Tag: Life

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Art Canada Career Life

My Lucky Streak

Processed with VSCO with hb2 preset

I just noticed (my aunt and uncle noticed it too), during these past few months in Canada, that I had been quite lucky. Here’s a couple of lucky things that happened:

  • We went to the casino and I won $100 playing Blackjack. I had gambling issues and used to go to casinos all by myself. But that was before and I stopped gambling ultimately when I had my losing streak. So when we went to this casino, I was playing just for fun. I wasn’t even playing my own money. My uncle gave us $20 each. When I won $10, I was planning on stopping. But I decided to just continue and didn’t care if I lose. But then I didn’t. šŸ˜‰
FullSizeRender 2
Kept this as a souvenir
  • We were shopping in this store and I bought some stuff and this nice (pricey) wrap-around jacket that’s perfect for fall. Only I didn’t buy it. When I checked the receipt, the salesperson didn’t scan the tag on the jacket so I got it for free. I know that wasn’t the right thing to do; but I am jobless and a person who sometimes gets tempted so…
  • After just a month here, I already got a job. It was only a 2-month placement so it isn’t really something that’s permanent but still, that was pretty lucky. Unfortunately, I was having some health issues and I’m sorry, no disrespect, but I just loathe the job. I will certainly miss the residents and most of them are sweet but that’s just isn’t enough for me to stay.
  • So after working there for 2 weeks, I quit and hope that I will immediately find another job. And luckily, after a couple of weeks, I received several interview invitations. Then I got interviewed for this certain position (which is kind of similar to my previous job back home) and got an offer a few days after the interview. I was sooo happy and was jumping for joy nonstop. But that’s not it! It was a double entendre because not only I got hired, they hired me for a higher position! Which means higher salary! I can’t help but smile thinking about it.
  • Over to Dust Designs news (my graphic art business), I just got a client who needed some tags and things for her wedding. So I am currently working on it and like how things are going.
Their two options
  • I almost forgot the iPad. It wasn’t totally free because the bank let me chose if I’d want to have free monthly banking fees for a year or I’ll pay the monthly fees but I’ll get an iPad. I chose the latter because I’m planning to get an iPad anyway so it’s like I’m paying it in installments. Apparently, “24-month installment for zero interest!” is not a thing here. So that worked out. Also, the bank manager offered us free monthly fees for the first 2 months. So it’s like I got a discounted, 10 months to pay iPad. Yes!

  • Also, I get to experience snow. I consider that lucky because not everyone has the chance to experience snow. šŸ˜Š

And that was it! I should be happy but… No wait, I am happy. But I am also worried. I’m worried that something unlucky will happen because of all these lucky-ness. I will be watching out.

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Canada Life Travel

First Week in Winnipeg

Nakakainis hindi na ko nagb-blog! šŸ˜­ Dami ko na nami-miss i-document. So andito na kami sa Winnipeg. Eto na mga nagawa namin and other highlights:

