2025: Solo (no more)

Condo blessing, 12 April 2025

This year marks my first full year of solo living. What literally is the biggest decision in 2024 changed the trajectory of my life this 2025, definitely for the better. It is liberating to depend only on myself and to establish a routine that makes sense or works for me. Especially for someone like me who is not used to doing chores before–doing the laundry, pressing clothes, washing the dishes, throwing out trash and overall maintaining a household while working full-time can get overwhelming. Not to mention the mental load from constantly having to make little, tiny decisions like figuring out what food to eat from breakfast to dinner. It didn't take much to fully adjust to the current set-up though, because I truly enjoy having the liberty to do things my own way. 

As if solo living is not enough alone time, I booked another solo trip to Boracay as early as January for my annual life planning. Likewise, I visited Tokyo during peak autumn in November for my first ever solo international trip. Seeing the Mt. Fuji with my own eyes for the first time is unreal. The colorful leaves in yellow, orange or red are likewise so beautiful and dreamy. Of course there are pros and cons to solo travel, but it was an experience worth trying at least once. Nevertheless, I believe this itch to do solo travel has started to subside since me-time is practically my default now. I realized that it is better to share wonderful experiences with friends and family. And so I did just that with repeat trips 10 years after to Sagada and Camiguin with my best friend's family and team FML, respectively. 

Nanay's 60th Birthday, 25 January 2025

I also look forward to coming home to my parents in Malabon for at least one weekend every month, just to relive my previous princess life for a few days. This is on top of special occasions, like the celebration of my mom's 60th birthday where we were all complete. Perhaps feeling the need to maximize such limited family time, we got even closer and we engage in lesser arguments because we are no longer picking on each other's annoying little habits. Every year, I also make sure to tag my parents along for an all-expense paid trip, this time in Iloilo. It was nice seeing my mom happy to be meeting an old friend, while I'm out there trying out legit Iloilo food like chicken inasal, la paz batchoy and pancit molo to name a few. 

All these trips were taken in consideration of my schedule as a full-time bank examiner. Almost onto my fourth year at the BSP, the learning curve remains steep. Every examination is the same but also very different as there will always be something to learn and uncover. This year I was also tapped to deliver a short lecture to a bunch of overly competent audience. I don't necessarily consider myself well-equipped to do this, so best believe I panicked, but luckily pulled through. Like I always say, it is important to simply show up regardless of circumstances. Along with that, I believe my work disposition has significantly improved over the years, knowing that work attitude is key in succeeding especially in a highly technical environment. To be honest, I'm just very lucky and grateful to even be here at all. And while this job rather sounds serious, there is always room to have fun with workmates and to fit some enjoyable activities in between assignments.  

If you've known me long enough you'll know I am a sucker for trying out new things, although I'm not exactly good at following through them. This year, I started posting random things on Instagram stories with caption, "When was the last time you did something for the first time?" to refer to various activities that I find interesting enough to try. This includes doing a pottery session, getting a Japanese head spa, going to a gay bar for a bridal shower party and watching various improv and stand-up comedy shows. Other activities I've tried this year revolved around wellness such as aerial hoop (definitely bruised!), reformer and chair pilates, bungee dance, virtual golf/golf simulator, spin class, and a 5-kilometer Minions run to cap it all off. I have yet to figure out which activity would best fit my interest in order for me to develop a more sustainable hobby moving forward. Until then, I will continue to discover and explore new things. 

Except I do not have to do them alone any more. 

Gallery by Chele, 10 December 2025

I met Janno through a multiverse of friendship. He is a banking professional so it is not surprising that we have a lot of common friends being in the same industry. Not to mention his very outgoing and extroverted personality. Literally put him in one room full of strangers and he will end up being friends with at least one of them, if not more. This is also probably one of the reasons why we clicked right away, starting from our first date which lasted for at least 6 hours of yapping and laughing with (or at?) each other. For once, I never have to carry the conversation because it just flows naturally. Second, third, fourth and fifth date followed in a span of one week, a Google calendar date invite funnily included. Landi professionally, as we would call our shared calendar. Fast forward to today, we have been together for 7 months and counting. We take turns planning our dates–trashtalking during the UAAP games, watching movies and comedy shows, visiting the bestie-in-law's newborn, or introducing each other to our many circles of friends. Another core memory for us is our first Michelin star experience at Gallery by Chele for our Christmas dinner. We even met Chef Chele himself. I have been meaning to try fine dining/tasting menu for quite a while now, and I am happy I now have my favorite person to share the experience with. In the mundane, we would share memes and reels all throughout the day, yapping, and simply enjoying every conversation and never running out of things to talk and laugh about. 

NYE, 31 December 2025

I remember at least five people sent me reels related to a trend that's blowing up on social media during the latter part of last year: eating (12) grapes under a table at midnight of the new year to manifest a love life. Although harmless, it sounded pathetic at first. Turns out I am gullible af, so I tried it. What is there to lose, right? Only everything to gain. 

So the next time a seemingly stupid Tiktok trend goes viral, it is important you jump on it. Who knows it can lead to something really special. I knew from the start I got myself a great guy–someone who matches my energy and genuinely enjoys my company, as I do his. The relationship was a pleasant surprise to the both of us, but one that I have always wished for: simple, mature, healthy and most importantly, light and easy. This whole relationship thing is new to me, having been single for practically my entire adult life. I hope I am doing a good job navigating through it. 

