Remember, Remember

I just realized that I haven't posted anything about work recently. Actually, I don't think I have shared anything interesting about my job at all! LOL So anyway, we all know how important March is for every equality-loving individual. This month, we celebrate women of all shapes and sizes, regardless of their opinions or social status. We focus on their achievements and contributions, as well as shed light on their continuing struggles in the face of various issues and challenges. Of course, when we say all women, we mean ALL — including those who are deprived of liberty. To honor this month in our own little way, our office opted to conduct an outreach activity by visiting all the female PDLs in the city. We prepared hygiene kits and some snacks for them to enjoy. We would have wanted to hear more from them but sadly, the BJMP still does not allow visitors in their jail facilities. So we just took pictures from outside as they pass the kits around. The persons deprived of lib

It is the year 2022. What was supposed to be a year-long state of national health emergency is now in its second year. The coronavirus cases have surged dramatically due to the new omicron variant. People are stocking up on paracetamol as they did with face masks and alcohol in 2020. It looks like the city is not that bothered by the increase in cases, though. This time, there are no lockdown impositions. People who turned out positive with the virus, are no longer brought to a facility. Establishments, however, are stricter against unvaccinated people, which has sparked debates both locally and nationally. I have nothing against people who refuse to get vaccinated. Although, I do believe that the government should focus on intense vaccination education campaigns if it wants to change people's minds. At home, we have our own tiny bit of emergency — Ambin caught a fever. Nothing serious, it might just be the weather. It is flu season, after all. It has been raining intermittently fo

 A few days before 2021 ended, I got a present from an old friend. She sent me images via Messenger and right below it, she wrote that she was proud of me for I made it happen.  Apparently, it was photos of my entry from her old slam book which I signed back in 2003 when we were just high school freshmen. I clicked the photos and my initial response was, "gosh, what ugly handwriting!" 😅 I asked for clearer photos to see what she meant by her being "proud of me" and there is the greatest achievement part I wrote: if I will be a lawyer. It was already past 11 in the evening when I zoomed in on the photos and yet I felt so awake. Like my friend, I was amazed by the revelation because firstly, I cannot remember ever actively dreaming of becoming a lawyer, and secondly, OMG YES, I REALLY DID MAKE IT HAPPEN! "Manifesting" is one of the online crazes of this pandemic. To manifest is to make something obvious. When you are manifesting, you think aspirational thou

Time is so damn slow, I'm just growing old, I live like I'm dead. A lyric in the song Sober goes.  Sober was released sometime in 2015 by the Korean superstars BIGBANG. I was introduced to the KPOP group back in college by a good friend who is a huge fan. Though I hardly understand their language, I find their music quite compelling. I recently downloaded their entire discography on Spotify after seeing their movie MADE on Netflix. Since then, I've been feeling sentimental every time I hear their songs. Well, I do get emotional pretty easily. But this one is a mix of nostalgia, regret, and longing. I was in college when BIGBANG became massive. Together with Super Junior, 2ne1, Girls Generation and Wonder Girls, they ruled the MYX top lists, which I used to tune into back in the day. I remember walking from UP Tacloban to RTR Plaza with earphones on, playing their hits on my Nokia 5300. My earphones had wires and I'd insert it in my shirt. I used to like the long way hom

Congrats, you're positive," said the woman on the other line. It was past 10 in the evening of June 19th when we were informed of the dreaded news. We had been anxious the entire day waiting for the results of our swab test. Although we'd been exhibiting all the common symptoms, we were still hoping it was nothing serious. But just as we were about to fall into a deep slumber, my phone rang and we were wide awake again. We got infected with the coronavirus. I started feeling sick five days prior. I was at the office when my body began feeling weak. My head was spinning and my vision, blurry. I could not finish my lunch. I wanted to go home early but I was afraid I might not make it safe. I tried keeping to myself for some time, waiting impatiently for the day to end. At about 4 in the afternoon, though, I was almost certain that I was having a fever. So I went out of our office and asked the security guard if he still had the thermometer gun with him. He pointed the gadget

We finally drove our first car three Saturdays ago. It's a 2021 Toyota Hilux Conquest which my husband had been eyeing for months! We had been going back and forth about getting a car this year since we have a church wedding to prepare for. Although we have enough savings for both, we still have to be wise with our expenses. We were bidding our time, too, because we were also waiting for our car option B. But when the sales manager at Toyota Calbayog informed us that there was a unit coming last May, we saw it as a confirmation and immediately applied for a car loan.  Hey, everyone, meet our Burdagul! 🚘 A week after we took Burdags home we went on a joyride to break it in. We decided to go north since I haven't been there. We were supposed to check in at Langtaran Grove White Beach at Catarman, Northern Samar but it was packed. So we had to find another one. If ever you're wondering, yes we did not book a hotel prior our travel. We were trying to be spontaneous! 😂 After a

Dandelion by Kamsar Ohanyan, 2021 There will be days when you wake up to a cuddle There will be days when mornings are a struggle There will be days when dancing feels good There will be days when music just can't give the right mood  There will be days when the food on the plate is wiped clean There will be days when a grain's left untouched or so it seems  There will be days when laughter echoes everywhere There will be days when not even a cricket's sound you can hear   There will be days when a short walk is enough to keep it at bay There will be days when you kneel and plead to make it go away There are days when the faintest of sunshine hurts your eyes And there are days when raindrops sound like solemn lullabies. PK.K.M.

Today marks the seventh day since Ambin and I got hitched, aka our first "weeksary".  Rings by  Little White Pouch The hubs got up early this morning to prepare our breakfast. I spent a few minutes more in bed as I was still sleepy. We talked until midnight last night about how—seven days in—we still find it incredible that we are now husband and wife! We've been laughing at the thought that it's like we're just playing house. Ambin says that until I called his mother "Nanay", he wouldn't have realized that yes, we are indeed married already. Haha. Nothing much has changed except that now, we are inseparable—we cook together, eat together, watch Netflix together, and just the other day, did Zumba together. There's been a lot of playful roasting from both sides, too. This is probably the longest we've been together physically and so far, wala pa namang napipikon. Haha. It's a good kind of strange to be in this new chapter of our lives. Des