  • Nakakita na ko ng snow! Haha. Nasa eroplano kami tapos malapit na mag-land, kita ko yung mga bundok may snow sa tuktok. Yun na yun šŸ˜… (sa Vancouver to)
  • Walang mga tinanong samin na kahit ano pagdating namin Winnipeg. Kala ko ang daming tanong para sa mga new immigrants. Wala. Aside lang dun sa usual na birthday and stuff. Kala ko tatanungin bakit di kami same ng last names ni Kenneth, kung tama ba yung amount na dinala naming pera, kung anong nasa maleta at boxes na dala namin, etc. Pero wala. Ang dali lang nya.
  • Sa Pilipinas kami nahirapan. Muntik na kaming hindi makaalis! šŸ˜‚ Meron kasing nire-require and PH government na pre-arrival seminar for new immigrants. Wala akong idea na may ganun. Nahara kami sa immigration tapos pinapunta kami dun sa booth na nag-iisue nung required na sticker (as proof na umattend ka nung seminar na yun). Medyo nagpapakipot pa si aleng sticker hindi daw talaga kami makakaalis ng wala yun. Dapat daw kasi binabasa namin lahat yung documents na binigay samin nung inissue yung Canadian visas namin. Pinakita nya sakin kung san naka-indicate, talagang hindi ko nga nabasa. Hanggang sa nakatulala na lang ako sa kanya hindi ako umiimik. Hindi din ako umaalis kahit sinasabi nyang hindi daw talaga pwede ng wala yun. Tapos parang miracle, biglang pumayag na din sya nung huli. Ang taray nung una pero patawa-tawa na nung huli. Iniisip ko nga baka naghihintay lang ng lagay. Hay salamat!!!
  • Pagdating namin sa baggage carousel, nakita ko na agad sina Kuya Jon2. Una kong nainom sa Winnipeg ay Tim Horton’s na kape. šŸ˜„
  • Sa first day namin, kumuha na kami ng SIN and Manitoba Health Card (kahit daw magpa-opera na ako ng gallstones ko ngayon walang problema). And dali lang din wala nang kung ano-anong requirements. Hindi din ganun katagal ang pila. Nakakatuwa.
  • Tapos nung weekend, pumunta lang kaming mall tapos kumain sa buffet and Jollibee. Mas masarap ang chicken joy dito at mas malaki. Pero mas masarap ang burger steak sa Pinas.
  • Feeling ko super tataba ako dito. Daming masasarap na food parang feeling ko kailangan ko matikman lahat. Nag-Costco kami kahapon nakakaoverwhelm yung mga bagong food na nakikita ko. Tapos sabi pa nung tito ko, “Kumuha ka lang ng gusto mo wag ka nang mahiya.” Eh di kumuha nga ako šŸ˜‚šŸ˜‚šŸ˜‚
  • Nakakatuwa din yung mga itlog dito; may expiration date na naka-tatak sa bawat eggs
  • Ano pa ba. Sobrang sarap nung cookies na Kirkland (from Costco din). Kinonvert ko, 15 pesos lang isa tapos super sarap! Pinaghalong lasa ng cookies sa SB at M&S. Saraaap.
  • Summer “daw” ngayon pero ang highest temp today ay 19 Ā°C at ang lowest ay 10 . Wow. Pano pa kaya sa mga susunod na linggo. šŸ˜­
  • Nakapag-open na din kami ng bank account. Nakakabano. Pag nag-open ka ng account, walang initial deposit walang maintaning balance. Nag-open kami tapos yun na yun, $0 ang laman ng account namin šŸ˜„ Tapos may free na iPad pag nag-open ng account. Anong klase kaya yun hahaha. Ang pangit lang, may monthly fee ang bangko dito. $15 per month. Boo!
  • Ang mahal ng parking. Tapos pag nag-park ka, kailangan mo na i-set kung ilang oras ka lang pa-park. 250-300 pesos ang 3 hours tapos babayaran mo na agad. Pag 1 hour ka lang nakapag-stay, wala nang balikan ng pera. Boo ulit!
  • May pinuntahan kaming isang government office na nagbibigay ng funding for education. Gusto ko kasi nga mag-aral ulit para makapag-work ako dito ng matino-tinong trabaho. Yung mga above $15 per hour sana. Sana ma-approve ako dun sa grant. Laking tulong nun.
  • Naka-schedule na kami ng Manitoba Start (orientation program for new immigrants) sa August 27. Yun yung earliest available schedule kaya may kulang kulang 2 weeks kaming walang gagawin. Gusto ko sana mag-ikot pero parang wala gaanong mapuntahan dito. Merong iba pero malayo eh hindi pa pwedeng mag-drive si Kenneth. Ayaw pa ng Kuya Jon2. Hindi makapasa šŸ˜‚ Di naman sya makaangal haha. Kung sa iba yun buringot na yun.
Categories
Art Career Life

Why Are You Doing This?