Although full of hope, my expectations were kept at a minimum when I manifested "my best year yet" on my first IG story for the year. Little did I know, 2025 will surprise me with everything I've been praying for: a newly renovated condo unit, a stable job, a pending promotion, and a life partner...all in one year. I still don't know what good I have done in the past to deserve all these blessings, but right now I am just TAKING IT ALL IN. Surely it will be hard to top 2025 but 2026 is already looking promising with a niece or nephew on the way, four trips booked, some weddings to attend, and more interesting things to try. As with the usual theme of my past 18 years of writing year-end blogs, God's timing is always perfect. Let my story this year be a testimony that everything will align eventually, but it is important that you continue showing up. 

Wishing 2025 treated you well, like it did me. Happy holidays and cheers to the new year.

Thank you for reading!

In my girlfriend era, 

KRTRT 

2024: The Big Move

Many people think I'm very independent, but that's probably because they see me doing things alone: going to concerts, watching movies, and even flying solo. Growing up, however, I am a real-life Disney princess who never had to lift a single finger at home. My family literally does all the chores for me. I would sometimes cook rice or wash the dishes, but that's about it. Never doing the laundry, never cleaning the toilet, and definitely not anything that involves the kitchen. We never had any household help all our lives either, only my superwoman of a mom waking up at the wee hours, cooking me breakfast and baon for lunch, pressing my clothes everyday–basically preparing everything for me. All I ever needed to do as a child was to study. While that meant I had it easy in life, that also meant I still have a lot of things to learn and a lot of growing up to do. 

And so this year I finally made what could be the boldest decision of my life so far: moving out of Malabon, forcing myself to live independently. The idea of moving out has been lingering at the back of my head for quite a while, but somehow it just would not materialize. Until one fine afternoon, while I was doomscrolling through social media, I saw a property posting that caught my attention. Shortly after, I did a visit/viewing and the next thing I know I'm working on various paperworks related to its purchase. Only my siblings and a few close friends know about it, as I am keeping it as lowkey as possible until everything gets sorted out. Not even my parents know. But largely because I'm not sure how they would react to it. Mad? Confused why? Worried? After all, this is not something really common in our Filipino culture. In fact this is a whole new experience for the family, having someone to move out without marrying (at least not yet). It was initially meant to be a big surprise, but I realized I also wanted to involve them in such a major decision. Lucky me they have been very supportive so far. Too supportive even, that I am starting to think it's possible they may have been waiting for me to leave.

Kidding aside, I can already tell the big difference with only three months in. Of course there will be disadvantages to it, but it has so far been outweighed by the many advantages in terms of learning, convenience, character development and growth. First, the convenience of living ~10 minutes by foot away from my workplace is unmatched. Not only does it save me gas and parking money, I also get to save a minimum of two hours of my time and energy per day to work on things that actually matter instead of wasting it in the worsening Metro Manila traffic. I've seen health-related improvements too: I now get to sleep 7-8 hours without worrying I'll be late for work, plus walking to and from the office forces me to complete my daily steps. Saying yes to catch-up dinners or weekend invites likewise became even easier now that I live nearby. My new setup takes a lot of getting used to, and I would say I'm still transitioning at this point. Following a slowly but surely approach, I have started developing a routine that appears to be both effective and efficient for my purposes. I'm proud of these baby steps, especially those related to cooking no matter how basic.

You can tell I'm enjoying this new life so far. Would I rather have done this earlier? Maybe. But also not really. As with other things, everything falls perfectly at the right time, and when we're ready. My prayer (verbatim) leading to this property purchase is for God to guide me through this decision, so that the space I'm creating for myself becomes a source of comfort, growth and refuge. God did not just grant said prayer, He showered me with so much more blessings, literally making me cry happy tears over that 1:49AM email, giving my heart utmost relief.

Relief also comes from the fulfillment and stability I feel with where I am career-wise. Almost three years after joining the BSP (See full story in my 2022 year-end blog: 2022: Dreams), I can say I have made significant progress at work although the learning curve remains steep. With more exposure to banking supervision and across different risk areas, I get to develop relevant skills to become a better bank examiner. I also hope to eventually reach my potential and gain more confidence, especially on the technical side. While I still get overwhelmed at times, at least emotional spirals are minimized, aka no more crying every assignment. As cliché and cheesy as this may sound, I do not see myself working elsewhere. Grateful as well to the old and new friendships nurtured through this job. 

Apart from moving out, there are other milestones or important events worth mentioning this 2024: the celebration of our dad's 60th birthday with friends and family, weddings of two of my closest friends, another LANY concert, a solo trip to Boracay and some family trips to Coron and Rizal, and of course a UAAP basketball championship for UP. In between those days, I also managed to appreciate the more mundane: gym sessions, self-care facials, exchange of Instagram reels and memes, movies and musicals, catchup dinners or bonding over food, meaningful conversations, and random phone calls or after-work debrief, etc. But also to navigate through: confusion, heartbreak, rejection and disappointments, impulse buying or poor financial decisions. I guess my realization this year (and I keep repeating this to myself) is that no matter the situation, it is important to simply show up. 

