Ramblings from My Soul

I turn 3 years in the company today, and I find myself reflecting on how time hasn’t just flown—it has flowed. When I first questioned whether “time has flown by” was the right phrase to begin this reflection, I realized I was drawn to the word flow. Because that’s exactly what these past three years have been—a steady, meaningful flow of purpose, growth, and quiet affirmations. This role has been a convergence of three things: two long-held dreams and one unexpected prophecy. ✨ Dream #1: MEPZ Back in college, I had a simple wish—to one day work in MEPZ. No timeline, no strategy, just a quiet hope. It wasn’t until three months into this job that I realized that Cebu Light Industry Park was part of the MEPZ group. A childhood dream fulfilled, almost unnoticed. ✨ Dream #2: Financial Goals In 2019, I set a financial goal with no clear path to achieving it. Nothing too grand, just something I would need for a life project. I simply put it out there, trusting the universe to lis...

Despite Typhoon Falcon and another low pressure area brewing, I decided to still go through with my solo trip from Vigan to Pagudpud. The last time I was here was in 2011. I've been to a lot of beaches all over the country and in other countries but there's just something about this place that strikes a chord in me. When I got there after more than three hours, it w as very cloudy and drizzling. It was a weekday and there were few to none tourists on the beach. I decided to swim and eventually the drizzle broke into heavy rain. I was happy, like a child excited with the rain. I decided to lie on the sand and close my eyes. It's amazing how many different sounds the rain can make when you listen with intention: when it pelts on your skin, when it falls on sand, and when it dives to the sea like a fleet of miniature pelicans. Then I noticed all other sounds: the soda-hissing beat of the waves as they retreat back from crashing the shore as well as the sound of sand grains scr...

My flight going home got delayed due to inclement weather. I was already at the airport when the airline announced this blaringly on the paging system. While waiting for flight updates, my phone's battery squealed begging for it to be plugged to a charging station. Around thirty minutes later in the charging area, I heard another passenger to my back let out a sigh of exasperation while softly mumbling "Paano na to?!" (What will I do now?). Apparently, she couldn't charge her battery-dead phone because her charger had prongs incompatible with what we have in the Philippines. I heard the gears of my mind screeching to a halt and I could hear the Dalai Lama whispering the words "compassion for others". You see, just this morning, I was a reading a book on happiness that he co-authored. In my mind, I replied to the Dalai Lama, "Why not?" When I turned back, she was already nowhere to be found. Decided to turn this opportunity into an act of co...

Out of a lack of better things to do and too much time on our hands, my friends and I took the long route from Melbourne to Sydney then to Newcastle. By long I meant a 14-hour train ride instead of the more convenient hour and a half trip by plane. We reckoned that it would be a good idea to experience our first long train ride. Surprisingly, I found the trip to be much less boring than I imagined it to be. The route was scenic and it was a chance to keep the mind free and rested from the worries of daily life. What got my attention for the most part of the trip were two old men just one row before us and across the opposite side of the train. When the train left Melbourne, one of these old men was by himself. He was minding his business drinking coffee from his big stainless steel thermal mug while reading a book whose title I couldn't quite figure out from afar. An hour and several train stations later, the train was almost full. The seat beside the old man w...

Minsan may mga sugat na hindi gumagaling. Sadyang ngingatngat ng mahapding alaala. At kahit pilitin nating gumaling, hindi na. Kahit anong pagsisikap ang gawin para makaahon mula sa matulis na pangil ng masaklap na pag-ibig, hindi na. Wala ng pag-asa. At kung makaahon ka man, hindi na ikaw yun. Ibang tao ka na. Pero ang maganda nito, pwede kang magsimula. Ibang tao ka na eh. Punong-puno ng posibilidad na pwedeng mangyari. And dami-daming pagkatao na pwede mong pagpilian. Kailangan mo lang pumili. Gusto mo bang maging sugatan habang-buhay? O gusto mo bang salubungin ang hinaharap kasama ang umaapaw na pag-asa. Pumili ka. Pumili ka nang mabuti.

Before you pass any judgment on this article based solely on the title, hear me out. The first time I heard the counsel of the line "This too shall pass" was when I watched the movie My Bestfriend's Wedding. It came at a time when I needed consolation from all the pain and spiritual confusion that I was going through in high school. And the adage did provide comforting strokes everytime I used it on my then unhappy soul. Fast forward to 2010s. I am a different person. Probably a better way of saying it would be that I am the same person with a wider range of experiences and a healthier perspective in life. Don't get me wrong; I look at my old self with fondness and gratitude for the wisdom that it has taught the "me-now". This same wisdom has led me to rethink the profoundness of the "This too shall pass" motto. You see, if I use this line to assure myself that all bad things that happen in my life will eventually end, then it also goes to sa...