I’ve just encountered a great video on Youtube about photography but it actually applies to everything that I am trying to learn nowadays:

 

 

The phrase that struck me most is, “Learn and understand why you are doing this particular thing, and not just how to do them.” Aannnd I’ll leave it at that.

Categories
Family Life Pals

Despedidas

Para sa friends ni Kenneth, nagbook kami thru Airbnb ng place sa Tagaytay. Maganda yung room pero mahal. For me mahal. Sabi nila mura na kasi 9 pax kami tapos 10k yung accommodation. Syempre hindi ako gagastos ng ganun kalaki. Eh may Airbnb coupon kasi ako na worth 9k so 1k plus na lang binayaran namin. Hehehe.

Naglaro lang sila Xbox most of the time tapos naginom na nung gabi. The next day, may booking naman kami sa Narra Hill. Advance 2nd wedding anniversay celebration namin. Super ganda nung place. Nature trip. Naka-set na yung expectation na walang WiFi and walang TV. Wala naman problema kasi sobrang nakakarefresh yung lugar. Kahit 1 night lang kami dun nabitin kami. Ang ganda ng view nung room namin, masarap food nila, mababait sina ate tapos tahimik lang. Ang sobrang gusto ko sa place nila, paglabas ng room amoy fresh flowers. Parang naka-air freshener yung buong Narra Hill. Ang magical feeling ko may mga fairies na lalabas.

Nung next weekend naman, sa mga friends ko naman. Pero dito lang sa Lucena, videoke lang. After ng 3 hours namin sa Welkin Tower, lumipat na kami kila Benson. Tapos biglang nagpauso si Benson ng mga message-message saming dalwa ni Kenneth. Tapos sobrang natouch ako kasi naiiyak si Benson. Tapos nag-take turns sila sa mga messages nila sakin. Lahat sila umiyak (except Xali) nung nagbibigay na sila ng message sakin. Sobrang napa-aww naman ako dun. Huhu.

Ayoko pa din masyadong isipin ang magiging future namin dun sa Canada. Nakaka-overwhelm kasi isipin. Basta ang iniintindi ko lang eh yung mga dapat namin gawin like magpapalit ng dollar, mag-empake, etc. Pero yung mismong iisipin ko yung pag dun na kami nakatira, na wala kami friends dun at konti lang ang family namin dun, nakaka-sad. Mapapaisip ka for a split second kung talaga bang tutuloy kami dun. Talagang tutuloy naman kami syempre at resigned na kami pareho at kung ano-anong preparation na ginawa namin. Pero di mo lang maiwasan na indi maisip yung mga ganun. Scary talaga ganun talaga.

Categories
Career Life

Jobless: Day 1

Yesterday was my last day of work. So what I did was:

  • Went to the office to return company assets and my ID
  • Tagged along with my previous teammates to watch Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom
  • Got my hair chopped (thinking of dyeing it as well)
  • Got my pits sugared
  • Hugged my office mates goodbye
  • Had dinner with Kenneth at Rice & Dough

Then we went home. It was raining hard. When we got home, I felt weird that I didn’t need to login to my laptop to work. I felt weird that I don’t see my office laptop anymore in our room. It was really an uneasy feeling ā€” up until now. It’s uncomfortable but exciting at the same time ā€” because I could do anything now! There’s just a lot of possibilities.

For today, I’m thinking of cooking Kenneth’s dinner later. I’ve also been meaning to start working again on the wedding invitation project. I hope I’ll be productive today because recently, I have the tendency to just lie around and watch YouTube videos all day long. Or I’ll just lie in bed thinking of the things that I should do but actually doing nothing. Until it gets dark and it’s time to go to sleep. Another day wasted.

I just remembered that I had to pack some orders from my online shop. Brb.

