Welcome 2026... Thank you 2025!

It's a day before New Year's Eve... 

Finally, I’ve allowed myself to slow down after the whirlwind of emotions that carried me through the past weeks. The holiday season has arrived, and with it, a 15-day pause from work—a moment meant for rest and reflection. Yet, in the quiet, I’m still unsure if my heart is truly at ease. For now, I hold on to prayer, trusting that with every whispered word, life, hope, and strength will find their way back to me.

Me and life lately....

I’m still working and teaching, and STI College continues to be good to me. I truly love what I do and very grateful to my workmates and new boss. Yet, as the years catch up and I turned 57, the aches and pains have become impossible to ignore. I have trigger finger on my both hands. I was able to complete my flu, pneumonia and a bonus shingles vaccines which was a bit pricey. Even so, there’s a bittersweet beauty in this season of life—especially now that Lorenzo is halfway through his third year in college. Watching him grow reminds me that while time moves forward, it also brings meaning, gratitude, and quiet pride.

My Lorenzo

Chuy turned 21 in March. Together with kuyas Allen and Kim, he became a champion in the third round of the Tagisan ng Talino Local Competition and advanced to the Cluster Level held in Calamba. More than the victory, the experience itself was what truly mattered—a humbling reminder that learning, growth, and character are far more valuable than winning.

My Luigi

Luigi celebrated his 33rd birthday this September, marking a truly special season in his life. Earlier this year, he finally asked his girlfriend, Alyssa, to marry him, and they were engaged on July 8 at the Manor in Camp John Hay, Baguio City. My heart is full as I look forward to their wedding preparations—excited to witness their love unfold into a new chapter filled with promise, joy, and shared dreams.

My Family

2025 was truly a joyous and grace-filled year for our family. My mom got sick with pneumonia and had to be confined and rest for several weeks. By God’s mercy, she recovered well, and we were able to have her receive flu and pneumonia vaccinations for added protection as she continues to age gracefully.

In July, my brother Louie and my sister-in-law Hayk came home to celebrate his 55th and our mom’s 86th birthday. What followed was almost a month of togetherness—traveling, vacationing, and sharing countless meals in Baguio City, Zambales, and Manila. It was a season filled with laughter, stories, and cherished moments.

Adding to the joy, our cousins from the Virtucio side—Lowie and Catherine—came home from Australia. Seeing them again after more than three decades was nothing short of a blessing. Even my high school friends and barkada were finally complete after over 30 years, making our reunions even more meaningful.

To close the year beautifully, my niece from the Alicbusan side, Nicole, tied the knot with Evan Ramos on December 26 at the Madre de Dios Church in Midlands, Tagaytay City.

Truly, the Lord God has been so good to our family and friendships, granting us these precious opportunities to reunite, celebrate life, and be reminded of the love that binds us all together.

As I look back on the past 12 months, I realize how truly blessed I still am. Despite the challenges—the stress, the worries, and Mommy getting the flu and colds lately, which kept me from fully enjoying the holidays—I remain grateful and hopeful. Life wasn’t perfect, and there were moments of heaviness, but through it all, I was surrounded by grace, love, and quiet strength. In the midst of everything, I choose to hold on to gratitude, knowing that even difficult seasons carry reminders of how blessed we truly are.

Hindi pa naman tapos ang bakasyon ko, I still have 6 more days to celebrate Lord Jesus' Birthday and I have my kids with me... that is the most important now.

at Manigong Bagong Taon sa ating lahat!

God be with us always.

Welcome 2025... Thank you 2024!

 

Hello 2025!

Life has always been busy for me... being a single Mom and a teacher! 2024 gave me a lot of challenges from work assignments, personal and emotional matters down to a devastated roof after a super storm. But inspite of these, I have all the reasons to be grateful and thankful for 2024. And so, let us face 2025 strong!

My Lorenzo

Chuy turned 20 in March and surpassed his 1st year in college. He had a lot of cooking exposures lately and mostly are outside the school. His team won the 1st place in the local TNT's Chef's Xpress in March with his bestfriends Cy and Kurt. He joined the Buhayani's Kusinang Calambeno dessert category in June and was even featured at Channel 7's Unang Hirit. And just this November, he joined the National Food Showdown at Batangas University. Special thanks to his teacher, mentor and Dean, Sir Kiko Pine for personally motivating him. I am a proud Mom here!

My Luigi

Luigi remained to be a very responsible son and big brother to the family. He helped in the family business manning Mommyla's kitchen and store. At the same time, he finds time to unwind with his girlfriend Alyssa... which I hope he marries soonest!

Me and my Life now...

