On my daily pursuits, I almost forget about scribbling words for this space. I was often caught up by the everyday demands of my new found world.

As a matter of fact, I’m always itching to find time to write again.

Selecting the perfect timing to do so, browsing to and fro for possible sneak, searching for a temporary break, and gripping for an inspiration. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to escape- and after what seems like a year…Here I am again.

To my WEIRD and EXTREME 2019, this is your surprises. To my readers, have your glance on it, and the benefits of yours truly, to never forget it.

JANUARY

@CATAINGAN WITH BEST ROSALIE

The concept of pre-planned meet-up was clouded with many drawing activities dominated by chit chats and sight-seeing. Though, by means of my “Red Dots Party”, was set aside. After a month, the drawing was finally coloured with joyful palettes.

Fast-forward to the quest, I lost. I didn't have internet for Google Maps. I didn’t knew where to go. The place was new: this was my situation when I embark the wander. Fortunately, I contacted my friend and she instructed me where I should continue walking and viola!

After an hour of chit chat with Best Rosalie, we finally headed to have something for our stomach. Our energy was drained by narrating anecdotes and antics of our personal stories. We proceed to walk an errand, this time, to meet with our other besties and we head back to our route, still just the two of us.

I chalk it up to experience Cataingan’s top rendezvous. A structure extending into navigable water for use as landing place, usually a stonework, concrete or steel (a.k.a. PIER). We continued the chit chat there until we felt the chill and bade our farewells.

TO THE TRIO

These witty and lovely folks were ordinarily classmates before and suddenly they delighted me with their distinct touch of friendly hands.

It started with a “confuse state” of where one will gonna spend his/her Practice Teaching and concluded with YES- in unison. We are going to Cataingan National High School.

Maricel and I, set our foot at the exact school with the main prospect of finding our new comfort zone.

We continue our stay there in January and we all together played the Scavenger Hunt:

We hunt for street foods; Shopaholics for UK; Stories-starvy on a sense that we slumber at midnight, it even seems that we never left out of stories to tell.

These are probably a few to mention with our days at the mentioned campus. These company makes my stay there, sentimental, I love you both ma’am and sir!

FEBRUARY

BACK TO YOU (DEBESMSCAT)

For a short while, I leave and had been apart from you. I apologize that I was fully immersed by the outside world to the extent of fully having my exit: wishing my Practice Teaching days would never ends- that’s an irony so to speak.

And here I am again.

Hey Sis it’s been a long time.

Having a quality time featuring our dainty hats.

MARCH

GRADUATION PICTORIAL

We all have that moment where we will feel, extra. EXTRA special all thanks to the princess-vibe all brought to you by my fairy godmother (a.k.a Martin Dave Enopequis). By his magic wand of make-up kit. This girl…

Few years ago, I would always look up to the pretty and handsome graduating students parading their beauty on the street walking as if fresh from a shooting. This on the other hand felt unreal, I was at the same scene!

MARCH

MANDAON FIESTA

Basically, youth are aggressive to something new. Touristy stuff and all that, yohooo you can count me in.

We began the journey in the morning of (5TH of March), as we(sis) thought- this is to maximize our fare. Early birds catch the worms, cliché as you might say, we witnessed the Pamasayan Festival. I acquainted with a mob, I hardly have space on my own to see their presentation and satisfied by only listening by their songs.

Wandering there and everywhere, was sealed by the usual fiesta vibes, but this time, seems to have an endless hues that represents stores, rides, circus, foods, stuffs, and more!

We sat there, waiting for the moonlight as another intermission awaits us. The crowd positioned themselves on area, either comfortable or not, they will like it as the area was filled with numerous people. Their pangs of joys became noisier as the Joker made his time and it even turned to be noisiest when the real star, Ai Ai Delas Alas was on the house (the sea below the elevated stones rise up, it became the sea massage to those who are on the mentioned ground).

As to fully seized the night, we dance ‘til dawn, waiting it to end and when we cannot bear the tiredness anymore, we headed back with the half-closed gate, the guards signal the motorcycle driver to stop as he tried to continue leading us inside. Without no more reserved choices, we walked (in kilometres) and basically elevated the turmoil of our feet. Beyond the complaints, it’s a worthwhile memories at all.

Where we all have the chance to yell at the top of our lungs☝

CAWAYAN FIESTA

T’was nostalgic. Looking at those queue of performers: swaying hips and beeping sticks- it was for years ago when we bring home the beacon (DGBC champion), and here I am now.

