November Loneliness

So I haven't been documenting my stay here in the Philippines via blogspot as I had planned. I haven't written a single blog ever since I got here. Last I checked, I wrote one for my stop over at Taiwan, and that was it. Anyway, ill promise to fill everyone in on what has happened to me here for the past two months. All I can say is… A LOT has happened. I have never experienced so much in my life just within the past two months. I've seen so many wonderful things, met so many great people, and learned so many important lessons along the way. Some experiences are quite humbling and even helped me become a more mature person.

 

Before I go on to talk about what has happened to me, I'd like to express how I feel this moment. Unfortunately, I'm starting to feel lonely. I started missing my family and friends back home. I don't know why I feel this way all of a sudden. I guess it's because I've really settled down here in Makati and I have gotten used to living here. Perhaps what I'm really trying to say is that the excitement of being here has probably subsided inside of me. Living in a high rise condotel in the middle of downtown Makati where everything happens doesn't seem so exciting anymore. As a matter of fact, I'm starting to get bored out here because I feel like I've seen it all. I have also established a daily routine between work and home to a point where it's starting to feel so monotonous. Yes, I do have friends here but they all live quite far from me. I guess it's because I live in downtown and they all live in the outskirts of it. And most of you may know, transportation is so much harder to get by around here since not everyone has a car. And if they do, there's nowhere to park in my area…haha.

 

Anyway, whatever the reason is that I'm feeling this way, I'm not going to dwell on it. I'm going to pick up new hobbies to keep myself busy. So far, I'm learning how to cook Filipino food since I bought a cookbook. I'm also going to learn how to play a guitar so I have something to do in my dull time at night on weekdays. I'm also going to start planning my trips all over the Philippines as I had originally planned. I will meet more people and try new things, I will see more stuff that I haven't seen before, and I will experience more stuff that I would not otherwise be able to experience anywhere else. I'm here in the Philippines and I should keep reminding myself that I am very lucky to be here. I know God is with me all the time so I should not feel so lonely afterall.

Taiwan Taiwan! Oh goodness, I swear this is the quietest airport in the world! Its crazy how soon as I got off the plane, I could hear my own breathing….that's how quiet it is. What's up with these people? They don't like to talk or what? Haha.

 

Anyway, I got two hours to wait for my last flight to the Philippines. Good thing they have free wifi out here…or else I'd be bored to death listening to the sound of silence…haha. In about 4 hours, I'll be in Manila, Philippines. The flight from LAX to Taiwan went pretty well… not much turbulence. It was funny though, I ended up eating some rice pudding for breakfast because I couldn't understand the flight stewardess. Oh well, it was still good though… especially the chicken tasting like seaweed and the mushrooms tasting like gummy bear… man I love trying out new stuff! Haha.

 

Okay, I'll keep this one short. I'll try to blog again as soon as I get settled in my uncle's house back in Manila.

Taiwan Boredom

Taiwan Taiwan! Oh goodness, I swear this is the quietest airport in the world! It's crazy… soon as I got off the plane, I could hear my own breathing….that's how quiet it is. What's up with these people? They don't like to talk or what? Haha.

 

Anyway, I got two hours to wait for my last flight to the Philippines. Good thing they have free wifi out here…or else I'd be bored to death listening to the sound of silence…haha. In about 4 hours, I'll be in Manila, Philippines. The flight from LAX to Taiwan went pretty well… not much turbulence. It was funny though, I ended up eating some rice pudding for breakfast because I couldn't understand the flight stewardess. Oh well, it was still good … especially the chicken tasting like seaweed and the mushrooms tasting like gummy bear… man I love trying out new stuff! Haha.

 

Okay, I'll keep this one short. I'll try to blog again as soon as I get settled in my uncle's house back in Manila.

Laying Out The Plan!

Two more days left and I'll be leaving for the Philippines. This week has been a crazy week for me. Lots of things have been going through my mind as I prepare for the trip. Sometimes I'm doubting it… whether it was really a good idea to leave in the first place or will it be the best decision I will ever make. It's bitter-sweet for me you know. I'm sad for leaving my family and friends for 8 months but excited for the new friends I will be making as well as the wonderful opportunity working for my uncle. I can't pinpoint exactly how I feel right now, but I know I have to persevere and push through with my plans.

 

So here's the tentative plan:

September 8: Arrive in Manila. Stay at my uncle's house in Pasic City.

September 9-13: I will be looking for apartments in Makati area. I have at least three agents helping me find the best condo. One thing's for sure, it will be in the heart of downtown Makati!

September 12: I will be hanging out with Patricia and Chris Romero…Carmina's siblings. Going to party it out in Port Bonifacio! Woohoo!!!

September 14: I will be going to my province, Sibulan where my relatives live and stay there until the end of October.

September 19: Take my cousins out to a beach resort for some family fun time! Woohoo! I'm so excited for this one!

September 26-27: Reunion Party with my old classmates from 1^st to 6^th grade. It will be held at some nice beach house…. woohoo! Can't wait to see them!

October 1: Go back to Manila. Hopefully by then I will have an apartment to move into.

October 2: Meet with Ana Domingo, my classmate from SDSU who's studying abroad in Singapore… She'll be in Manila around this time.

October 5: I will be starting work in my uncle's business.

October-December: Travel around Philippines to do some missionary works. As part of my service to God, I will be visiting different BNP chapters all over the Philippines so I can share with them.

Early December: Visit Ana in Singapore and travel with her around Asia… not sure yet where we're going though.

December 21: Go back to Sibulan and celebrate Christmas there with the family.

Mid to Late April: Come back home to San Diego!

 

Why go in the first place?

The greatest day of your life is the one on which you decide your life is your own. The gift of life is yours- it is an amazing journey - and you get to determine the quality of it. Live the next five years on purpose. Now is the time. Imagine the possibilities. Go places, have adventures, make a real difference, do what you love. Follow your dreams, they know the way.

Life is about the choices you make, so choose wisely.

----This passage from a book called FIVE by Dan Zadra explains it all. Some people don't really understand why I want to go back to the Philippines and stay there for 8 months. They keep on asking me why... why now? why there? why you? And all I do is smile at them and say, "Why not?"

You see, I really don't have any good answers why I'm doing it. All I know is that it will be the biggest adventure for me yet! I know that through this, I will learn more about myself and the world around me. I will not just go through life, I will grow through it as well... and this is the perfect opportunity!


So for those who doubted my plans, have faith in me. And for those who don't want to understand why, I challenge you to think of something you've always wanted to do... and make it happen. Perhaps you'll understand then.

Stay tuned everyone! I'm about to embark on a long journey... and I'm taking you along with it! Philippines.....HERE I COME!!!