You know what else showed up? The cherry blossoms in Japan. I feel so blessed being able to share my first ever spring experience with my parents. Best believe I was ecstatic seeing the sakuras practically everywhere, but more particularly that whole stretch near the Osaka Castle. It was too beautiful and dreamy. The full bloom of the cherry blossoms was initially forecasted at around March 25 to 28, a week before our trip. Anxious, I would regularly search on Instagram geotags to check if the flowers are already in full bloom to manage my expectations. Luckily they came unusually late this year. I will forever tell this story as a reminder that God's timing is always perfect. 

Coming into 2025, I am looking forward to celebrating mom's 60th birthday (i.e. I'm excited for the additional senior citizen discount that comes with it haha), my sister coming home, some domestic travels, at least six fieldwork/bank assignments, a few concerts and more weddings of friends. These special occasions are equally as exciting as the days in between.  

Hoping my story this year inspires you to keep the faith and to make that move in your life, whether big or small. And lastly to trust God's perfect timing in your life, like I have done this year and in the past––my delaying gratification mantra serving me so damn well. Thank you, 2024. You were truly amazing. 

Happy New Year and thanks for reading!

Love, 

KRTRT 💕

2023: Dust settles

If you know me long enough you'll know the story about how it took nine long years for my dream of joining the BSP to materialize. But while it was everything I hoped and prayed for in 2022, the transition to my new role (at a new environment, with people I barely know at that time) shook me to the core. To say the least–I was lost, disoriented, and confused. 

In 2023, I believe the dust surrounding such a life-changing move has started to settle, albeit not completely. I have since been well-adjusted although time and again my emotions would still roller coaster, throwing existential crisis questions and things like that. But the perspective has changed and the disposition has significantly improved. 

One random afternoon, in the middle of endless scrolling on social media, I encountered something that struck me. It read, "If you weren't capable, the opportunity would have never come your way. You belong." Much like an epiphany, it occurred to me that maybe I am already where I should be, at exactly the right time. From there, I decided embracing the life I was given, because I was given this life for a reason. And because I am strong enough to live it.

To get to this point, however, entailed outgrowing (or putting off) certain things I used to like or enjoy in the past to make room for new ones. It can go as trivial as my favorite Mendokoro ramen which seems to taste differently now. Surprisingly this even included slowing down on taking too many trips than usual. Slowing down does not mean stopping though, and to be fair I still managed to fly to Boracay and Hongkong, and in La Union. Apart from the constraints associated with having quite a hectic work schedule to even fit quick getaways, travels get tiring physically and mentally too. (To be honest, it is already a blur trying to recall how in my 20s I can go straight from the airport to work and still have the energy.) A friend once commented, "Grabe noh, nagtrabaho lang tayo the whole year?". And although this may sound sad for other people, it is surprising that I am actually fine by it partly because I have already accepted it as just a small price to pay to build up the life I recently chose. I see this as a temporary trade-off I'm willing to take to establish something bigger, more tangible, and more stable.

Favorite assignment so far 

All these, while I focus on more important things specifically the career I am trying to build. The learning curve remains steep even twenty months and eight onsite assignments after, but I am also kinder to myself to acknowledge my progress, no matter how little.

In August, I was assigned to be in-charge for the TML examination of a digital bank for the first time, an experience I immensely enjoyed despite some challenges and tight deadlines. It is such a peat to be able to finish the engagement without necessarily breaking down mentally (haha) and with pretty reasonable feedback at that. With this being easily my favorite assignment so far, I would not have it any other way for my first DEIC role.

          Hyper, no more. 14 April 2023

Slowing down also means enjoying the weekends at home doing nothing, drinking coffee, catching up on sleep, whatever. And since we are not getting any younger at 30, I also had a renewed sense of putting my health as a priority. As early as 2014, a lump in my left neck became noticeable. I would go back and forth with medication throughout all these years, only for it to recur. My stubborn self would just shrug it off practically unalarmed. Fast forward to April 2023, I had my first ever surgery to finally address my longstanding hyperthyroidism. I wish it did not take me years (eight years to be exact) to finally undergo partial thyroidectomy, because I have never felt healthier. It is amazing how one surgery corrected a lot of issues in my body (among others): significantly less hairfall, better sleep, improved tolerance to hot temperature, balanced hormones. The only downside is the resulting slowdown in metabolism, making it difficult for me to maintain or lose weight, which I'm trying to manage now by signing up for a gym membership nearby. Thankful to my family and friends for supporting me during this time, as well as to the best team of doctors at PGH. To be honest, I was hesitant to receive the procedure from PGH at first due to many misconceptions, but everything actually went smoothly and we are completely satisfied with their services. 

KSH, Neyo, Westlife, Honne, Lauv, Zack
 

Other 2023 highlights include attending various events/concerts of my favorite artists: Kim Seon Ho fanmeet, Neyo, Westlife, Honne, Lauv, Hamilton, and Zack Tabudlo. This year I also attended my friends' weddings one after another, including that of my bestfriend's, as well as my first ever destination wedding in Bohol. While for this new year, I have at least six onsite assignments lined up, plus an international trip and several domestic trips booked. I am also looking forward to attend the weddings of some of my closest friends, as well as the 60th birthday party we are arranging for dad. 

