this nonsense.
`Lead image credits to: https://www.freepik.com/free-photo/daily-household-routines-busy-day-home-chores_15222824.htm`
Choose Wisely
This could be a topic I've already covered in one of my earlier articles. But I still want to write about it because it's already 1 a.m. and I still can't fall asleep. I had a cup of coffee at 11 pm so I'm still wide awake right this moment. And of course, 1 am is the best time for most of us to overthink, worry about problems, imagine things and for some... use social networking apps to watch videos!
So I was watching videos on Tiktok to pass the time while preparing my lesson plan when I came across a video of a woman dancing. She's 34 years old and still single. And there's a great deal of discussion about it. Despite the fact that I am many years younger than she is, I can empathize with her situation. People, you see, will always have a say in whatever we do in life. *"You're already old, why are you still single?" "All your friends are now married, why don't you get married too?" "It will be difficult for you to bear a child now," "you'll become an old maid,"* and so on.
I'm certain that when I reach that age, people will say the same to me as well. I can already hear some of those words from individuals now when I'm a little younger, so imagine what I'll hear when I'm older. But despite that fact, I'm determined to stay single.
*Everything’s fine, but I’m wondering,*
*‘Who will I marry?’*
*What I’m doing right now is deciding not to hurry.*
*This is a choice that could either bring laughter or sorrow.*
*And the feelings that start in a youthful heart, they could be gone tomorrow.*
These are lyrics on one of my favorite songs. The title is *Choose Wisely. T*here's no doubt that for us singles, whether we admit it or not, there are times when we worry about who we'll marry or whether we'll ever get married. Especially when we are already at what they pertain to as *'the marrying age'.* But it's natural to be concerned about the future and to wonder what will happen to us. I don't want to rush things since I am the type of person who dates for marriage, not simply to mingle. I want to take my time finding the right partner. It is better to marry late than to marry the wrong person. Marriage is a commitment that should last a lifetime. So it is vital to date the person that could bring you laughter, not sorrow.
The bible says that 'the heart could be treacherous' and that is true. We may say that we love someone because of his or her good looks, because of his or her wits. But what if you already saw the negatives in that person? Will you still love that person? The feelings that are burning today, may fade away in the future. As a result, it is vital that we take our time when making our decisions. We're not being picky; we're simply being cautious.
Take your time; patience is the key.
Just wait and see.
Use your head, though your heart may not agree,
And think, ‘Is this the one for me?’
Possibly, if you just take your time.
And choose wisely.
If you are single like me, *take your time.*
**Take your time to get to know yourself better.** When you truly understand yourself, you will realize what you enjoy and what you are deserving of. You'll know when to settle. You'll know when someone truly deserves you or not.
**Allow yourself to grow at your own pace.** Remember that an independent girl is one who can look after herself; someone who can buy her own necessities is more appealing than someone who is completely reliant on others. Building oneself entails more than simply financial stability; it can also entail emotional stability.
Be happy while waiting. An when the time comes.... Choose wisely.
Okaaay, I don't know what I'm rambling at 2 am, this is probably the result of too much caffeine in my body lol. It took me almoat an hour to finish the article because I was simultabeously writing this and my lesson plan too. This is enough for now as I have to go to sleep, rest and go to work tomorrow.
First Impression
When we meet someone for the first time, it's frequently similar to how we can tell if we like or dislike a certain dish based on our first bite and whether we'd like to eat it again. We can form an opinion or impression of a person based on their appearance, how they are dressed, how they speak, and their manner at first glance. We may also create an opinion about a person based on his or her demeanor. And we could tell right away whether we liked or disliked that person based on our observations. We could discern whether or not we wanted to be friends with that individual. And here's the thing: while we are forming an impression of the person, they are also doing the same about us.
The first impression is crucial because it can influence how we treat others and how they treat us. As the phrase goes, *"first impressions last,"* and making a positive first impression will influence how we create relationships with others. If you are someone who works really hard to secure a job, it is critical to make a strong first impression on an interviewer. Our success is usually determined by our first impression.
