My 2012 Success and Failure Story

The year 2012 had so many milestones; I'm surprised why I am not more grateful than I am. Yes, there were some ups and downs but I have been blessed with the best people who helped me enjoy the wonderful moments and get through the bad times.

Viaggio la Futura – my new travel blog – was born. Yes, I started to travel again in 2012. Nothing major really, just trips to the south of Cebu and road trips and food trips with family and friends. My first major trip since the epic vacation to Dumaguete in 2007 was a trip to Moalboal with my best friend and her close friends who are my friends now too – such a wonderful way to open the doors to more viaggio. We had so much fun laughing and running around, I think I may have lost 3kg during that trip. Kidding aside, it was one of the most memorable trips I’ve ever had. Not because the venue was fancy (it was beautiful and picturesque but did not cost a bundle) or because we had steak for dinner (which we didn’t… but the sinugbang pork belly was more delicious than any steak in the city). It was memorable because I was with people who were kind and gracious enough to welcome me into their circle. And it’s been an exciting roller coaster since then.

In June, I got the best birthday gifts ever – the first one was from my birth father, Papa PierFrancesco, the second one was from my client, who gave me a bonus because she was really happy with my work, and the third gift was from God (I’d like to think that it was because the experience taught me so many lessons. I was offered an opportunity to lead a team of SEO Content Writers in Cebu City. It was the most gruelling yet most rewarding management job that I ever had. Not only because the monthly take home pay was the highest one any single company had ever offered me, but also because I met and bonded with beautiful people who taught me lessons in patience, forgiveness, kindness (and yes, naughty stuff too, mostly silly jokes). It turned out to be one of the most challenging work I have ever had although it was short-lived. To this day, I miss my colleagues who became friends and I’m glad I took that leap. No regrets, it is now part of my “Oh Well”… lessons and all.

Oh, the gifts from my Papa and my generous client went to my funds for my new air conditioning unit. It was expensive and I had to work double time for the other half but it’s so worth it. I now understand that I need to invest in my home office because I might be here a while, God willing. I am saving up for renovations and vacations in the next few years. I am also grateful for rekindled friendships and an improvement in my family life.

The failures were nothing major really. Just some opportunities that passed me by because I did nothing about them; some relationships that were broken because of personal differences; and some people that I really miss simply because I was too cowardly to tell them how I felt. But if you ask me, I have so much more to be thankful for that I am eagerly awaiting the coming of 2013, just because…

So there you go, that’s my 2012 in a nutshell… What’s your story like? Please feel free to leave a comment. See you next year!

Thank You Lord Jesus, Mama Mary, and St. Joseph for blessing my family all year long.

A Girl on Re-mission

Have you ever had that feeling that something horrible was about to happen? That at any moment someone or something is gonna strike you and you won't be able to defend yourself? I've been living with that terrible feeling of foreboding for a few years now... and that feeling is the worst. They say that our fears are usually worse than that which we fear. Now I can honestly say that it's true.

I have been searching for my life's purpose since I was a teenager. I've been to places that scared the heck out of me and to this day, I am still unsure what my purpose really is. I've been praying for God to show me the way, reveal my mission, so that I can live out his plan for me. But until now, I still don't know what my mission is. At first, I thought I was supposed to spend my life in the countryside helping the underprivileged, the poor, and the oppressed. But now I realize that the ones I should be serving is right here in my own home -- my family -- especially my Grandma.

Do you know when I discovered this? It was during the past few years. While I was out there looking for my mission, I overlooked the very people who I should have been serving all along -- my family. My grandma (Lola) is turning 90 next month and I really want to give her a birthday party that she will remember. I was hoping to invite her living siblings, close relatives, and friends. Oh, I also want to buy her a cake with the numbers 90 firmly planted on top of it. In short, I just want her to be happy on her 90th birthday.

So from being a girl with a mission to becoming a woman without one, I now have a new mission -- I'd like to call this my re-mission. I know this will not be easy but I also feel deep in my heart that this is what I am meant to do. What will happen next year, I do not know. And that feeling of foreboding is still there. But I choose to be happy and I want my family to be happy too. And so I pray for peace, love, and joy in the next year for my family and friends.

In Jesus' name. Amen.

Mama Mary, Queen of all saints, pray for us. Amen.