IS IT TOO LATE NOW?

You ever find yourself questioning decisions you thought were set in stone years ago? Like, “Hey, is it too late now?” Well, that’s exactly where I’m at right now, contemplating going back to school for a second degree. Really.

But I’m stuck. Do I go for BS Real Estate Management, which makes total sense because, hello, it’s my career, my bread and butter. Or do I throw caution to the wind and dive into something completely different and totally exciting for me right now---Philosophy? I mean, existential questions have been creeping into my mind lately, and I’ve found myself completely fascinated by this new world of deep thought. So yeah, BS Philosophy has become this weird new crush I didn’t see coming!

On one side, Real Estate Management is a smart, sensible choice. It’s in line with everything I’m doing, and I know it’ll boost my career. On the other side, Philosophy is a completely different vibe, one that feels like feeding my soul in a way I didn’t expect. Can you tell I’m torn?

Then there’s that looming, annoying voice in my head asking: “Is it too late for this?” Like, shouldn’t I have figured this out 10 years ago? But—is it really about being too late? Or is it about giving myself permission to grow in ways I didn’t expect?

I mean, why should I limit myself? I could chase Real Estate Management and sharpen my skills, make better deals, and grow my business. Or, I could nerd out with existential philosophers, question life, and get deep. Both options are appealing in their own way, and both paths lead to different versions of me.

But really, the best part of this dilemma is realizing that I still have the chance to make a choice. I can do something completely practical or something that feeds a newfound passion... and maybe, just maybe, there’s no wrong answer.

I’m still figuring it out. Help!

Missed Opportunity : A REDIRECTION

Lately, I’ve found myself strolling down memory lane, bumping into moments I hadn’t thought about in years. One memory, in particular, popped up out of nowhere---it’s about a life-changing opportunity that I’ve kept to myself all this time. Not even my closest friends or family know this story.

So, here’s the tea: Right after college, there was still a part of me that dreamt of continuing my studies. I applied for a scholarship for a Master’s Degree at Mother of Life Center (MOLC)--- and I got it!

Here’s a snippet of the email I received:

"Greetings in Mary, Mother of Life!"

We are happy to announce your admission as a scholar at MOTHER OF LIFE CENTER (MOLC) for the academic year 2013-2014. Please find the attached Letter of Acceptance and a Direction Map to the Center, along with the necessary requirements. We look forward to your confirmation and attendance. Congratulations, and may God bless you!"


I was beyond excited, but there was a catch. As a fresh grad, I didn’t have the financial means. Sure, the scholarship covered tuition, but I still had to think about transportation, living expenses, and everything else. Most scholars had sponsors from sectarian groups or private individuals, but I didn’t have anyone who could help me with those costs.

Knowing my family’s situation, I kept this opportunity to myself. I needed to start earning, so... I turned down the offer and dove straight into employment.

Fast forward while I was working at PSI as a “bayaning puyat”, I got a call from MOLC’s Dean of Studies. She urged me not to give up on the scholarship, reminding me that I was one of only two people from Negros Island who had been accepted.

Sometimes, I still wonder, “What if?” What if I had taken the leap? Would I have become a nun like I once thought? Or maybe I would’ve followed my passion for teaching Religious Studies?

Well, who knows? It's all in the past now and my "not-stpd-afterall" choices had led me to FH and, eventually, to my husband's loving arms. My two forever! 

Indeed, life is full of choices. Some we pursue, some we let go. There’s no sense in dwelling on what could have been. Life is about creating our own meaning from the choices we make. I am where I am, not because it was meant to be, but because I chose this path, and God is with me.

Happy Birthday, Maria!

Happy Birthday, Maria!

You were never just a neighbor. Not just a classmate, a distant cousin, or part of the barkada. What we share, this connection that slips through words, is something rare. It's tucked into our shared silence, our old laughs, and the easy way we just get each other. And now, look at you—--Sed’s official guardian. Ikaw ang PINILI, gurl.