2023 will always be a special year for me, a milestone year as I turned 30. The big 3 and 0, as they say. Unlike the others, I loveeeeee being at this age and I consider this as just the start of my 'prime' years ahead of me. Sometimes I don't understand why some people prefer the 20s? At 30: I know better (or at least I think I do), I can support my needs and wants, I can buy nice things, I get to choose my circle, and I depend on myself. Generally speaking, life is reasonably comfortable. 

Despite not being comfortable all the time. I would go as far a comparison the chaotic but ever so alive New York City where literally I was at January 1st to how things were at the start of the year. But the calm and the steady resulting from the dust that settled in 2023 is something I would bring coming into 2024: to fully embrace the present, to enjoy even the most mundane of things, and to find peace in it. Quiet, and undisturbed.

Love, 

KRTRT

P.S. Funny how it took this long to publish the year-end blog. Life happened. The past month felt like an extension of 2023 in my life calendar. I even considered skipping this year in favor of creating a 2023 reel, because who still writes a blog to this day? But since I am extra AF, and also it is my 15th year (!!!) doing this, I'm doing both. Thanks for reading/watching. Happy Chinese New Year!

2022: Dreams

I will not miss it for the world: you know, writing about the year my life changed forever...

The year I joined THE. BSP. (Goosebumps, to be freaking honest.)

Thank You, Lord! From "One day" to "Day One" ♥ 

It was mid-2021 when the whole application process started: pre-employment exam, interviews, and submission of documents, among others. It was as if everything was going so smoothly in the span of about 2-3 months...and then a LOT of waiting came after that.

I thought I was cool with waiting. This experience, however, was different. My life was literally put on hold, not hearing from anyone for about seven more months. Believe me when I say: seven more months of being in limbo, not having clear direction, and pretty much feeling lost...WAS. CRAZY. Even to me who's been pulling off the delaying gratification mantra since forever. To some extent, I felt defeated.

There was also a lot of crying randomly at random times of the day. Any update no matter how small would make me jump off my feet in anticipation, only sometimes the excitement would turn into frustrations. And the frustrations would build up into bitterness. It had me asking myself: is this the right dream for me? My prayer during this time was simple—and I remember this very vividly—to understand why, and to have a clear cut answer whether this is really meant for me. If not, I would have gladly stayed with DBP. After all, this has been my home and comfort zone for the past eight years.

It took a little over 10 months in total. AND AT LEAST EIGHT YEARS BACK. This is the first time I'm telling this story openly. While everything is progressing, I can't help but look back at my many conversations with friends since 2013. Happy to share some in here, primarily so we can be soft together. 

To say the least, THE DREAM HAS ALWAYS BEEN BSP. A dream NINE years in the making. TYL for making 2022 the year my "One Day" turned into "Day One"!

I want it, I got it. My heart lowkey kept yearning for it. Fast forward to May 2022 when I officially joined BSP. It is not the dream employer/institution for most of us in the banking industry for nothing. I can personally attest why with only eight months in. People are not only professional, they are evidently competent especially considering the technicalities of bank supervision. You see, the role is completely new to me, despite supposedly having a background in both economics and banking. Being the newbie is indeed quite humbling. Lacking the institutional knowledge about regulations, my emotions would spiral every time I am assigned one bank engagement after another. Fortunately, CATSD has so far been welcoming and accommodating with even my most basic and probably stupid questions. Grateful as well for new friendships!

5 rallies, 2 mall walks, 1 HQ gathering, 1 H2H

The transition to this new life was not easy for me. Government agency transfer does not allow a gap in service and so I did not have a lot of time to let everything sink in—ESPECIALLY while I'm still grieving what could be the biggest heartbreak of my life: the results of #Halalan2022. A shattered dream if you ask me. Best believe I was DEVASTATED. But I know I will be fine regardless, so I grieve not for myself but for those who have been victims of the poor education and political system in the country. Despite this, I believe the seed has already been planted. Damn, there was HOPE. There still IS. My active involvement both online and on the ground will always be core memory to me. I would gladly do it again in a heartbeat. 

Another dream of mine is to live a life that I genuinely enjoy. Obviously for me, this involves less about material things and a lot about travel and other experiences. Guess I was plain lucky this year. Domestic travels include Baguio with the entire fam, a liberating solo trip to Cebu City, and at least three separate trips to (drumroll, please) MY Boracay. I also got to see my favorite artists perform in concerts—Jeremy Zucker in October, LANY in November, and Ben&Ben in December. Indeed, beach trips and live music keep me alive. Looking forward to more this 2023.

To cap it all off, my sister, cousin, nephew and I went to one of the world's dreamiest destinations to celebrate the holidays. Oh, New York. New York was amazing. Concrete jungle where dreams are made of, indeed. Hate the tipping culture, though. My favorite would have to be Central Park where nature and urban life coexist, in all its picturesque glory. Of course, we also went to the Statue of Liberty, which I jokingly refer to as the Statue of Kimberly in social media. It was likewise pretty emotional to watch Hamilton as my first-ever Broadway show, and in the greatest city in the world, at that. In terms of food, nothing was super exceptional to me, except for sure for the Michelin-star Peter Luger steak in Brooklyn. Aside from NYC, I likewise stayed in Los Angeles for a week, with my solo visit to Disneyland as the highlight. That fireworks display in front of the famous Sleeping Beauty castle was spectacular and simply so pleasing to the eyes. I'm not even exaggerating when I say my always-emotional self felt all possible emotions all at the same time.