Let's take a look at some areas where we may improve in order to make a positive and lasting impression.
Physical appearance
The way we look has a major effect on how others perceive us. It may sound harsh, but how people treat us is often determined by our appearance. We all form impressions of someone based on their appearance, whether we admit it or not. It may seem unfair, but if you look decent, dress smartly, and carry yourself with dignity, people will respect you more than if you appear unkempt.
This is something I can personally attest to. I don't generally dress up when I go to the market to buy supplies or occasionally to the supermarket to buy groceries, for two reasons: first, the market is only a few kilometers away from us, so dressing up is a hassle, and second, I don't feel like dressing up when I'm only going to the market. People at the market would usually call me *'ate',* a Filipino word that literally means older sister. Instead of assisting me, a baggage guy once inquired why I didn't ask my husband to assist me in carrying the stuff I had purchased, which was the most irritating thing I had ever heard while at the market. I was also least prioritized. However, when I'm dressed up or wearing something that explicitly says what my profession is, people treat me differently; instead of calling me '*ate',* they call me '*ma'am*' or '*madam*'. I was always welcomed cordially and given priority, and they thanked me once I paid my bill.
See how our physical appearance affects people's perceptions of us. So it is really important to always mind our appearance. Dress according to the situation or occasion, always wear a warm smile and maintain good hygiene. It doesn't matter whether we are wearing old or inexpensive clothes as long as it is neat and we wear it with dignity.
The Way We Speak
Even now, the old adage "action speaks louder than words" is true. The words we use reveal a lot about who we are as individuals. If I meet someone for the first time and they love cussing and using derogatory language, I am unlikely to associate with them again. Because our words serve as a window through which others can see what we are really like, we should aim to make that view delightful! Something that people would want to look at again and again.
When one of my coworkers told me that her initial impression of me is that I am unapproachable and a snob, I felt compelled to write about it. She even thought I was arrogant and snobby. I wasn't hurt and didn't take it personally; instead, I told her I'm used to it and she's not the first person to have such first impression of me,
People have always thought of me as a snob due of my demeanor since I was a child. I'm not sure why they think of me that way. Maybe because I don't easily smile. But it's mostly because I'm shy that I find it difficult to socialize with people I don't know and not close with. However, they invariably misinterpret it as being unapproachable, snobbish and worst, rude. When people get to know me better and see the real me however, they'll tell me that first impressions don't always last. I may look snobby at first, but once they get to know me, I can be the most talkative and annoying person they've met.
Few of the Filipino's Negative Traits or Values
Filipinos are well-known for being hospitable which is a positive trait. As a Filipino, I can say that we have a lot of positive traits and values. In this article, however, I am going to discuss not the positive but the negative traits.
Let's start!
**The amount of respect you will receive from relatives is determined by your salary**. I am not generalizing Filipinos when I say this, but I am talking about relatives to be more specific. In the Philippines, I noticed and even experienced firsthand that relatives respect you only if you are a professional with a high-paying job. If you have a college diploma but have yet to find a job that is related to the course that you studied in college, you or your parents will be the subject of rumors. Most of the time, they will act like they don't know you at all. However, if you've landed a well-paying job, those relatives who pretended they didn't know you and those who gossiped about you will undoubtedly run into you. Usually, it's so they can borrow money lol. Others, on the other hand, will come to you because they have a relative they can brag about to their acquaintances, not because of money.
After graduating from college, I opted not to practice my profession for personal reasons and instead pursued other opportunities. *"Oh hey! You've long graduated from college, so are you a teacher now?"* *"How much do you earn?"* *"Poor you,"* they'd say every time I saw a relative, and I felt horrible every time my parents were asked where I was currently working or teaching. They sound as if they're trying to make my parents feel bad. My parents, on the other hand, are fine with whatever I want as long as I bring money home.
**Filipino Time**. I hate this more than the first that I talked about. Working in the BPO industry made me realize and practice integrity when it comes to being on time. As a result, I've learned to be punctual for all of my appointments.
