Years ago, at an age when most young women would be focusing on starting the road to financial stability, or collecting trainings to improve their knowledge and skills base and practically, to make their CV more impressive, and/or experimenting with their fashion styles, I was occupied with other concerns– bills for rent, electricity and water;…
Category: Life and Inspiration
My Lola – A Tribute
I write this as a way of remembering my grandma who joined our Creator on this day, 16 years ago. She is Gavina Bellen Bañez. She’s my mom’s mother. Both of her parents hailed from Bacacay, Albay. My lola was petite, with smooth kayumanggi skin, a small cute face, and waist-length straight black hair, which…
Weekend Thoughts on People’s Behavior
It’s a generally-held idea that the only thing you can control is your mind and your reaction to situations and circumstances; that there is no use worrying over something that is beyond your control. And recognizing that, therefore, it is of no use to be affected negatively by external factors. That may be true, but…
My Bangkok Trip (Jan. 2023)
I was in Bangkok for 5 days in January 2023. I felt that I needed some time off from work to rest my mind and just spend my days walking around the city where no one (except for two friends and colleagues from the Embassy) knows me. Here are my observations/notes: Bangkok Streetfood The streetfood…
Pagmumúni-muni sa Daan
Kamakailan, habang bumabyahe kami sa daan ng kasama ko, binabaybay ang mga kalye ng siyudad ng Maynila papunta sa trabaho isang Biyernes ng umaga, napadako ang usapan namin sa personal na bagay. Ayon sa kanya, hindi sya ang taong madalas nangungumusta sa mga kaibigan at kamag-anak nya, hindi dahil wala siyang pakialam sa mga ito,…
Persistence
I am awed at professional athletes and musicians, researchers and scientists, leaders of advocacy groups, and anyone who has maintained his/her zeal and enthusiasm in attaining his/her goals for years, despite the odds. Can you imagine training ten (10) hours or more a day going over the same routine, practicing the same movement over and…
Beyond Routes 