Concrete jungle where dreams are made of!

For 2023 moving forward, my wish is to not mishandle what I prayed for. Easy to say I've chased some dreams this year. But not without some hurdles. I'd be happy to know if at least one person will be inspired by this story. That what is meant for you, won't pass you by. Amidst all the waiting, my key takeaway from this year is simply that waiting seasons are not wasted seasons. The universe, and ultimately God, is preparing us to receive the fullness of our heart's desires. 

Let me end with what one of my closest friends shared with me: a relevant quote from the poem Desiderata by Max Ehrmann, "And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should." 

Trust me. Chase that dream. I'm happy I did.

Happy Chinese New Year!

Love, KRTRT

2021: Mapa

What better way to describe my year 2021 other than the lyrics of easily one of the best OPM songs ever released, a song called "Mapa" released by rising P-Pop group SB19. You may listen to the original version: "MAPA" Official Lyric Video or listen/watch their collaboration with Ben&Ben on YouTube: "MAPA" (Band Version) Official MV (No copyright infringement intended.)

Needless to say, this song resonated with me in more ways than one, so I'm making it the theme of this year's yearend blog. Read up on my amazing 2021. 

*****

"'Wag mag-alala. Ipikit ang 'yong mata, ta'na. Pahinga muna, ako na'ng bahala. Labis pa sa labis ang 'yong nagawa. Ma, Pa, pahinga muna. Ako na." My dad is finally back for good in the Philippines after working for 14 years in Italy. Even until now, I cannot imagine how difficult it must be for my parents to raise a family that is physically apart. And so the words "Ako na." in the lyrics specifically hit differently, knowing the responsibility is now on my shoulders. Major adjustments must be made not only financially but also on household dynamics. A role reversal, simply put. Admittedly, I was very anxious about this at first, assessing if I'm ready. I guess my conclusion is: I will never be, but in my heart I am confident that things will turn out fine eventually. True enough, God always more than provides. It is especially at a time like this that I best appreciate having a really stable job which not only pays the bills, but also provides a secure present and future for me and my family. I am also grateful for the help of my sisters, who despite having their own household to manage, never faltered in giving support for the family. Eight months in, I'm just happy that with their retirement, my parents are now able to rest as they please, spend and make up for lost time together. 

"'Di ko na sasayangin pa'ng mga natitirang paghinga. Tutungo na kung sa'n naro'n ang mahalaga." The family was unfortunately not spared from COVID-19 this year. We tested positive shortly after my birthday trip to Boracay in July, though we are not sure where the exposure was exactly. We are grateful that the symptoms were mild and that it only warranted home quarantine. Best believe it was largely because of the protection provided by the vaccines. As in the lyrics of the song–this experience served as a reminder that life is short, that our time in this world is limited, and that we should not waste our time on temporary things. I used this time to reflect and reevaluate some life choices and to focus on what is really most important including those we normally take for granted like health, family time, human connection and friendships, self-care, self-love, rest, and peace of mind. 

As human beings, we are designed to adapt to extreme situations for survival but not for an extended period of time, definitely not for two years or more. This pandemic exhausted the hell out of us physically but moreso emotionally and mentally. Which is why this year, I try my best not to be guilty for doing nothing and not being productive–"wasting" time listening to non-stop Spotify, watching Hometown Chachacha repeatedly, or fangirling over KSH for an unhealthy amount of time, as my way of taking sanity breaks.

The sanity breaks I look forward to the most though are my trips alone, with friends or with family. I went on several spontaneous trips this year, and by spontaneous I mean impulsive booking simply because "I need the beach" or "I need a break" or I feel like "I deserve this". While this is a privilege I am thankful about, I also acknowledge not a lot of people get to enjoy the same at their disposal. The safest/easiest destination to reach given the situation includes the likes of Camaya Coast, Antipolo, Tagaytay and Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar, all of which I enjoyed considerably. In December, my parents and I went for another spontaneous trip this time to Bohol, with just the three of us, sealing the deal for my Best Daughter of the Year award. (Haha) Kidding aside, the highlight of course is my birthday trip to Boracay which as you know by now is my favorite place on earth, with my most favorite people in the world. This trip really got me emotional especially after hearing my dad randomly say, "Hindi ko na-imagine na mararanasan ko ito sa buong buhay ko." referring to the parasailing and helmet diving activities that we did earlier that day. It was both heartbreaking and heartwarming to me. TYL for giving me the chance to give back to my parents this way, and I pray that I get to do this with them for a much longer time. 

"At kahit na kailan pa ma'y 'di mawawala 'pagkat dala ko ang mapa. Sa'n man mapunta alam kung sa'n nagmula." This year, I got promoted to the rank of a Senior Manager, which is quite a feat at a young age of 28 with only 6 years of stint in the bank. It feels great to be recognized this way, and I'm truly grateful for those who helped me achieve this, especially my AOA, the bosses, colleagues and the clients. I will forever be grateful to DBP for providing me the best years and opportunity early in my career. I promise to do my best for the remainder of my stay in this beloved institution. 