Filipino time basically refers to a Filipino's proclivity of being late. Most Filipinos excuse their tardiness by blaming it on Filipino time; they lack a sense of timeliness, which I believe is the worst.
**Crab Mentality**. There are some people who are not pleased when someone they know achieves success. As a result, take steps to prevent them from succeeding. Some people even go to the level of spreading rumors and gossip about that person. That is crab mentality, and I know quite a few people with that kind of mindset. Furthermore, even if they have the capacity to do so, some people refuse to help or assist others. What is the reason for this? They recognize the potential in the person who is in need of help. They are worried that if they assist the individual, they would become too good for them and will surpass them.
**Marites are rampant.** Marites is a phrase coined by some Filipinos that means ***"Mare heto ang latest,"*** which can be translated literally as *"Sis, here's the latest,"* which refers to the most recent news or gossip. Marites is a term or name that pertains to our next-door neighbors that enjoy gossiping and spreading rumors.
It is okay to gossip sometimes because there are benign gossips such as a small conversation about oneself or a family member or friend's accomplishment. Or probably inform others through small talk that you are relocating However, there are rumors and gossips that might damage a person's reputation. That is what the ***Maritesses*** usually discuss. Instead of attending to their own lives and businesses, they tend to chat nonstop throughout the day, acting as if they were a CCTV. They are '*know-it-alls*,' and you could ask them anything about their neighbor and they would most likely know the answer.
Here are just a few of the negative traits of Filipinos. And of course, we also have a lot of positive traits. In the next article I will talk about the positive and then probably talk more negative in the next next articles.
P.S. To my fellow Filipinos out there, please don't hate on me for these :)
`Lead image credits: https://www.istockphoto.com/photos/positive-negative`
Grandma's Rituals
It's been three weeks since I last wrote a blog and published it here. I know that there are other bloggers out there who, despite their busy life, can still juggle between their day job, responsibilities in the family, blogging, and other crypto-related activities. While I on the other hand, can only update my noise account thrice a day at most and barely check on my read.cash account.
These previous few weeks, you see, have been extremely stressful. I don't think I can multitask and do things both online and offline at the same time. So I made the decision to only do things that I can and to restrict the amount of time I spend on the internet.
My sister requested me to assist her with a school activity the other day. She inquired about rites that I had witnessed firsthand. Then I remembered my maternal grandmother, who holds a different faith than we do. She looked after me as a child, and I come to visit her at times too and whenever I do, I see her doing her rituals.
Superstitious beliefs and rituals have a stronghold on my grandmother. It's already a part of her usual life. When I went to see her a few years back, I had a cough and was feeling bad, and it just so happened that my younger cousin and uncle were also sick at the time. My grandmother became concerned that we were becoming ill and went out to get sticky rice and cooked suman, a Filipino delicacy comprised of sticky rice cooked in sugar and coconut milk. She handed us some munchies after she finished cooking it. Later, Grandma told my younger cousins to leave the house, not to go near the door or windows, and not to make a sound.
**Offerings**. I've seen my grandmother perform this ritual since I was a child. She prepares food as an offering to her ancestors. She would allow us out of the house so that it would be quiet inside, and then she would '*pray*' to her ancestors over and over. She claims that if we approach the foods and make a noise while she is performing her ceremony, the ancestors will go away and not touch the food. And she would not get the help that she is asking from them. As a rowdy and stubborn child, I once sneaked into her house without her knowing to check what was going on. To be honest, I find this ceremony creepy but I can't tell her to stop since it's her own belief.
**Aurora**. I'm sure that this sounds familiar to us. It's a name of one of the disney princesses that is famous to kids. It's the name of a Disney princess who is well-known among children. But I am not referring to that *Aurora.* I'm not sure what they name it in Filipino or English, but it's a kind of *pabasa*, or reading and singing prayers repeatedly. Grandma would usually hire '*professional readers*' to read the prayers and sing them. When she receives good news or when anything nice occurs, she does this. It's her way of expressing gratitude for the blessing she's been given. This is rather costly since, in addition to the money she pays for the readers, she also has to feed the visitors.