 

Categories
Life TV

Weird Stuff and Other Stuff

I’m reading quite a lot now ever since I got my new Kindle. It’s my Christmas gift to myself. I’m so in love with it. It’s easy on the eyes and the battery lasts for weeks. I’m (still) currently reading A Storm of Swords. The Red Wedding just happened. Catelyn’s death was quite different from the series. In the book, her face was attacked by ravens and she was laughing. Weird.

I just finished a new series called The End of the F***ing World. It was weird as well but very entertaining. I even shed a few tears on a couple of episodes. I love weird characters. They’re very interesting to watch and they make you think a lot. I feel like painting Alyssa. The girl protagonist. So the series is about an angsty teenage girl (Alyssa) who has this idea of potentially falling in love with this another weird kid in school after saying to his face that he’s a shitty skater (an odd way to start a relationship). And a psychopathic teenage boy who wants to upgrade from killing animals to killing people. And his first target? Alyssa. Twisted, I know. A romantic black comedy. I love it.

I started having diet meals delivered to me again. One, because I want to eat healthy. And two, because I’m lazy. It’s quite expensive but it’s healthy, delicious, and worry-free.

My head hurts. I got super annoyed earlier then I felt pain at the back of my head. I need to be more insensitive.

Days ago, I figured something about myself that I do not like. It’s either I think too far ahead or I dwell too much in the past. It’s like I’m forgetting to live in the present which makes me out of focus. I want to change that.

My head is hurting a bit more now. Bye.

PS:

I drew Alyssa but it doesnā€™t look like her. 

Categories
Family Life Pals Travel

2017 Highlights

I’ve been meaning to do this kind of post to just put everything that I want to remember for 2017 in a nugget. So here it is:

  • Spent the New Year with F Buddies at our place. My parents were pretty strict back then; even after I graduated college. So having my friends over for a drinking session for the very first time was very unusual and memorable for me.
  • Jen, our previous LNC teammate, was back from Abu Dhabi (or was it Dubai?) and so we got together and went to our favorite spot (Rue Bourbon). It was another rare occasion.
  • Summer was spent with friends at a private resort. Loads of fun.
  • After 8 years, I finally went back to Singapore! Singapore was my first out of the country experience. It was 2011 and Nick, Xali, and I were fresh grads when we decided to try our luck to work there as nurses. We were there for three weeks and stayed not at a hotel but at Xali’s uncle’s apartment so we kind of felt like a true local. I enjoyed every minute of it. We did our own laundry, bought groceries, cooked almost everyday, watched a movie (my first 3D movie), played the lottery, etc. I even learned how to ride a bike there. So when I had the chance to go back to Singapore to visit Kenneth’s dad, I was really really excited.
  • Tricia, our youngest sibling, graduated from college. Our parents’ pride and relief were pretty apparent since all four of us were already finished with school. Finally.
  • Our dear grandfather passed away. I get teary eyed thinking about it now. We loved him so much and we extremely miss him everyday. šŸ˜”
  • Our relatives from the UK had a 1-month vacation here in the Philippines. Our cousins grew up so tall and cute and lovely. I miss them so bad.
  • We got married again, at a church this time. It was a bittersweet moment because our grandfather just passed away. It felt wrong having to celebrate our wedding when we were still mourning.
  • Attended 3 weddingsĀ and 1 christening this year
  • This was the year of “artventure”. I rekindled my passion for art and experimented with watercolor, digital design, and calligraphy. I missed being in a school-like setting so attending those art workshops were really fun and refreshing.
  • Celebrated Miguel’s 7th birthday, our cutest cousin yet. I’m still hoping for a baby boy from Ate Beng2.
  • DIY takoyaki at some resto and tried making homemade gyoza but failed. It was bland.
  • Went back to Japan (my favorite country) with Nick, Benson, Bryan and Irving. I feel like I would never get tired of this country. There’s just so much to see and explore! They have the most helpful and friendliest people ever. I purchased my first professional watercolors here as well.
  • Discovered I have gall stones. Boo!
  • We had our so-called honeymoon in Korea. It was our first time there and it was an extremely cold November (as low as 6Ā Ā°C). It was a fresh experience but we can’t help but compare it to Japan. And there was a time when we got really mad at each other and separated for a while. So for me, memories of Korea were not that enjoyable. But I got to experience autumn (one of the things in my bucket list). It was breathtaking. ā¤ļø
  • I sold my first artwork! It was very satisfying. I’m really proud of myself and I’m so excited where this artventure takes me.
  • Had our F Buddies Christmas Party/open forum. Everybody cried except Xali (boringgg šŸ˜‚). I think I’ll reserve another post detailing the events and explaining why there was a lot of crying involved.
  • I got a Kindle for Christmas! It doesn’t get here until mid-January though.
  • Isabelle and Illysa, our cute cousins, hosted our 2017 Slumber Party. It was amusing how the two sisters really prepared for the party (prepared the plan of activities, invitations, balloons, snacks). Activities involved were a modeling showdown, watching a scary movie (but we ended up watching their parents’ wedding), blind makeover challenge, sharing secrets, etc. The party ended after the blind makeover game when Illysa cried because her makeup was “ugly”. It was still a lot of fun and I can’t wait for next year’s slumber party. They keep me young (channeling Regina’s mom šŸ˜‚).

