Goodbye 2013

Date check: 2 more days till 2014. Wow.

A million memories are flashing through my mind right now, i mean i can't even describe how different and how blessed i have been this year. If i was to sum my year up in a sentence it would be like this; I met awesome friends and church leaders in Singapore, moved back to the Philippines alone to start college life, reunited with my old friends again, got back together with my first love, made new friends in Baguio City, did well on my first semester in university, realised i can do well in school and dance well, and experienced the
crazy hardships of being independent.

Yep. That's about it. But... 

There's so much more to that vague sentence. I've experienced so many new things that made me wiser. Been through tears and have reached a breaking point at one point in time, but all those just made me wiser. It's a tough world out there, and living alone kind of pushes you off the edge. Living alone made me realise that i can't be strong all the time, though choosing to be, with the help of genuine people who care about you, is the first step. I was able to be strong through many circumstances because i had a great support system, my boyfriend, my best friends and my family. They all remind me each time time to stay true to myself and to continue doing what i can. They remind me when to chill down and have fun when i start stressing out. They remind me to do well in whatever i am doing so that i can reach my goals and dreams. And lastly, they remind me that no matter what i am going through, they'll be there for me.

What i've learned on my own? Well i learned to not trust people easily. I learned that giving your trust to someone is a pretty heavy thing and that if given to a wrong person, you'll feel the heavy weight of regret on your back. I've realised that being too kind is not a good thing either. I'm way too kind, and though i know i shouldn't be, i still am right now. I still have to work on that. And lastly, i've learned that though it's a tough world to live in, there are still small but great things to smile about each day. Like the hugs and kisses you might get from a special someone, or a cute letter a friend would give or the chance of discovering a talent of yours or how smart you can actually be. And the fact that you're given a chance to wake up each morning is a huge blessing already; or that you're given the time to do whatever makes you happy, i think that's such a blessing. 

Thank You Lord, again you have made me go on a roller coaster ride, and again i know You were there riding with me. Thank you for all the experiences; through ups and downs Your presence was felt. Thank You. I'm looking forward to what 2014 will offer me, excited about what You will offer me. 

Cheers to new experiences, to new lessons and to new discoveries this 2014!

A few memories captured on film. Thank you guys for helping put a smile on my face this year!

A few things that make life worth living

Long conversations late at night. Ice creams. Waking up and realizing you still have a few minutes left to sleep. Traveling and exploring new places. Accidentally hearing someone saying something nice about you. Hot tea or hot chocolate on a cold rainy day. Making new friends or spending time with old ones. Falling in love. First kisses. Giggling Laughing at an inside joke with your friends. Laughing at yourself. Laughing so hard your stomach hurts. Laughing for absolutely nothing at all. Just plain laughing. Simple family day outs. Sleeping over at your best friend's place. Holding hands with someone you care about. Remembering last night's dream. Random phone calls that would make your day. Eating something you've been craving for. Watching the sunset. Unplanned imperfectly perfect outings with close friends. 

Tep

Amen to that!

I'm pretty hyped up about everything that has happened today! You know that feeling when you finally get to eat the food that you've been craving for for months already? Or when you finally buy that shirt you've been saving up for? That's how i felt today.

We went to a new church. Tita O, My parents' friend goes there every Sunday, and has mentioned how we can go there since we were looking for a Christian church. We've been wanting to go to that church since the end of December last year, however we only managed to ask about the location of the church just yesterday. And so today, my sister and i finally had the chance to check the church out.

Five minutes before the service was to start when we got out of the bus (though we didn't really need to take a bus since it was just a couple of blocks down the road. haa!) when we saw the big sign on the building that says "Grace Assembly of God". We got a bit nervous since we've never been to a new church by ourselves before. We didn't really know whether we should just walk in and sit on the chairs located at the back of the room or not. However, to my amusement, everyone was very friendly and kind! The others got up from their seat just to welcome us there. I really felt the warm welcome they were trying to convey.

The message being preached today at the church was very nice. It was about having faith in yourself and in God, despite the obstacles that may come your way. That in time, what's right for you will be given to you. Towards the end, the pastor asked who in the room is willing to know Jesus more. I raised my hand. At that moment, i knew i have never been that ready to do something like that before, to confess how eager i am to learn more about Jesus. I also started crying out of the blue. Tears continuously dropped from eyes as the pastor was asking us to confess our sins, ask for forgiveness, and to ask for a new beginning. At that moment, i felt very thankful and content with how i am facing today and how i am planning to face tomorrow. I felt genuine happiness.

To add up to that fulfilling happiness that i felt, my sister and i got to meet new friends! It feels great, knowing that i met new people my age who are pretty fun to be with, considering how i only met them for an hour or so. Like the adults who welcomed us happily, they too did the same. We played the Truth or Dare game to get to know a little more about each other. It was exciting knowing certain details i probably won't get to know in a usual one hour meet up with a new person. Hihi.

