What A Great Year It Has Been! Thank You 2016

Okay I know it’s too late for a Year End post but I will post this anyway. 2016 was such a great year for me. 2016 for me is the year of exploration, the year where I finally managed to step out of my comfort zone.

Finding My Blogging Niche
I have been into blogging for almost ten years now. In span of ten years, I was able to build more than 20 blogs but I never came up with my own niche.  I decided to focus on this blog instead but I had a rough start because I really don’t know what niche to focus on until I had my solo travel in Baguio last February for Panagbenga. I realized that maybe I could be more effective as a travel blogger not because I used to travel a lot but because I want to challenge myself to explore places that I have never been and do things beyond my expectations. In addition to that, I dare myself to take my pilgrimage tours to another level. Since then, my feet are always itching to explore and I am always craving for new adventure.  Allow me to summarize my adventures last 2016

Stepping Out Of my Comfort Zone
I might be an old blogger but socializing has never been my thing. Although I have been wanting to meet other bloggers in person, I never had a courage to do so. Until one day, I got invited by Axl Guinto to watch a play. I had doubts and I was quite hesitant but I decided to give it a try. It will bring no harm to me anyway haha. It was my first time to meet a blogger in person and it was such a great experience. I have met a lot of blogger this year. Some are through events while others are through blogging convention.

The Year I Was Introduced With The Colorful World of Theater
My friend Axl took me to this colorful world of theater. I was clueless about it at first but I have been very eager to watch a stage play and a musical ever since. The first play I have ever watched is PSF’s Katips : Ang Mga Bagong Katipunero which became an eye opener to me. Since then, Axl invited me to join him to watch other plays until I became part of his Star Power House team.  Some of my personal favorite stage plays this year includes Philippine Stager Foundation’s Katips, Gantimpala Foundation’s Kanser, 9 Works Theatrical’s Tick Tick Boom and Ateneo Blue Rep’s Addams Family.

When I Learned Baybayin
One of the best things I have learned this year is the process of writing the ancient Philippine script known as the Baybayin. I have attended a couple of workshops including one in Sulyap Sa Quiapo Lecture Series and another one in Project Saysay Workshop. Baybayin really took my interest and learning it was such a great and rewarding experience. Since then, every time I saw Baybayin scriptures written in various places, I felt so much joy and thrill.

When I finally Meet New Friends
Believe it or not, I have always been a loner. I am probably the most boring person you will ever meet because I don’t really talk that much. I have many so-called friends but most of them are just acquaintances. I used to isolate myself from people and it is so hard for me to trust anyone but 2016 took me to a path that is way far beyond my expectations. I started socializing not because I had to but because I really want to. I met different people this year and started to befriend them. I am not getting any younger so I realized that maybe I really need to change myself and my perspective in life. I decided to bury all my baggage and start a new life. I started hanging out with people that shares the same interests with me and I realized that I should have done this before!

When I lost my Dad

If there are good things, 2016 also left me some sad memories. We lost our dad this year. It was a rough year for him because he suffered a lot from his Lung cancer. I don’t know… it was so heartbreaking every time I visualize his poor condition months before he passed away. It was really one of the saddest moments in my life but I know everything happens for a reason and my dad is finally on a better place where he no longer feel pain and suffer!

When I finally found the One
I actually don’t want to speak much about this because I would like to keep in private as much as possible but if there is really one thing that made my 2016 so special is when that special girl came into my life! I never thought that I would be this “cheesy” and “corny” but yeah I don’t care haha. I guess God is really working His ways that after all the trials and challenges I’ve been through, He is finally rewarding me with a love story that He wrote. Aiyeee

It was a great 2016 journey I must say and God has been very good to me. I hope 2017 will bring me a better and much more exciting adventure. It could be more challenging and there might be so many trials to face but I know God is with me and it will be part of His plans. I wish you guys a prosperous year!