Paalam 2017!

Categories
Family Life Pals

Christmas 2017

Merry Christmas! Hindi ako masyado na-excite nung mga nakaraang days na malapit na ang pasko. Pero nung nasa mga Christmas parties na ko, dun ko uli naisip na December nga talaga ang favorite month ko. Umuwi kami ng Quezon province for Christmas pero 3 days lang. Bitin nga. Ang strict kasi kila Kenneth bawal basta basta mag-leave. So sa day 1 ng bakasyon namin, umattend kami ng binyag ni Leon.

Day 1 – Dec 23: Leon’s Christening & F Buddies Christmas Party

Andun mga friends namin sina Benson, Dimple, Kat Neric, Mcdo. Favorite kong kasama si Benson pag may videoke kasi pareho kaming pasikat. Baka ganun talaga pag nangarap kang maging famous singer pero hindi ka naman naging ganun so dinadaan mo na lang sa videoke. Nakakatawa pa kasi ang hina nung mic kaya hindi kami mapakali ni Benson. Bothered na bothered kami na hindi naririning ng mga tao yung kanta namin. Pag alis ni Benson, kachikahan ko lang si Dimple and Kat about HS life. Mga naging crush, ex, naka-away, naka-fling, kung sino bang pinakagwapo sa batch na to, mga katangahan, kung ano ano pa.

Tapos nagtext na Xali about sa Christmas party naming F Buddies. Dinadramahan pa namin yung dalwa ni Bong and Nick kasi hindi nagpaparamdam.

Napilitan na sila

Tapos ok na sinundo na ko ni Nick kila Lee. Nagsuggest sya ng videoke so syempre payag na payag naman ako at nabitin ako kumanta kaya napunta kami sa Welkin Tower. Naka-ilang skip kami ng F Buddies Christmas party through the years kaya medyo big deal na natuloy kami netong year with exchange gifts and all.

Ayun masaya lang kami tapos nung pahuli nag iyakan. Nakakatawa. First time ko makita umiyak si Bong. Si Nick siguro mga second time (hindi kasali yung mga fake cries nya). Ako cry baby naman talaga. Si Xali lang ang strong siguro kasi hindi naka-inom. Parang sya lang ang pinaka matinong kausap nung gabing yun. Haha. Almost 5AM na kami natapos. Hindi ko na namalayan ang oras. Si Ian at Kenneth sumuko agad tulog sa kotse. Basta ang mga tanda kong tidbits ng pinagdramahan namin: Pag si Bong ay may gustong i-share about sa life nya, hindi na nya iisipin na babarahin lang namin sya. Tapos si Nick naman, ittry nyang hindi na maging super OA sa pagka-neutral pagdating sa mga opinions nya. Parang yun lang naman ang laman nung ilang oras naming dramahan.