Aside from these, she has other beliefs that can already be considered rituals. But I forgot some of them. I will ask my cousin who's more familiar with it since he lived longer with grandma and I will probably write about it in the next article. Thank you for reading!
A Day at Imacoto
Part 1 here:https://read.cash/@sc/a-day-away-09ada1fd
We ate breakfast at 6:30 a.m. and then decided to do something fun. Some of my colleagues enjoy dancing to the music that is popular on Tiktok. They encouraged me to dance with them, but I declined because I am not a good dancer. Instead, I stood back and watched them from distance. I'm envious of how flexible their bodies are, and I'm astounded that they can dance beautifully even when they're getting on in years.
A few moments later, I was already bored and I've got nothing to do. I don't want to swim alone, and I certainly don't want to swim in the scorching heat of the sun, which had finally appeared at that time.
After that, something drew my attention. I noticed fishermen maneuvering fishing boats. Some are going too quickly, while one boat has two persons on board, and they appear to be going fishing. They were only a few meters from the shore, but they caught a lot of fish, which astounded me. One of my colleagues, who grew up near the coast, taught me the name of that particular fish, which I now regretfully forget. And the net they're using is exclusively for catching that type of fish.
The resort's owner called the attention of the fishermen because my coworkers are planning to buy fish for our lunch. They are selling it two bucks per kilo. However, they chose not to purchase it because it is not a tasty fish. When the fisherman got close to the shore, I took a photo of them.
I was bored to death because there was no internet connection in that location, and I had no games installed on my phone to keep me entertained, and I had already spent time capturing photos and videos. Then I asked of one of my friends about a neighboring resort that rents out kayaks and banana boats. At the Sunshine Beach Resort, she told me, they do. So I asked the person with whom I was closest to come along with me and we could go boating together. We also invited the niece of one of our colleagues to join us. We headed off on our adventure after I rented one kayak boat for six bucks.
What I liked about kayaking was that I could take a stroll out into the open sea and look for sea critters beneath the crystal clear emerald water. I observed clownfish and various types of fish. The water is so pure and pristine that you can see the seagrasses from below with your own naked eyes. I photographed them, and as you can see, they are visible even in pictures.
We lent the kayak to some of my colleagues so they could experience it too even for just a moment and others didn't want to stroll in it, they just took photographs with the kayak boat.
After they are done, we decided to visit the end of the island where the trinity island sights are located.
The beach looks stunning when you look at it from the sea. Just looking at it relaxes my mind already.
We arrived at the location after several minutes of paddling in the water. It was tranquil and gorgeous. All I can hear is the noisy chirping of the birds and the loud crash of the waves on the shore. We took pictures of ourselves, and I didn't forget to snap pictures of the location as well.
These rocks added to the splendor of the location, which is even more stunning in person. Unfortunately, because we were running out of time, we were unable to see the sandbar and the island's breathtaking cliffs. Our coworkers are already packing their belongings and prepared to leave. So we decided to head back to the resort.
Overall, I liked my day at Imacoto since it was a breath of fresh air after months of nothing but work. But I could have had a better time if I had been with my actual pals. I'm hoping that this pandemic will be over soon so that I can go back with those friends who make excursions and outings more fun and enjoyable.
A Day Away
My coworkers planned a trip to the beach a few days ago, and they invited me to join them. I was skeptical at first, but when they said we'd be heading to *Imacoto*, I agreed without hesitation because I'd been wanting to visit that destination since college. *Imacoto* is the name of the place where several beach resorts are located. And it is where Trinity Island is located too.
Trinity Island is one of the famous local destinations in the province of Albay. There are crystal blue waters, rock formations, cliffs, and a sand bar on this site. I've seen a lot of images of the place online, and it seems incredible, which is why I've been intrigued about it for a long time.
I was very excited that day, and because it was an overnight excursion, the assistant principle, who was also going, let me leave school early that day to pack my stuff.
It was the longest ride I'd taken since the outbreak of the pandemic. We arrived at the destination after a two-and-a-half-hour motorcycle ride.