Perhaps the biggest personal milestone this year is finally finishing my MBA, and with flying colors at that. As I have been saying in the past, my MBA journey has been the most enriching three years of my life, hands down. It stimulated my love for learning, as I enjoy hearing insightful inputs and discussions from my classmates and professors. It allowed me to see things differently using perspective from various fields. At first, I dreaded the idea of shifting to online classes but on the hindsight I appreciated it turning out to be a very unique experience to have a mix of both offline and online classes. It was not easy at all. It required a lot of sacrifices, time and energy. It would at times even reach a point of questioning your whys. I may have cried more often than I should, but indeed hardwork and perseverance really do pay off in the end. It was damn worth it. More importantly, here I gained amazing friends who I will treasure forever. Special shoutout to Bad Genius, my ever dependable support system. I cannot imagine going through this hell without your help. Not to mention, we are also the first and only batch with 100% first-take passing rate in the Comprehensive exams in the history of UP MBA. So congratulations, BMBE. I am extremely proud of everyone. I will keep on praying for a face-to-face graduation next year so we can march and celebrate together. Personally I can't wait to wear my Sablay for the second time around. Malayong lupain, amin mang marating, 'di rin magbabago ang damdamin. Salamat, UP Naming Mahal. I would not have it any other way. 

Finally, "Sa'n man mapunta, alam kung sa'n nagmula." It may seem like I have my life all figured out given these accomplishments, but as in this lyrics, it is important to always go back to our values, our core. I am happy to have a solid support system: my parents, my family, and my circle of friends who kept me grounded at all times. Thank you for being my rock; for serving as the "map" which guided and provided me direction. I am looking forward to a lot of things this coming year 2022, for example my transfer from one great employer to another (a dream 8 years in the making! 😭). I am both excited and scared, but I'm ready.

Thank you, 2021. It was a good year, full of life lessons which I will bring with me going into 2022. Finally, let me share the single biggest lesson that is particularly evident to me this year: everything really does happen for a reason, regardless whether that is revealed right away or not. Life's delays, denials or detours are just God's redirection towards something even bigger. And that His plans and His perfect timing are exactly that–perfect. At 28, I still live by the concept of delaying gratification, and my friends would attest to how patient I am on things that matter to me. What I'm trying to say, I have embraced the idea that waiting seasons are not wasted seasons. Indeed, Tutungo kung saan naroon ang mahalaga. Entering 2022, may we never lose focus on the things that matter, to set our goals straight while being open and flexible to making mistakes–towards a better version of ourselves, achieving greater milestones and finding happiness.

Thank you for reading. Happy New Year!

With love, 

KRTRT 💕

While you're here, let us all together share a very specific prayer for next year: for #LeniKiko to win the elections. May the Philippines be redirected towards the direction of competence, respectful discourse, and overall progress. 🎀

Surviving 2020

Unlike my previous year-end blogs, this is not a story of achievements nor triumphs, but a story of survival. Of learnings, of hope and of having something to look forward to despite everything.

The year 2020 has been badass. And I mean bad (and an) ass. It started with the eruption of the Taal Volcano, simultaneous with the bushfire in Australia, followed by the death of Kobe Bryant (and many other celebrities here and abroad). And just when we thought it cannot get any worse, the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world, which paralyzed pretty much everything. It changed our lives forever.

At least I was still able to go back to Davao for an overnight official (food) trip, as well as bring my mom to Batanes 2-3 weeks before things went all-out crazy beginning March.

Things have been crazy at work, too. Onto my sixth year doing the same job, this has been the most challenging year to handle so far. Businesses were heavily affected and so we need to extend financial assistance to many, especially those who can no longer pay. Guidelines of mandatory grace period on loan repayments were not clear at the beginning, leaving all parties clueless and unsure what to do. We got over these hurdles after a few months and the work-from-home set-up is becoming more and more normal as days passed, although we still physically report to the office twice or thrice a week as skeleton workforce. This year more than ever made me appreciate having a stable job at the Bank, recognizing not everyone was lucky enough to keep theirs. There were issues here and there, in fact one after another, all of which in God's grace I have managed to survive, one breakdown and one "ayoko-na-talaga" at a time.

Badly needing some sanity break, I did not let go of my Boracay trip this December, even if going there means having to go through strict health protocols including getting swab-tested. Easily the best place on earth, Boracay was disturbingly quiet but ever so calming during this visit. My day would start as early as 5:30 in the morning, just so I can watch the sunrise before swimming in the beach and/or pool and eating breakfast (for 2!) at the hotel's restaurant, with the beach in the background. I would then lounge and chill for hours with just good music on, drink fruit shakes on the side (yup wholesome), take a nap, write my MBA papers (huhu), eat lunch, walk around, take pictures, appreciate the calm, wait for the best sunsets, have dinner, overthink things. As a solo girl traveler, I did not even dare walk alone as it is already too dark and sketchy at night. I could imagine this is how it is 10-15 years ago: too pure and too pristine. Though, I can't help but feel sad seeing very few people, shops/hotels/restaurants closed, and locals with little to no source of income. It particularly hit me when I asked one local as to how life is going for them in the island and he said: "Wala, Ma'am, nganga kami." You see, when I arrived at the airport, I only saw the likes of Henann (where I stayed), The Lind, or the Shangri-La of the world waiting for their guests, the only companies who can quickly survive and recover. The small businesses, they are practically dead. 