Masaya pose

Day 2 – Dec 24: Diaz Christmas

Siguro mga past tanghali na kami nagising. Sumaglit lang kami sa SM bumili ng gift wrappers tapos pumunta nang Pagbilao. Tumambay lang ng konti at gumawa ng oobleck. After nun, umuwi na ulit Lucena (around 10PM) pumuntang RGR kila Lee, tapos pumuntang bayan kila Lola tapos sa Site kila tito Joey then umuwi na sa bahay. Nasweetan ako sa gift ni Kat Sister kase art related. Super na-appreciate ko. Yung gift ni Kenneth na Kindle (na ako din ang bumili) on the way pa. Super excited na din ako dun ang tagaaal.

Lagot ang dami

Day 3 – Dec 25: Merene Christmas Party

Last day na namin sa Quezon tapos luluwas na din pa-Manila ng hapon. Kelangan umuwi ng medyo maaga para hindi ma-traffic. Pero mga past 5PM na din ata kami nakaalis. Mga past 10AM na ata ako nagising tapos kelangan ko pa magbalot ng mga gifts. Isa pa lang nababalot ko. Pagka gising ko direcho agad ako sa taas para magbalot. Eh 11AM daw kasi kelangan nandun na sa Pagbilao sa mga Mommy. Pagdating namin sa Pagbilao ng mga 12NN, mga tulog ang tao. Sila Ate Gigi pala galing din Manila.

After kumain (sarap nung pata tim at carbonara), games naman. Kahit ang tanda ko na tuwang tuwa pa din ako makisali sa games. Pinaka favorite ko yung musay kasi kahit matatanda agawang agawan. Na-injure pa yung likod ko kasi napasalpok sa kuya. Work from home tuloy ako ngayon. Para akong nabugbog. After games, intermission number ni Illysa. Nagprepare daw sya ng 6 na sayaw (pero sabi nya sakin nung isang araw 4 lang daw so nadagdagan pa haha). Sabi ni Ate Beng2 gabi gabi daw nagppractice ng sayaw si Illysa para sa Christmas party. Haha. After sayawan, gift giving na tapos kailangan na namin umalis. Huhu. Sinisigawan kami ng “Boringggg!”. Ayoko pa talaga umalis pero yun nga, kesa mapagod magdrive si Kenneth baka biglang abutin ng sobrang traffic. Naiyak ang Mommy nung gift giving kasi naaalala ang Daddy. First Christmas namin na hindi kasama ang Daddy. šŸ˜”

So yun ang Christmas 2017 namin. Fun and emotional. Injured ako sakit talaga ng likod ko parang feeling ko pa ay kinakapos ang hinga ko. Pagka gising ko lang ngayon saka ko naramdam yung sakit.

Bruised knees every year

Sa Friday ay uuwi ulit kami for New Year naman. Sa Pagbilao naman kami magbabagong taon. Yun ang setup namin. Christmas kila Kenneth then New Year sa amin. Wala pa akong namimiss kahit isang New Year sa bahay kaya sobrang importante sakin ng New Year. Tsaka hindi kasi kami naghahanda ng Pasko, New Year lang talaga. Ang Papa pala hindi ko na nakita nung uwi namin kasi duty, sa New Year na lang daw. Then may slumber party din kami nila Isabelle and Illysa. Haha.