It was pitch black, and there appeared to be no one at the resort. My colleagues who were previously guests talked to the owner and finally, the lights are on
This is how it looked like.
Only the sound of cicadas and the crashing waves of the sea could be heard in this calm setting.
The owner informed us that as there are no other guests in the vicinity, we are free to utilize all of the nipa huts.
We waited for a few minutes because a few of our colleagues were running late. We started preparing the dinner as soon as they arrived.
One of my coworkers recently got married, and she brought a *samgyupsal* grilling set, as well as other Korean dishes, with her. We had a feast that night because there was so much food. There are bottles of Soju as well that we enjoyed drinking as the night went deeper.
This is the nipa hut where we ate our dinner; it was already high tide, so the sea was very close, and the sound of the large waves crashing on the shore was very relaxing.
The night flies by so quickly. I went to sleep around 3:30 a.m., while the rest of my coworkers probably didn't get a wink of sleep.
I set my alarm as 5:30 a.m. so that I could see the sunrise, but I was already wide awake at 5:25 a.m. As soon as I saw the first rays of morning peek through the horizon, I dashed to the coast. I'm going to make a time lapse video of the sunrise from dawn till sunrise. However, I was disappointed to discover that I had forgotten to pack my tripod, which could have helped me shoot a more solid film. Instead, I tried setting my phone on a large rock and returned to the comfort room to fix myself. But to my dismay when it's already 6:00 am, the sun has yet to appear and it looked like it's going to rain instead.
However, there is no time to be dissatisfied for a longer time. Because I was taken aback by the beauty of the shore when I looked around. Seagrass traces can be seen along the shore, and of course, I had to photograph them.
I was also awestruck when I gazed at the emerald-blue water, which is crystal clear and pristine! Even from afar, I can see the seagrasses.
I spotted two little boys rushing on the beach a few moments later, as well as something black swimming or floating. I initially mistook it for a large black fish, but it's actually a fishing device used by the kids. One of the boys is holding a long, thin rope with a hook attached to it, and they are waiting to see if it catches a fish.
When they caught one small fish, I snapped a photo because the manner they catch fish is novel to me.
We went for breakfast after taking a stroll along the beach for a while. We had black coffee, ramen, and pork Barbeque leftovers. We've still got a long day ahead of us.
I'll show you how beautiful Trinity Island is in the next article.
Questions to A Single Lady
It's currently 1:00 am at the time of writing. I was just done checking out the items I added on my shopping cart from an online store, I'm too excited because those items have been on my cart for quite a while now and I waited for the free shipping vouchers to appear on my account tonight, so I'm still wide awake. I'm bored because my Netflix has just expired and I'm not planning to update it for the meantime because I feel like I am not getting my money's worth since I only use it for watching mostly on saturdays and sundays. I have deactivated my account on Facebook because it looked like I inadvertently clicked on a spam message and I'm afraid it will result to my account tagging my '*friends*' on some pornographic contents or links and I don't want that to happen. As a result of all these, I was bored and I was just staring at the pitch black space. So I started to search for random things on google (admit it, you did it once too lol). I search for cliparts which I can use for school documents. Then I came across some inspirational quotes and finally, I stumbled upon this link that says : **40 questions that single women are tired of hearing**. It intrigued me so I went to the website to check if I encountered those questions too.
So here I am at 1 am answering questions related to singleness. I selected a few questions which I will answering in this blog.
**How come you’re not dating anyone?**
I am really tired of hearing this question. Literally, a lot of people asks me this question and sometimes I find it really annoying. Why do they care if I date or not? I am not dating anyone because I haven’t met the person who can change my views about relationship and dating.
**How could a woman like you still be single?**
Exactly my point! How could an incredible woman like me whos very talented, knows how to cook, knows how to budget well, liked by children and old people alike and pretty *(pretty annoying)* still be single? How can they not see those things in me? hahahahaha Don't mind me, I'm just kidding! Someone once told me that I'm quite pretty and I can be a perfect candidate for a *wife material,* it's just that my so-called *beauty* can be quite intimidating. She told me that I exude this aura that says **"buzz off**!". Sometimes, I think that makes sense too and sometimes I think that's one of the reasons why *a woman lime me is still single*.