 An spectator having all the advantages to savor their shots, quite a show.

NARO NHS VISIT

With some future biz at the back of my mind with regards to teaching, we paused and had a chat, quite enough for an afternoon reminiscing our high school past with my high school buddies.

GRADUATION

Here’s a bit straight from my blog post pertaining to this event.

APRIL

Gala @ Mangrovetum

A tourist pal is a tourist destination savvy and commonly sneak an hours to have an aura.

Dinner

When somebody left, well, hush the gloom thoughts. We still have foods. Thanks to our foster father who treated us with a convenient space to have our dinner and to the other Kuya who slain a chicken for us to have a delightful dinner.

PORIK’S BEACH AND KTV

The truth about youth schooling at different campuses and on different places is the consequence of not able to see each other everyday. It will took a month and even years to have this batch unite again- and if so happened, one day is not enough to patch up stories and things.

BLOG ANNIVERSARY

A person basically, is being imfluence on activities he/she plung into. I’m not an exception. It’s at first a platform intended to elites and classy: that’s what I thought at first. Then, I realized, I can do it also and I tried my best to cope up with my desire. Fortunately, I already celebrated my first anniversary.

MAY

NINANG

And maybe, just maybe…height is never a requirement to be one of them. Though, I often belittle myself to be not enough to cope up the responsibility. To rectify my beliefs, I congratulate myself for stepping a milestone. This humbly fellow of yours became a Ninang.

CEBU

No matter how many times I’ll be there, still there are plenty to discover. This all made possible because of a family business-shells.

It’s a heartache, nothing but a heartache, expecting too much that we’ll have a one-way ticket to Cebu although reality slapped me with: we need to wait for a day.

A day! My hopes and excitement turned to be filled with bitter feeling. I hate a trip extended.

What I thought to be a nightmare of distress, now a blessing in disguise for we’ve been properly accommodated with yummy delicacies and even attended a party.

After a day of trying to forget the trip, this is it!

CEBU TRIP

It’s a different kind of butterflies in the stomach. The excitement I felt now that I am an adult travelling with a place too familiar, not the same to the level of thrill I felt years before: It’s a realization.

We’ve been to Lapu-Lapu Shrine, I think this place became the staple everytime I travel here. To my surprise, there’s happened a metamorphosis. The place was greatly been reconstructed into a more sophisticated, organized, and creative.

Another staple destination is the never ended cosmopolitan scent of this place.

Similar to what a blooger does when they travel, I also did shopping (a.k.a sightseeing), eating (choosing a not-so-expensive-more-on-cheap-side-foods) and embarking new places (without hurting my pocket haha!

@Sto. Nino De Cebu- Mactan Parish

1. Relics that represents a doctrine derived from foreign invaders. I often have this strange feeling everytime I take a glimpse of statues, of mere display.

@ Colon

2. I was amazed on this labyrinth area. We could never judge the physical status of their establishments and architectures. There are hidden gem on this historic and haven of merchandise rendezvous.

The travel, just like the others was an instant glimpse of collected memories in a jar that I may reminisce on leisure time as jubilant and sentimental. Thanks Ma for this opportunity.

LOOC FISTA 2019

The usual mob of feast is all night dance at least haha!

JUNE

ADULTING WORLD

Stimulating glimpse of the primal mystery of the adult world left me rejected the first time I extend an arm to be one also.

The epic fail, was that, I deliberately felt the acceptance- signs and all that. I terribly wait it to come, an invitation that will allow me to be assured of practicing my field (with a salary at least), but to no avail.

And that’s life.

Sometimes it lead us to a new track of more LIFE.

I took the one-in-a-million chance of having my demonstration at Edens Christian Academy Incorporated versus an idling situation waiting for me at home if I don’t take action.

I took grip on it. I did the best and superlative efforts just to make the demo a success. I could never take it for granted. I will never be rejected again. That’s a conviction.

Then, I went home with a happy heart.

STARTING…

As a starter, I unintentionally created a gap. I lose the opportunity to join the Brigada Eskwela for I was still at Cebu. It’s just that there are situations where we couldn’t control, I left to be proactive as the context suit my dilemma.

I suddenly overwhelmed by the numerous to dos. At an instance, I now an ADVISER. 

What, Adviser?

Yes, this humbly newbie on the field is now carrying her laden (Will I hang myself now? Just kidding though)

The theories I brought from school is at real concept, a complex. I’m always into idealistic teaching though I am a human. I made lapses. I made mistakes.

