All posts filed under: Friends & Family

Friday’s 10 Happy Things, v1

Published by Justine

I feel like the only way I can quickly express my feelings through blogging is by making lists. It’s been a recurring theme ever since the year started. I think I prefer to do it otherwise I start to ramble and so many words start spewing out of my mind and I become incoherent. Decided to participate in Helga‘s Friday’s 10 Happy Things because well, life has been pretty awesome lately. Even if it isn’t, it’s always good practice looking back on things that make you happy even though life shits bricks at times. Here goes my list! 1. Last weekend’s Singapore trip. This can stem into a lot of sub-happiness plots.. and will be a recurring theme in this list. It was short, but all worth it. 2. #JKTinvadesSG. After last year’s memorable Cebu trip (#JKTinvadesCebu), we made sure we would try our best to see each other at last once a year. Thank goodness we live around Southeast Asia so traveling to reunite makes it a little easier than most friendships that are …

Let’s Get It On, 2015

Published by Justine

It’s already the start of February and I have yet to lay out my goals for 2015. I was reading this tweet that said January lasted for a good 3 minutes and somehow I agree! There are days that seem so long but the next thing you know it’s the end of the month, or worse.. the end of the year. 41. What do you want the overarching theme for your 2015 to be? Finance discipline. Money management. Money matters. Right now it’s not going as well as I hoped, but I guess I won’t beat myself too much over it because I did just sign up for two investment plans so it’s not entirely a failure on my part. Just can’t help those impulses, you know? Especially when you see pretty and shiny things even though they are a product of looking into a computer/tablet/phone for far too long. I am the ultimate consumer. 42. What do you want to see, discover, explore? More of the Philippines. I know I said this last year, …

Day 28 – Memories: Top 5 moments in your life

Published by Justine

I will try not to think about this too much because then it will be too hard to narrow down. I have been blessed with a fruitful life and choosing the top 5 moments will be a challenge. I’ll try to make this as concise as I can as well. In no particular order.. 1) Disneyland Hong Kong in 2006 (Disneyland, period!). Went there just a few months after it opened because just as all 90s kids are I am a complete Disney geek. We stayed at one of the Disney hotels and I begged my mom to take the Disney train with me from the city (everyone else took a cab) and we walked ALL the way from the train station to the hotel (didn’t take the shuttle, nothing). Needless to say I started bawling my eyes out when I reached the place. I had this weird moment where I just broke down because of happiness. I can’t wait to visit Disney America, Europe and Japan, no matter how old I am! 2) Watching …

Day 27 – Something you miss

Published by Justine

If you ask me, generally, I don’t miss my Jakarta life as a whole because I feel like that chapter in my life has already closed. There is a part of that life, however, that I don’t think can be really brought back anymore because of time, age, and individual priorities. It actually just happened here in Cebu, on my birthday week, and that was something I still continue to be thankful for, because it shows what kind of foundation we have as friends, but anyway, I digress. My best friend Noemi and I live for lazy, uninterrupted weekends where we would just be in one room, do our own thing, lay in bed and waste the day. That’s something we don’t have anymore and I terribly miss it, and the main factor will always be distance. That feeling when you’re not wasting time because you’re not doing anything productive.. that’s a luxury now. Time is gold, things need to be done and life needs to be lived. I miss the times when my Jakarta …

Day 26 – Share: A difficult time in your life

Published by Justine

The entry I was dreading to write is finally here. I actually wanted to put off writing this now but I decided to just go with it anyway, so I can get it over with. It’s funny how I’m able to blur out unwanted memories that when I look back on them the exact scenario is hazy but my feelings during that exact time or memory come rushing into me like it’s happening all over again. Wow, that was some weird branfart. Also, this is why I’m not a fan of these kind of questions and if I had a choice I prefer to not entertain them. Alas, this entry requires me to do so, so here it is. In 2008 my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. At the time I didn’t want to delve on the severity, plus she acted quickly on it and immediately flew to Singapore to have a mastectomy. Post-mastectomy she had to go through 8 chemotherapy sessions and a 30-day radiation treatment. It all happened in a span of …