**Are you opening yourself up to love?**
YES. I haven't come to point in life yet when I am closing my heart for love. Being in love, loving and being loved in return is beautiful. If an opportunity comes a couple of years from now, I'll grab it.
**Are you afraid of love?**
NO.
**Do you think you’re being too picky?**
I think so. But it's not about being picky, it's about wanting the best complement for myself and I haven't met the person who can best complement me. Someone can handle my childish side. I always tell my siblings that I didn't stay single for a long time to settle with just anybody and I'm adamant about that.
**Is it because you’re not over your ex?**
No. I have zero feelings left for my ex now. And I am happy to know that he finally found the love of his life. I can even go to his wedding and bring a gift if ever they invite me! lol.
**Is it because you’re always working? Maybe you should date someone from work**.
I also think that this is one of the reasons why I'm still single. But sometimes it feels like this is just an alibi so as not to entertain anyone. Maybe I've been single for so long that being single doesn't even bother me, I'd rather work than waste my time on entertaining guys. And oh, no one from work can be a potential date. They are all old and married haha.
**Does it bother that your friends are engaged/married?**
Honestly speaking yes. I had an experience about being made fun of just because I am single. I tell you, that is not a pleasant experience. That time, I just pretended to shrug it off and laugh with them, but I pictured myself at the same scenario in the future and I think it will be friendship over with them if it still happens. That experience made me decide never to go with group of married couple friends. I don't want to be pressured about my relationship status. On the other hand, I'm still happy for my friends, I am happy that they found their 'forever'.
**Would you be interested in (insert some random guy’s name). I can set you up with him.**
This happened recently. An older colleague from school told me these exact words. She asked me if I'm still single and I said yes. She then told me "perfect! Then I could set you up with my brother!". And I was like... Oooh, laughed and told her I'm not interested in dating. She told me that I don't necessarily have to date her brother, maybe I could get to know him first and maybe I could come to like him but I was firm about my decission not to date yet.
**Have you considered online dating?**
If there's a possibility of meeting either Lee Jong Suk or Kim Seon Ho, then I'll consider it lol.
**When was the last time you went out on a date?**
2 years ago.
**Do you ever get lonely?**
I'm too busy to ever feel lonely. I'm busy at work and I'm busy watching Kdramas. Sometimes it is better to keep yourself busy so that you won't ever have the time to feel those unnecessary negative feelings.
**Are you giving guys enough chances?**
No. It's the end once I decided I don't like them.
**Aren’t you at an age where you should start thinking of settling down?**
I know right. I van count on my left hnad the times that my younger sister asked me this. She asked me if I will still get married and settle down and take note she's just 11 years old. I simply told her "I will get married, if Ravi is the groom."
**Don’t you want to have kids one day?**
I do. I want to have a smart kid one day and teach him or her valua le life lessons and maybe I could brag about how smart he or she is too! But that is off the list for now.
**What do you do on weekends?**
I make noise on noise.cash, I get some work done, sometimes I write an article, oftentimes I write letters to random people and usually watches Korwan dramas. See, I'm a busy bee.
**Isn’t there someone you at least like?**
I like Kim Seon Ho and 99+ others.
**You’re such a catch! How are you not taken yet?**
I know right! I wonder why too.
**So how long have you been single?**
I've been single for 10 years now. The last time I was in a relationship, was in 2011 when I was just 16 years old. Yeah, I know I was too young back then, but that is just a result of peer pressure and curiosity.
**Do you like the** **single life**?
I don't like it. I love it! I love being single and I'm absolutely happy that I am.
**What do your parents think of your situation?**
My father is a little bothered I think, since most of his friends have granchildren now and recently, I heard that he's the only one among his close friends who doesn't have a grandkid yet. One time, he's drunk he kept blabbering about why I don't talk to them about my love life and I told him, there's nothing to talk about because I don't have a 'love life' yet. There's this instance when he even said that if one of my co-teachers has a son and that colleague would want to set him up with me, then that's good. It seems like my father wants to experience seeing his child get married too but he just can't bring himself to talk about it with me knowing how sensitive I am when it comes to this topic. My mother is okay about me being single though, I know it's because all the money I earn will be given to them.