Let’s retrace the story from Day 1 of ultimate cleaning, days after, still cleaning- ‘til my classroom bore my attention and I proceed to search for my boarding house. Luckily, there was a co-teacher searching for a roommate and I count myself in.

I spoil myself on filling those incomplete task on hand as the first week of service is a No Class. Oh, except for day 1. I finally met my not so plenty students.

And from it, a rush of disappointment to myself was awarded by yours truly. It’s just that, as human we basically don’t jump into the hierarchy of stairs and on instant become Expert. The human discrepancy is that we begin as an apprentice. We hunger for guidance, for assistance.

As a form of distraction, I transform to a “Dora” again.

JULY

PANDISTRITONG PALIHAN SA FILIPINO

By means of this awesome opportunity to be finally teaching is the pros of opening new doors of breakthroughs. I happened to join a one week seminar-workshop. Set aside my major for a while for the said event demand the use of our national language (Filipino).

Never on my wildest dream- to be speaking on a podium in front of academically inclined and professionals. I you ask me, my nerves all gone crazy. I was super nervous: with jelatin knees and tense and shaking hands. I’m uncontrollable.

Helping myself to focus, I tried so hard to deliver the speech (Impressions) to the best of my ability and hey, I went home with these unexpected awards.

NUTRITION MONTH

These all brings me once again to high school life of myriad practice for presentations all to exercise skills on extra-curricular activities (as for the students) and oh, did I mention that I was one of the hosts? (Though again, this humbly apprentice stumbled, pardon my imperfections).

SEPTEMBER

INTRAMURALS

Looking at sporty people is a great spectator (me) dreaming on becoming one also. If only.

Though an audience is at least the major benefactor of their entertainment sealed with sweat and endeavour to show-off a quality show. Didn’t we?

21ST BIRTHDAY

It’s ironic how they prepare for my celebration and always forget their own. Parents always left behind themselves for the sake of their children. On my case, I struggle and felt the guilty pleasure of being the front liner (and maybe by next year, I supposed, it’s my turn for them).

 By the by, another year is simply means, I’m into more of the complexities of life.

PREPARATION FOR LET


Amid this arena I have chosen, is the great wall I shall pass. From the beginning, I felt the mixture of emotions reign inside of me. I always convince myself to be filled with high doses of motivation to embark the journey brought copies of reviewers. I read, write, listen, and the do the rest of macro skills and also… there are tough times. I felt exhausted because of works. I felt sceptical, my preparations might be not enough. I sometimes felt drain and hopeless.

When I’m inside the gloom vacuum, I help myself to renew my faith.

Faith ablaze within me. I am so grateful that above all the choices I’m into, I’m in this particular school which not only mould my aptitudes and knowledge on teaching but lead me to the GENUINE faith and plenty of times experience MORE of HIM than I ever felt before. His presence is powerfully magical and in between my weaknesses, self-pity, and doubt- HE often LIFT me up and never leaves by my side. (Watch out for another blog episode featuring my LET journey).

NOVEMBER

Now and forever Jesus Reigns

It’s always been my dream to become a teacher, it really appeals to me and felt as if they’re somewhat a deity (silly of me, decade ago). As a matter of fact, my childhood days was filled by this little Catherine on the corner of a house teaching her fellow playmates. 

And… it stinks on me. Wherever I go, whatever I possess, and whoever I encountered. Thankfully, after years of preparation, I celebrated my preliminary portals to it. Happy Teacher’s Day!

OCTOBER

INSET

DECEMBER 

DECEMBER 2019 is a joke that is a no joke. It’s first was Catherine experiencing the ULTIMATE BLISS because the LORD GOD, BLESS me with this VICTORY. I’m terribly incontrollable. I laughed. I cried. I prayed. I talked. I sang. I AM TERRIBLY HAPPY TO THE MILLIONT DEGREES. All praise to God.

#LPT2019

What happened after the whirling emotions was the turbulence storm. Gladly, all of us (in the boarding house) was safe. I treated myself with loads of videos, songs, articles, sleep, and repeat. This apparently can be considered as a vacation.

Next was the myriad errands that seemed like turmoil as I can’t stay still. Keep moving for things needed to do. I almost forget to eat. To rest and do other personal matters. I was so caught up by this EXTREME. This amongst all was the BEST ceaseless REST.

We held our hand together, do our part and yeah, a big cheers for the triumph!

2019. You are full of surprises. You acquainted me with path, impossible to pass and on some, afloat me in the cloud nine. The grace of the Lord is always my knight and shining armor.

In between those experiences is the updated version of Catherine.