I got to fill my 2013 Jar Of Happiness today with my first entry! 

I hope more days like today will happen! I'm looking forward to filling my jar up with more amazing memories! I know i will be able to. God is good, all the time. 

Tep

Cheers to a new year!

Woohoo! It's 2013 beybehh! 

Okay seriously, i still get this crazy feeling where i can't believe another year has already passed by! I woke up this morning and was like, "Dayummm, it's the 1st of January already?!" But anyway, New Year's Eve was fun last night. We celebrated our first New Year here in Singapore! It was pretty different here though compared the New Years in Germany. It was pretty quiet around our place last night. No fireworks going on (probably 'cause people are prohibited to light up fireworks), no loud noises, no screaming for joy and laughters, and no loud music. The only huge celebration was happening in the city. It was kind of a bummer. But despite that, we managed to have fun ourselves. Chyeah, we always do. Haa! Just gotta think positive.

Okay, we didn't really do anything special, and it was just the four of us celebrating together. But as usual, we prepared some of our fave dishes, added some circle shaped food on the table (it's a filipino thing) and of course dressed nicely to show that we're ready for the new year. We also danced around while waiting for it to be midnight, and when it was already the New Year, we just went crazy! We jumped a million times (it's a superstition that when you jump on New Years, you grow taller. Haa!), and made loud noises. It was so much fun! If we had fun when it was just the four of us, what more if we have all our friends over aye? Haa! 

Wow, this is it. Time to change old bad habits and start afresh. Time to achieve all the things we've been wanting to achieve since last year. I have to admit, i am a little scared of all the things to come this year.  I know that there'll be new obstacles to go through and new happenings to experience. But depsite that, i will fulfill all the promises i've made to myself and my family. I will make them proud this year. I'll still be the old me, but i'll also instill in me all the things i've learned from last year. I'll be happier and wiser. 

Hope all our prayers will be answered in time, and i hope that amazing things will happen to everyone of us. 2013, Bring it on! 

Happy New Year y'all! 

Tep

A bold move, just for a change

Everyone's always been telling me to never cut my hair. I guess it's because it looked really nice, long and healthy? Not really sure. Well, i've had long hair for around 5 years now, ever since the end of  my 3rd year high school (2008). Before, i was always the girl with short hair, just 'cause i didn't know how to take care of my hair (Well, i was just too lazy to brush my hair everyday. Haa!). But before 2013, i thought of chopping all of my hair again, just for a change. 

I wasn't going to take a pic of my chopped off hair, but when

i saw how much of my hair was on the floor, i just had to. Haa!

Honestly, i'm not a big fan of my hair right now. I'm a bit bothered with how the hairstylist didn't cut it the way i wanted it to look like. I mean seriously, the hairstylist just kept chopping off a bunch of pieces off my hair! I even had to remind her that i wanted layers, but she ended up not doing it anyway. Ugh. *insert more onomatopoeic words that shows annoyance here* Oh well, i'll probably layer it a bit once it starts to grow a bit longer. Don't get me wrong though, i do like my hair! It's a new look, new style. I like it, but i don't love it yet. It'll probably take a while before i start to get used to it. 

More pics on my Tumblr page:

http://stpneee.tumblr.com/tagged/me/

Hopefully this bold move of mine, to go for a totally new look for the new year, would show how i'm up for new things! Hopefully exciting things would happen to me in 2013. Bring on the changes! Bring on the fun! 

Cheers,

Tep

From the bottom of my heart, thank You.

"Wow." That’s the first word that comes into mind when i think of 2012. Unfortunately that’s the best i can do since my mind struggles to find the perfect word to summarise and describe how this year has been for me. Well, i guess one word isn’t enough? Because this year has been full of variety, full of excitement and full of changes for me. 

Let's take a glimpse of a few memories i've had in 2012...