It's 2:04 now so I just selected several questions out of 40 to answer.
What Happened This Morning
The loud ringing of my phone jolted me awake. It's my alarm, set for 4:00 a.m. I'm still sleepy and weary, and my head is throbbing from sleeping late last night.
I don't want to get out of bed because it's so cold, but I have no choice because I promised the parents that I would release the modules today because I couldn't go to school yesterday as it was raining so hard and the roads were so dangerous, so I told the parents to come to school today to claim their children's modules, and I can't go back on my words so that they would develop a trust in my words.
So I made a concerted effort to reawaken my consciousness. I instantly opened my messenger app to see if my colleague had sent me a message the night before. Since she gives me a ride to work, we have made it a habit to notify each other every night about our arrangements for the next day. I noticed that my messenger was loading, so I assumed there was another issue with our internet connection. I tried to launch my Facebook app, but it gave me the same error. I was about to become irritated with our internet service provider once more, when I was able to log into my noise.cash account. So I assumed the issue was with Facebook, which was confirmed by some noise. cash users.
I'm not concerned about not being able to access Facebook, but I am concerned about not being able to communicate with my colleague. I attempted to email her, but it appears that my message was not received. Fortunately, I got her number saved on my coins. ph app which I got when I sent her a load.
Thank goodness I reached the proper number, so we promised to meet at 7:30 a.m.
I was supposed to depart at 7:29 a.m., but she texted that our school principal was running late, so I got to our meeting spot at quarter to eight instead. The weather is still dreary, and I'm afraid it will rain while we're on the road. Because I was early, I had to wait for my colleague for almost 15 minutes. After that, we sat for about an hour waiting for our principal.
Our principal finally came. We put on our raincoats because, as I had predicted, it was raining! Despite the awful weather, the trip to the other town was quite enjoyable.
Ooops! It was fun, not until we reached the eight barangay. My coworker realized something was wrong with her motorcycle and asked me to check the tire to see if it was flat. And, as far as I can tell, it is! Worse, we were stranded in a possibly dangerous location. There are fugitives in the area, according to reports. But we don't have a choice but to send her to the neighboring barangay in search of a vulcanizing shop.
We were the only ones left on the road, and we couldn't possible go any further, anywhere with houses and people, because the principal had just recently learnt to ride a motorcycle, and she couldn't have a back ride yet.
So, to pass the time, we seized the opportunity to take photographs.
Aside from the gray road and the road signs, all we could see are green. There are a few vehicles passing by to, but we we're quite terrified thinking about the fugitives in the area.
The principal asked me to ride her motorcyle to see if we can go further, but she really can't. I told her I'll just walk while she's riding the motorcylce. We only lasted for a few meters though and we decided to stop.
We were bored and tired of taking photos, fortunately, my cousin and his wife who lives at the nearby barangay passed by. They are on their way to deliver some cakes when my cousin saw us. Good thing we were close so he easily recognized me even when I'm wearing a mask. He told me to ride with them while my principal is on a convoy.
My parents who left the house early in the morning to check on our rice field also happens to bee on the way to my father's land in the mountain so I rode their vehicle when my cousin reached their destination.
It had been a hectic morning, and my colleague returned a few minutes later with the tire already fixed.
We rushed to school, but sadly, several of the parents had already gone home because it was already 11 a.m.
Unfortunate events really do happen u expectedly, if that happens we must be ready to face it and make something positive out of it. In our case, we were able to take good snaps because of what happened this morning. Hopefully, it won't happen again.
What About Me?
*September 1, 2021*
Dear diary,
I'm writing since I don't have someone to whom I can express my emotions. All of this is bottled up inside of me, and I'm not sure I'll be able to keep it to myself. My friends, I'm sure, have their own issues that are either as frustrating as mine or even worse. As just a conclusion, I won't be bothering them with my problems.