Categories
Life

29th Birthday Bop

Good morning! It’s your birthday! šŸŽ‰

Sabi ko kaninang madaling araw bago ako matulog (around 1:30AM), pagkagising koĀ  magbblog ako agad. Gagawin ko na syang everyday routine. Eh pag gising ko (mga 9:30AM), cellphone agad hinanap ko. Nalimutan ko ata yung deal namin ng sarili ko. Ok lang naman. Maganda naman ang result kasi madami na bumati sakin. Maganda ang gising. Buti naman. Medyo bad mood kasi ako kahapon. Bumaba na naman self-esteem ko kahapon. Kaya nag-Tumblr ako bago matulog and sinearch ko yung #magma hashtag ko. Ayun umokey naman ako somehow. Nakangiti naman ako bago matulog.

Excited na ko bukas kasi bukas yung parang celebration ko since weekday ngayon. Baka mag-dinner lang kami mamaya ni Kenneth. So ang itinerary bukas:

  • Buy Aly’s cookies at the Spectrum Fair
  • Avail Eatigo’s 50% off on Applebee’s
  • Print Watercolor Zodiac Galaxies Series
  • Go to BGC Art Mart
  • Avail Eatigo’s 50% off on Tipple and Slaw (di pa sure)

Parang may nalimutan ako. Mamaya ko na lang aalalahanin.

Christmas party namin sa Monday. Hindi talaga “namin” kasi hindi ko na sila ka-team. Pero natuwa naman ako ininvite pa din nila ko.

Gutom na ko kaya umorder na lang ako sa KFC. Ittry ko yung bago nilang hotdog sandwich at nuggets. Ano kayang difference nung nuggets sa fun shots nila. Buti tumatanggap na ang KFC ng credit card kasi 92 pesos na lang pala ang cash ko.

Wala na ko masabi ang boring na ng mga kinekwento ko. Ay. Work from home ako ngayon. Buti pinayagan ako ng mabait kong boss. Kaya super chill lang ako dito sa bahay. Tapos kakain lang kami mamaya. No fuss birthday. Hindi naman talaga ko mahilig magpakain or magpainom sa birthday ko. Kuripot kasi ako. Saka na ko magpapa-party pag millionaire na ko.

Sasabihin ko sana as conclusion, “Enjoy your day!”. Pero naisip ko mas okay ang, “Enjoy everyday!” Kaya enjoy everyday! Wag na masyadong weak. That’s so not you.

Categories
Insights Life

Muniba Mazari

When I got home from the Korean Embassy for our visa application (sobrang haba ng pila!), I stumbled upon this Goalcast video where a woman in a wheelchair is making a motivational speech. Her name is Muniba Mazari. I was completely blown away by her strength and optimism despite countless misfortunes that I found myself getting teary eyed while watching  her tell her life story.  Her words resonated with me and made feel really inspired.

That day I decided that I’m going to live my life for myself. I am not going to be that perfect person for someone. I am just going to take this moment and I will make it perfect for myself.

Embrace each and every breath that you are taking. Celebrate your life. Live it. Don’t die before your death.

Here is a woman, who was forced by her parents to be married at a young age. A woman who sustained several injuries after a car accident that made her paraplegic and unable to bear any child; but then I look at her, and see a woman who is truly unbreakable. I felt guilty for those days when I complain too much; whether be it about my job, my relationships, and life in general.

But now I’m feeling so inspired and somewhat contented on where I am in my life at the moment. Just because some things arenā€™t within my reach right now, it doesn’t mean that it will stay that way forever. Unless I let it.

muniba-mazari-story2-1

Thanks to Muniba for giving me that needed push. And as they say, “You do you.”

Categories
Art Japan Life

Dust Designs

Haven’t done any blogging lately and I’m hating myself for it. It always crosses my mind but I wasn’t getting myself around to do it. I almost didn’t want to write now because I’m about to sleep already. My neurons are still kind of recuperating from the art class that I took this morning (I took an art class! Yay!). But so much stuff has been happening lately and I need to talk about it. I want my future self to go back and remember these things. Let’s have it as a list.