I started this year entering an unexpected relationship, making me forget about past pains. But as i have expected from the very beginning, we weren’t going to last. 'Till now, i can honestly say i have no regrets. He helped me enter this year with a smile on my face after all. Well i started my year with a smile and i’m ending this year with laughter and exploding joy! Seriously, being able to experience awesome night outs, with both close friends and new friends, probably made my year. I got my lazy arse to get out and have fun this year! From awesome small parties to chilled get togethers at bars, nothing can top all those unexpected events! I experienced riding a freakin' limo as well! How sick was that?! And shortly after that, i was able to talk and become friends with a past lover. That's one memory i'll probably be thankful for since he was and is a special person in my life. Okay to liven up the mood, i should probably mention that we got to TRAVEL TO PARIS! I even turned 18 there. Yeah, i’m pretty proud and happy about it. Haa! It was such a dream come true. You know that feeling where you rub your eyes thinking twice whether it’s a dream or reality? Yeah, i had that feeling a couple of times when we were up there. Up to now actually, it’s bizarre how dreams can come true. After that, my closest friends and i traveled to Sylt, giving me such beautiful memories as i've seen another side of Germany while being with 3 of the most awesome peeps on earth! Have you ever swam in the ocean when it's 12°C - 15°C cold? Chyeahh, i was able to do so! It was so cool! Like literally. Haa. Then we had to start packing 'cause at the end of August, we were scheduled to leave Germany for good and move to Singapore. It was fun in the beginning 'cause i got to hang out with new friends and experience different things. Also, my sister and i were able to hold a simple farewell get together with friends. Well, scratch that! It wasn't a simple get together at all, but a wild and crazy one! And lemme tell you, i had a blast! Despite all the other things we had to take care of (cops, wasted people, parents, etc.) Our last remaining weeks in Germany couldn't have been great if it weren't for our amazing friends. I love them to bits! And with that being said, we certainly left Germany with a huge smile on our faces.

Well here we are now, we're in Singapore. Since arriving here we were able to experience a few things we thought would never happen! From watching the Azkals win a match (plus getting to see the ever so hot James Younghusband. Hihi.), to watching the ASAP concert live here in Singapore! Gosh, i never thought i would be able to see some of my favourite celebrities! It was a wicked night for us, we left with half our voices gone because of too much screaming and spazzing. Haa! And just recently, we celebrated our first ever Christmas in Singapore. 

So many has happened. So many memories to reminisce over. So many lessons learned. So many moments i am forever thankful for. 

Thanks 2012, for being so good to me. And thank You for all the blessings i've received this year. Cheers to the remaining days of 2012, and to the year to come! I can't wait to see what He has in store for me and my family in 2013. 

Few of the many memories captured on camera.

TEP

Our first Christmas in SG

December 24, 2012

My mom has never gone to Marina Bay before, so to celebrate our first Christmas here in Singapore, we decided to go there and enjoy the beauty of the place. 

Merry Christmas y'all! x

Embassy Christmas party in Singapore

Here in this picture is my mom, my sister, the Ambassador and I. It was our first Embassy Christmas Party here in Singapore. We got to meet other people and see how everyone is like. It's completely different to the Christmas parties we used to have in Berlin.  There are more staff in the Embassy here in Singapore, therefore it was more lively and loud. Overall, this day planted a smile on my face. I had a blast!

She seriously surprised me when she wrote that. This conversation went on forever! But i obviously will only share that part of our conversation. 

“Guys come and go. But us? Pffft, we’re the definition of forever. “

A great day to remember

Wow, where can i start. October 18, 2009.
i woke up at around 7:10 in the morning to prepare. My plan for that day was to go to church for the last time at Nazarene and to meet up with old friends. I was with two friends of mine when i arrived at church. It was great to be in that place again after some time. After church i got to hang out with two of my old church mates or two of my buds. It was so much fun talking, laughing and hanging out with them again. After quite some time, My friend was acting kind of weird, i was feeling something fishy. But then i erased that thought of mine and went on with the flow. After some time we headed to my other friend and then left to go somewhere. I thought we were going to my friend's house because that was the plan. My head was full of question marks when we got out of the tricycle and i saw the Clarissa Resort sign. After a few step my two friends then took out a blindfold out of their bags and began to cover my eyes. That was the time when i now know everything. But then of course i was still wondering why they were doing that. Then we arrived at the place, i was so shocked to see every one of my friends there. Even two teachers of ours were there to surprise me. Gosh i couldn't explain my emotions then. But i can say it was the greatest feeling ever. The greatest day ever.


Special thanks to Euriklea Estrada who planned the party. Also to Ma'am  Guillet and Enriquez who were there. Also to my two buds/churchmates - you know who you are :D
And thanks to my whole batch.
Seniors of LUCI o9-1o.


The best kayo. You guys made my day yesterday. I love you guys.

TEP. signing out.

The Best Few Weeks Left

Everything is turning out great. Far from what i expected. Gosh, i've tried many "firsts" these past few weeks. Very funny i should say. I tried for the first time to be embarrased about my "visitor" but it was okay for most. Broadway musical was the best. I also tried dancing for the doxology during teacher's day. It was great! even if i had a mistake on my turn. And dinner with my friends after the event. Well need i say more? The best! So fun. lakas trip or out of the world experience. Imagine us all in formal attires? And there comes September 30, the day i won't forget. *smiles

Hay, everyone is making me feel like i'm not going away yet and i thank them for it. Though some are already saying goodbye which i can't blame them for doing 'cause i'm doing the same thing. *laughs.

Think about it, there's so many things and so many people for me to miss but they only have me to miss. Kind of unfair to be honest. But yes, life will go on as I always say.



Sweetdreams. Signing off.
TEP.