Just like the previous years, I know I have to take it easy because I'm not getting young anymore. I had elevated cholesterol and triglycerides mid 2024 and it made me change my lifestyle, and it worked wonders for me. I went back to walking, tried to sleep early everyday and find more time to rest.  Work in school and teaching has always been my constants, but somehow, I was rewarded this year unexpectedly. I have a new School Administrator Boss and I am just thankful. Administrative tasks are getting automated and making things simplier for us teachers this semester. Research and Feasibility Study papers are better this year and I am equally proud as a Program Head. The traffic going to work and going home remained the same and sometimes got worst, but I discovered a new way to battle it, its to use the local train. Towards the last quarter of the year, the Philippines encountered typhoon Kristine, which left me a broken roof that made my life slow both in finance and repair. Prayers kept me calm and the family helped me worked in it.

My Family

Life can always be tough, but my family remained happy and contented! My Mommy turned 85 this year and aside from an aching knee, she is perfectly okay. My brothers and their families were equally blessed with new homes, making them have a comfortable life abroad. My boys are big and our little family is getting bigger! 

Life has always been a blessing to me. I will tirelessly pray for the Lord's blessings of good health, strong mind in wisdom and understanding, time for friends, family and loved ones, and just peace of mind. Maraming Salamat po sa May Kapal!

Welcome 2025!

Welcome 2023... Thank You 2022!

 A few more hours and 2022 will be history.

As I sit down and think about how 2022 went by, I felt my struggles in work, my everyday life as a teacher, my simple joys as a Mom and the blessings I continuously receive. Life is much better in 2022 because majority of us are now vaccinated, We can now go out to enjoy a bit, dine out and even travel too. The mask is still part of our daily outfits, although there are times we are no longer conscious but COVID19 is still here!

And so life must go on...

Me and Myself

The first quarter of the year was both terrible and terrifying... I got the virus! It was my first batch of thesis research and defense in my department when I thought it was just fatigue. Good thing the defense was online, I was laying down most of the time with camera off to rest. I got fever for 24 hours and a terrible cough after 3 days. Luigi stayed with me in my house, so he also caught the virus. We were isolated for 14 days and the defense continued. The terrifying part was, you do not know what will happen to you everyday! There was an all around anxiety attack. Good thing, I was able to book an online checkup with my internist, Dra. Nancy Torres and we were diagnosed with the Omicron variant. I finally calmed down and was able to rest for a few more days to complete the quarantine period.

I finally had the time and courage to do my utmost plan of home renovation. I had 2 huge clothes cabinets in the second floor of the house, redone my dinning cabinets, painted the house interior, changed a few light fixtures, changed my main and side doors and changed all my windows into sliding ones. Plus a new all-solid acacia table from Ikea topped the renovation. All done in 3 weeks and this made me super happy!

My Lorenzo

He turned 18 this year and he is on his 12th Grade taking up Culinary Art in STI College Calamba. He wanted to become a real chef someday and the best decision to do is to start with a strong foundation as early as now.... then go, COOK! He has now experienced cooking in an industry based kitchen, learned a lot of basics and now can cook on his own. Oh he got the virus as well, he got it towards the end of January, where he was isolated alone in his big room and his computer. 

My Luis

Luigi turned 29 this year. He continuous to be the most responsible son and kuya to us. He can now drive to Manila, but of course with a good navigator on his side. I wish him the best this coming new year, maybe its time to think of family and marrying?

Our Family

My brother Louie and SIL Hayk visited us in April, this was after the 2 years lockdown. We had a short get away to Baguio City and a lot of strolling around in Laguna and Manila. While mommy flew to USA in September for a-2 month vacation with my youngest brother, Jay and her sister, Auntie Linda and Uncle Bill. Mommy celebrated her 83rd birthday with good health and plenty of prayer meetings.

My Spouse

Dodo will be remembered always! I received his retirement ring this year. It will be kept safely for the two boys to remember his hard work all his productive years. It has been 2 years since he left us, but all his memories are here to stay.

My Life

At 54, I have no idea of what is still in stored for me. All I know is I have two precious boys to take care and grow old with. I am looking forward to more experiences, more challenges, more discoveries and more happiness with them. I want to slow down in work, take it easy with stress and work problems, no more PhD plans and just be a regular teacher. I just want to walk, eat and just be happy with life.

I am grateful for 2022! There should be no room for unhappy thoughts, instead, find the good things out of those experiences. I wish for more ME time on self care, mental health, scrapping time, chat with friends, good relationship with Lord and more quality time with my kids and family. My wish for myself are good health, resolved anemia, more peaceful menopause transmission and more time to walk. My wishes for my family are good health, safety and another major trip to be together again.  

God bless us all as we 

welcome 2023!