These days, I feel like I'm going to give up at any moment. I'm exhausted with being a filial daughter. I sometimes wish I could simply give up and let them think what they want about me. Sometimes I just want to do whatever I want without considering how it would affect others. But I can't do that since I'm a filial daughter. All I can do is cry quietly and try to keep the tension at bay.
I often got the impression that my mum only cares about me when I have money. She never loved and cared for me as much as she does for my siblings when I was a child. When I'm not around and they're eating something delicious, she never thinks about saving some for me, and when she does, it's so little that I think it's better not to save anything at all. Because my younger siblings are all she worries about. I never had the opportunity to eat a breakfast cooked by her, but she still cooks for her younger children, even though they are old enough to fend for themselves.
She barely gave me the right amount of allowance when I was in college. Because I didn't have enough money to pay for the fare, I had to walk four times a day from our house to school in the searing heat of the sun. Because the money she provided me isn't even enough to cover the cost of photocopying the library's books. I know she have money, but she's always been stingy with me. In comparison to my younger siblings, who are still in high school, she lavishes more attention on them than she does on me.
They didn't sacrifice too much for the purpose of my education because I graduated from college with a lot of support from scholarships. While my peers study for the licensure exam, I choose to work for a company since I know my mother will not be able to cover the costs of the study and examination. I worked and paid for everything myself, and fortunately, I was able to pass the exam on my own accord.
While working, I was giving them the money I earned. Almost more than a half of my salary are given to them because I don't want to hear anything bad from them. I don't want to hear them say I'm being stingy. I endured working without getting much for myself. But when the time came that I lost my job, she would still say bad things towards me. Not even considering the good deeds I did in the past.
The idea that she is unconcerned about what I do for them hurts me. I have the impression that she only loves me when I have money. They requested me a few months ago to get them a smart television because they no longer liked the one they had at home. I continued resisting since I was on the verge of running out of money on my account. I can get the money I get from working as a teacher within a few months. But they pestered me for days about it, and my mother even told me that I was such a lousy child that I couldn't even grant their wish. They were bothering my conscience, so I went ahead and bought it for them. But they want the bigger one, which costs more than $600, so I cleared my bank account and received Bitcoin cash in my wallet. I didn't want to waste all of my bitcoin on something that wouldn't benefit me, so I agreed to pay the remaining balance to cover the total cost of the television they requested. As a result, I pay $20 every 18th of the month. But I'm not thinking about it because I want them to be happy. At the very least, they aren't nagging me about it every day anymore.
I opted to work as an online English teacher, but I am unable to complete the application because they have four noisy dogs at home. I asked them to let the other dogs out and only take one so that the noise would be reduced and I could go ready for work. They, on the other hand, are adamant about not doing so. As a result, I decided to build a small office at home. I don't have much money, so I requested my mother to borrow a small sum from the bank, which I would pay back monthly because I will be hired as soon as the office is ready, and guess what? She took out a larger loan than I anticipated. And what's worse? The office is still being built until now, so I can't work properly, the money is gone, and I have no idea what they did with it. Worse, I'm paying for it on a monthly basis!
Now she's asking for the monthly payment, and I informed her I only have 80% of the money because I just paid over $70 for our internet connection last Sunday. We can't afford to lose internet access for a longer length of time because my siblings rely on it for online classes and I rely on it for work. What makes me mad is my mother's inability to understand that I can't make more than a hundred bucks in a week. It irritates me that she is forcing me to do these things when I am already stressed about schoolwork.
I have papers due tomorrow, and I can't afford to worry about other things when I have more essential things to accomplish, because I can't focus on what matters when I'm stressed.
All I have left now is to write about my emotions while crying. Why can't my mother think about my feelings for a second? When I don't have money, why can't she love and care for me? What about me, if they take everything from me? I'm sick of it; should I just die so they can get more money from me after I'm gone?
***The diary of a Filial daughter.***
`P.S. Not my real story, I just incorporated some of my experiences for the sake of references of the article lol.`
@sc