Or should I say they were killed? First, by the COVID-19 pandemic. But more at this point, by the incompetence of the government to curtail the spread of the virus and to bring the economy back to life. Everyday we see or hear cringeworthy news, disturbing ones even, rooted from bad government decisions and stupid disaster response that make Filipinos suffer. It is bad enough we have clowns running the country, worse without wide media coverage due to the ABSCBN shutdown, with super typhoons devastating certain provinces. Let this year be the year we demand accountability from the officials who are meant to serve, us. This year and the next, I hope we stop romanticizing Filipino resiliency, which erases the narrative of those who did not survive. (PS. Register to fckng vote. Millennials, we are #40MillionStrong!) 

The pandemic did not only reveal the incompetence of the government and the lapses with our systems and institutions, it also revealed our true nature, who our real friends are, and who are meant to stay in our lives. Despite not being physically able to see friends and family, I've managed to keep in touch with the most important ones. I am grateful knowing fully that there are people who will never leave my side, listening intently to my (nonsense) stories at 12mn onwards and checking up on me, despite having their own fair share of struggles as sure this has been a tough year for everyone. I hope in my little ways of simply being there and/or showing up, I am able to do the same for them, reciprocating the same level of love and concern. Don't we all love low maintenance friendships? I also learned that sometimes, people will give up on you. And that’s okay, too. To the people who’s been there for me, I appreciate all of you. 

Outside I have a very strong personality, in my car I’m fragile af. And I cry A LOT. What is holding me up, you may ask. The answer would be in the little things: binge-watching the Modern Love series on my free time, listening to LANY's Mama's Boy album, watching online concerts, grabbing Tim Hortons coffee, eating best ramen at Mendokoro, or witnessing Manila Bay sunsets on my way home. Finally, coming home to my mom and her cooking, her hugs, or just her mere presence. Everytime I’m hoping I don't get to bring any bad elements (aka virus) home that would compromise her health. I'm sorry for the times I might have compromised the safety of anyone close to me. After all, it is our shared responsibility to keep each other safe, and as the Italian Prime Minister puts it, "We need to stay separated today, so we can hug each other tomorrow." Needless to say, keeping safe and maintaining good health is the biggest blessing we can ever have this year. Thank You, Lord, for giving me, my family and friends exactly that. 

The best way to stop the spread of the virus is to wear masks at all times as well as practice social distancing. And so pretty much everything went virtual. My MBA moved by a full one trimester, and proceeded online come July. It was difficult at first. Things would have been better and learnings would have been maximized face-to-face. I don't quite like the self-study aspect to it, but it is manageable at the very least. (No, it's not, I'm dying hahaha) But, thank you to our selfless professors for their adjustment and sacrifices. To lessen the burden, I have the best groupmates, too! Just like that, we are five subjects and a comprehensive examination away from finally getting this degree, and I am so excited to finish this one strong with at least 30+ of the most professional, smartest, best-at-cramming people I have had the privilege of knowing. Realizing there are only nine months left for this entire journey is just bittersweet.

From one bittersweet story to another. Well, the events industry is one of the most affected industries, including The Milk Tea Lounge, my family's little baby project. We were able to do at least five events prior quarantine, which included UP Fair. In my books it is one of the most humbling experiences. We overestimated and prepared at least 300 cups for this event, of which only half was sold. At half the intended price. In any case, I am equally excited as to what is in store for next year as events and gatherings are slowly being allowed. I realized things will not always go as planned, and we are bound to get disappointed when we set our expectations too high. 

This applies to almost everything. Twelve months ago we are all so excited about 2020. We say we will strive to be better, we will achieve more, be more and do more. December 2019 feels like ages ago. The old normal seems so far away. Unattainable even, at this point. Indeed, we are not the same people we were last year. But we are survivors.

And if all you did this year was survive, know that I am proud of you. It's been tough, yet you endured.

This is also for the frontliners, who endured the most in these trying times. The healthcare providers, the essential workers, retail and grocery store employees, bank operations staff, janitors, security guards, delivery riders and everyone risking their lives to serve others. We are grateful for you, thank you.

To everyone, keep the faith. Praying that 2021 will be so much better for all of us. Lol I mean, the standard is set too low? As for me, I am particularly excited for *something I'm not supposed to tell you yet* but as an #AnakNgDiyos (see my 2018 blog mwah) I'm claiming this is going to materialize! My dad is also going home for good to the Philippines so there's that, and finally I am looking forward to the day I can be out with friends again, hug people, or go on trips or travel again without fear of contracting any virus whatsoever. To live simply, and live life normally.

May next year be a breakthrough year in all possible aspects: personal/family life, love, career and everything in between.

Hopeful, 

KRTRT <3

2019: In between

(And 1 month of 2020 lol)

This year I turned 26, still pretty much single, working the same demanding job in the same bank, trying to survive junior MBA year one breakdown at a time, a middle-income working class hating Metro Manila traffic, tough outside but inside a crybaby, always hungry, will kill for airline seat sale. 