  • CANADA We’re done with our medical test and we passed! All we have to do now is wait for the passport request. Once we get notified of this, it means that they’re going to stamp our passports with PR visas (finally)! So keeping our fingers crossed for that. It’s kind of bittersweet though because that also means we’re leaving our families here in the Philippines. šŸ˜¢Ā Oh well.
  • ART VENTURE I’m becoming more serious in pursuing my passion in art. Last week, I took my first ever art workshop about water brush calligraphy and it was a lot of fun. It was kind of bitin and pricey (Php 2,000 for 2 hours) but I enjoyed it. What I liked most about the experience is meeting the artist. I saw firsthand how she works and just listening to her tips and insights made me feel really good about this art venture. Seeing how good she is at what she does motivated me more to be as skilled as her. And then earlier this morning, as previously mentioned, I attended another workshop. This time, it’s about the fundamentals of drawing (Php 1,950 for roughly 5 hours). I guess I’d have to reserve a separate post for this because I’m thinking of writing every detail that happened today because it’s still fresh from my memory. To cut things short, I learned A LOT today. Didn’t think of actually being able to draw this (pictured below). I felt more confident than yesterday and I’m actually glad that I’m taking the necessary steps to improve my skills (even if it comes with a price). It’s definitely worth it! The instructor (Joms de Mesa) said something that I want myself to always remember. He said something along these lines, “If you were able to do this on your first try, just imagine what you can do if you keep on doing this for a year.” And that’s very true and a really good reminder to keep on going. To tie this all up together, I made an IG account dedicated to my art called @dust.designs (hence the title of this blog post). I hope to see a transition (from noob to expert) on my future posts so I need to keep on learning and practicing.
  • TRAVEL Hope everything goes well when we apply for our Japan visas next week. We’re hoping to go back there again this coming October. Nick should better be approved this time! I’m excited to stroll around the districts of Osaka then maybe go back to Kyoto. Not sure. Haven’t made an itinerary yet. I’m also looking forward to go visit some art stores in Japan. I hope I won’t get overwhelmed and start buying everything that looks kawaii. I also notice that most of the quality tools that’s being recommended in art blogs are from Japan, so I think I can buy it cheaper there. More better reasons to go back!
  • LIFE IN GENERAL I’m actually in good spirits right now. Mainly because of me trying to do the things I love like drawing, watercolor and some traveling. I feel happy whenever I produce a decent work and see myself improving. It’s an extra boost if I post it and somebody likes it (sometimesĀ ā¤ļøĀ orĀ šŸ˜²Ā if I’m using Facebook šŸ˜„). Although in hindsight, I sometimes worry and think about some negative things. Thoughts like, “What are you planning to do with art? Are you going to get money from it? There’s a lot of people better than you.” and “Why do you keep on traveling? Traveling costs a lot of money. Do you have a lot of money? No you don’t! Why not save it instead and use it for things that really matter? You’re being selfish.” Stuff like that. I try not to think of these things because it dampens my mood and it demotivates me. I know that this “art thing” isn’t something that’s certain to make me earn money; but I’m loving every minute of it!Ā What’s important is that I’m doing what I’m passionate about and for me, that matters. But it doesn’t mean that I’m going to quit my job (for now) and just do art. Of course I’ll keep my job (for now šŸ˜) while doing stuff I like on the side. I’m just now in a state where I fully understand that life is really short. Yes, earning money is necessary to live. But making art and traveling is what I live for. For me, it gives more value and quality to my life. I’m just thankful that I finally know what I want to do. I felt very lost before. I was in a position where I’m very discontented and don’t know what I’m doing. I wan’t someone to tell me what to do and give me the answers because I have no clue what I’m supposed to be doing.

    And then, just like magic, I finally figured out who that someone is. That someone who will give me the answers. Me. Finally, I was able to figure it out. And I’m not gonna stop now.

dust-designs-callig.png
My logo!

Okay, that’s it. Got kind of emotional back there. Haha. I hope I can blog more frequently. I almost forgot that writing feels soothing and therapeutic. It also keeps my mind in the right perspective. Until then!