How are you, really? I keep wondering what your days look like over there in Aus. It must be a beautiful kind of difficult. I know how it feels to be away. I can barely make it through a week without Sed, so I can only imagine how it is for you to be that far for this long. But hey, you’re doing it. You’re in it. That alone deserves so much love and recognition.

Your leaving left more than just an empty seat or a gap in our routine. You took a piece of my normal with you. I never really said much about it, especially knowing you’ve got your own battle with homesickness to wrestle with. But we’ve both had to carry our weight quietly, in different corners of the world. You, adjusting and enduring. Me, holding space here, missing your presence. And honestly? I admire your courage. Deeply.

I just hope that, somewhere in between the slow days and the new routines, you’ve found moments that feel like home. That you’re choosing the life you dream of, even on days when it doesn’t feel like it’s choosing you back. I know there are things you might not be ready to tell us yet--- and that’s okay. I’ll wait. You’ve always had the strength, and I trust that when you're ready, your words will find their way home.

Always know this: we’re not going anywhere. We’re still here, still cheering, still praying, still waiting. Ready to catch up on all the things left unsaid. Because distance? It can’t undo what’s already rooted.

I just want you to be okay. I hope each day gives you a little more light. And when the world feels too loud or too quiet, remember, you’ve got us. You are part of our family.

XoXo, Team V.

Existential Crisis

Featured Book: No Exit

"To be a woman is to confront the freedom and responsibility of existence head-on. As Sartre taught, existence precedes essence, so a woman is not born with a predefined role or purpose. Her essence is something she creates through her actions, decisions, and the meaning she assigns to her life. It’s about living with authenticity, forging her path, and defining what it means to be a woman on her own terms." - ME as a pseudo-existentialist in a beauty pageant

They say that once you dive into the works of Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus, there’s no fixing you. I can relate to that. The first time I picked up their books, I had no idea just how much they would change me. But now, after immersing myself in their thoughts, I can feel the difference. The shift in the way I see the world and my place in it.

Existentialism isn’t just a philosophy; it’s a lens through which everything else starts to look different. Sartre’s ideas on freedom and responsibility, and Camus’ thoughts on absurdity and the search for meaning, have a way of digging deep into your soul. They force you to confront the uncomfortable truths about life, and once you’ve seen those truths, it’s hard to unsee them. 

For me, this journey into existentialism has brought on a deep sense of crisis. It’s not a crisis in the sense of panic or fear, but more of a deep questioning about everything: What does it all mean? What am I supposed to do with this existence? The more I think about it, the more I realize that these questions don’t have easy answers...if they have answers at all.

Knowing Sartre and Camus has made me acutely aware of the contradictions in life. We crave meaning, yet we’re confronted with the "absurd". We’re free to make our own choices, yet that freedom can feel overwhelming. We search for purpose, but purpose is something we have to create for ourselves, often in a world that seems indifferent to our struggles.

And so, here I am, yapping nonsense with these ideas, feeling both liberated and burdened by them. There’s a certain beauty in embracing the absurd, in acknowledging that life doesn’t have to have a predetermined meaning. But there’s also a weight that comes with it, a weight that I carry with me every day.

It’s a strange feeling. Sometimes it feels like too much, like the world is too big and my place in it too small. But other times, it’s empowering to know that I am the author of my own story, that I have the freedom to choose how I respond to the absurdity around me. Oftentimes, it's scary.

I don’t have it all figured out, obviously. I am far from it. But maybe that’s the point. Maybe this isn’t about finding answers, but about learning to live with questions. It’s about embracing the uncertainty, the freedom, the absurdity, and finding a way to make peace with it all... but just how? Well, that's the point, right? To  keep questioning, exploring, and perhaps... growing.

For now, I’ll keep reading, keep thinking, and keep searching. And even though it feels like there’s no fixing me after Sartre and Camus, maybe that’s okay. Just deal with it, okay? It's me now. 

P.S //Thank you for understanding this phase of mine.