My year started slow in terms of travelling, primarily because I'm still recovering from the huge amount of money I shelled out for #Europe2018 (It's a thousand percent worth it though!). The first one was in June during my sembreak when I went solo again to Boracay, my favorite place in the entire Philippines (even besting Batanes for me) to just enjoy the sunset, rest and chill. I remember sleeping for a good 30 minutes to an hour under the sun, on my pizza-designed mat. The following week we drove 11 hours to Ilocos with the entire family, including my dad and my sister who are home for my cousin's wedding. I'm 26 and can you believe this counts as our first out-of-town trip together? I'm glad everyone had fun, especially during our 4x4 sand dunes adventure. Over three months later, my mom and I spent a week in Tokyo, Japan for my forced/mandatory leave. My favorite part would be watching the Fantasmic! lights and sounds show at Tokyo Disneysea. Plus, legit Japanese cuisine is to die for. I don't recommend going during the summer though for obvious reasons that I'm tired half the time because of the heat, but I will definitely go back soon. My dream is to see the Philippines have at least half as good as Japan's transportation system, hopefully in this lifetime. A few weeks after, I extended an official trip to Puerto Princesa, Palawan for some fresh air and some quiet at Dos Palmas island.

My US visa remains unused for almost 3 years, and I've always wanted to go to the US (who doesn't, really) but I didn't actively entertain the idea yet, in view of many considerations: budget, leave credits, MBA work load to be specific. Until I booked a flight anyway. Seeing the "Welcome to the United States of America" sign at the airport gave me the feeling of disbelief and happiness both at the same time. It was a short 2 weeks but until now it feels unreal to be stepping foot in a country which used to be just a dream to me. I particularly liked the scenic view going to and from Las Vegas and San Francisco. Thank you again to the Valera family for adopting me. (US edition knock knock jokes here: https://www.facebook.com/1290594135/posts/10221568318419226/?d=n) 

2019 is also the concert year for me. I got to see my favorite artists Lauv, LANY, Westlife, AND ARIANA GRANDE perform live. I understand not a lot of people appreciate live music (moreso spend for it) but as a person who puts so much value on experiences, these are kind of a big deal. Especially that December 22 Ariana Grande concert in Los Angeles, which happens to be the last day of the *entire* Sweetener World Tour, to literally start my US trip right - the perfect example of "right time, right place"/meant for me. She sang at least 21 songs from her 5 albums and it is hands down the best concert I've ever been to, and the realest #AnakNgDiyos moment.

But what happens on at least half the year? The normal days?

I guess one upside to Instagram Stories is our inclination to document things we find interesting in our usual, normal life-- the little things. So while I was starting to get bored during my ~20 hours LAX-MNL flight (and correcting my sleep pattern at that), I felt like looking at all the random 2,400+ videos I have on my phone. Some notable ones I compiled into a 4-minute video: https://www.facebook.com/1290594135/posts/10221527174390651/?d=n

The little things make up our days, our weeks and our months - a new music discovery, the calm while driving without music, or dancing and singing along to good music while driving, homecooked lunch or the breakfast prepared by mom, a nice dress or a new pair of shoes, a good hair day, power-dressing or dressing down, sleeping more than the usual 5 hours, a good coffee, a smooth commute or free parking, overlooking rooftop bars and a relaxing massage, long weekends or a government halfdays and holidays, random dinner out and catch-ups over Samgyup or Mendokoro and the likes, birthdays and videoke nights, study dates, a nice sunrise or a good weather, funny selfies, boomerang or filters, watching cute celebrity babies online, sharing random memes, attending weddings, or a sumptuous breakfast buffet, or approved loan accounts.

The regular work days. Normalcy.

There is absolutely no concept of slowing down when you work in a bank. Especially not as a Lending Account Officer. I am now a few months shy of my 5th year in DBP, or 6th if you count the MAP training. This year I got conferred to the rank of a Manager, not so much a big deal but worth mentioning, too. After all it is a result of hardwork, resilience and not giving up despite many challenges along the way. You see, my job inspires (and it pays the bills lol) but sometimes I also feel like I'm about to leave soon - a combination of wanting to try something more exciting, but also staying and doing what you do best. Adulting, basically. Well the truth is, DBP remains to be a comfort zone to me and it might take quite a lot financially, emotionally and mentally for me to decide exploring somewhere else...at least for the next 5 months. 1/2 joke. 

Except my MBA life is no joke. Not at all. There is zero chance of slowing down when you are part-time UP student-- working strict 8am-5pm office job, driving 3 hours and sleeping for only 5 on weekdays and reading/writing at least 2 cases per week on weekends. I'm just so happy I belong to the best groups for both my classes this year, lightening the burden and sharing the work load. For this year we also organized the 2019 Master's Night, which is a gathering of the entire UP VSB-BGC community. It will be an understatement to say this is one of the best parties of my life. This journey ends in about 14 months, and I plan to finish this one strong. I can tell you now and this early, I wouldn't have it any other way. 

Ironic to the concept of slowing down though, I’m pretty much occupied with the side hustles aka helping my mom sell her very addicting Pastimallows (thank you to my ever supportive friends for patronizing!! Hahaha) and of course, managing The Milk Tea Lounge (www.themilktealounge.com) with the whole family. Every inquiry excites us to the core and we’re very happy to secure a few bookings here and there! 

Overwhelming. You see, for this year I realized the importance of idle time, the slow downs, the randomness, and especially the little things. I’m entering 2020 with a super grateful and rested heart (not mind coz forever praning???) while looking forward to experiencing more of those that make us feel alive, and appreciating all those in between.

(A super belated) happy new year to everyone! Just in time, Kung Hei Fat Choi!

I’m not sure why you do, but thank you for reading!!!

Love,

KRTRT 💕