Category: Self-Help

What We Chose Instead of a Japan or Europe Trip (A year-end story about choosing home, nervous-system peace, and slow abundance)

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I’ve carried this story quietly for a long time…

Ever since we moved to Oslob in 2021, I’ve been holding an ache I didn’t always know how to name — the ache of leaving a home I loved.

Letting go of our Alabang townhouse broke my heart in ways I didn’t expect. We left because life required it: farming plans, business decisions, homeschooling, practicality, survival.

And since then, we’ve never really gone back, except for a short visit two years ago that only reminded me of what we had left behind.

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blogging again

I’m Writing Again—Even If I’m Not at 100%

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I haven’t blogged in a long time.

Not because I didn’t have things to say…
but because I kept waiting to feel ready.

I told myself I would write again when my energy was back to 100%.
…When my emotions were settled.
…When my health felt more stable.
…When life felt lighter.

But the truth is…

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sad October

When October Doesn’t Feel Like October

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Last month, I was in such a different place.

September felt hopeful. I had just celebrated reaching my financial goal way ahead of schedule — in August, no less! 🥂 I remember feeling proud, grateful, and full of energy. I even wrote about my excitement to finally start doing things differently. I wanted to create from a place of joy. I aimed to explore projects that truly spark something in me.

I thought October would be the month I’d ride that wave of momentum.

But here I am… and it doesn’t feel that way at all.

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Designing a Life of Intention: Why I’m Slowing Down to Build Something That Lasts

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Lately, I’ve been feeling a shift. Not the kind you shout about online or celebrate with a champagne pop. But the kind that whispers gently: “There’s a new way to live, love, and lead. And it begins with less noise, more intention.”

If you’ve followed my journey, you know I’ve always worn many hats—entrepreneur, creative, homeschooling mama, wife, storyteller. For years, I’ve built and juggled, dreamed and delivered, crafted strategies while navigating motherhood and womanhood.

But recently, I realized something:
I don’t want to keep up. I want to go deep.

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vlogging-podcasting

Why I’m Getting Serious About Vlogging and Podcasting in 2025

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When 2024 ended, I called it “a year of growth, celebration, and dreams taking shape.” (Read it here).

Then in February this year, I wrote about how it was “the month I finally chose me.” (You can read that post here)—and that choice changed everything. I started saying no to things that drained me. I began saying yes to what felt aligned. I started reclaiming not just my time and energy but also my sense of self.

Now, as September begins, I feel another shift. A new season. A new intention.

And one of my biggest goals for the rest of 2025 is this:

👉 I want to finally take my vlogging seriously. I might even launch a podcast dedicated to self-help, productivity, VA life, and designing a life you love.

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financial goal unlocked

How I Reached My Financial Milestone Without Sacrificing Health

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I Hit My Big Financial Goal—5 Months Ahead of Schedule!

When this year started, I wrote down a quiet, deeply personal goal.

It wasn’t about going viral or building an empire. It wasn’t even something I shared with a lot of people.

It was simply this:
To reach a financial milestone I had never hit before.
By December 31, 2025.

At the time, it felt impossible. Insurmountable.
But as of August 2, I’ve done it—five months early.
And I’m still in awe.

I’m 47. And for the first time…

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choosing me

February: The Month I Finally Choose Me

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February has always been a special month for me—not just because it’s my birth month, but because it’s a time when I reflect on where I am in life, what I’ve given, what I’ve lost, and what I still need to do for myself. This year, as I turn 47, I am making a conscious decision: I am focusing on me.

For as long as I can remember, I have been generous to a fault. I give—sometimes more than I should. I sacrifice my wants, my needs, my dreams for the people I love. It’s in my nature. But over the years, I’ve learned, through painful lessons and small victories, that boundaries matter. I’ve learned to say no. I’ve learned to delete toxic people from my life. Yet, I still find myself putting others first too often. And the truth is, I haven’t done enough for myself.

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The Art of Listening: How to Foster Understanding in Disputes

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In our fast-paced society, where opinions are abundant and communication is frequently limited to brief texts or social media updates, the skill of listening is becoming increasingly uncommon. However, listening remains a fundamental aspect of effective communication, particularly in resolving disputes. Whether in personal relationships, professional settings, or community interactions, the ability to genuinely listen can turn conflicts into opportunities for growth and deeper understanding.

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Teaching My 7-Year-Old Financial Literacy: Exploring ‘The First Ten Rules of Wealth’ by Richard Templar

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As a parent, I’ve always believed that education extends far beyond the walls of a traditional classroom. This belief has been a driving force behind our decision to homeschool our 7-year-old son, giving him the freedom to learn in ways that suit his interests and needs. One area that Mahal and I are particularly passionate about introducing to his curriculum is financial literacy. In today’s ever-changing world, the importance of understanding money, saving, and investing cannot be overstated. I grew up with a poverty mindset… that feeling that we’re always lacking… that belief that I’m not worthy of the good kind of life… and it took years of reading self-help books, and wealth-related books, and listening to Oprah and Tony Robbins before I was able to fairly say I that I’ve somehow overcome my poverty mindset and started my journey towards abundance. I want Tuz to have the right kind of thinking when it comes to money and wealth so that he will be able to live a more abundant, rich, and fulfilling life.

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Gratitude Shoutout to the Universe

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I’ve always been the grateful kind of person. It’s that one consistent attitude I have in life that has helped me a lot in combating my depressive moods, hormonal imbalances, and mood swings growing up. And I’m happy to say that these extremely negative emotions haven’t been cropping up that much in the last few years of my life; and whenever they do pop up, I still do feel the sadness, yes, because I am still human after all, but I think I’ve already mastered the art of not dwelling on the negativity anymore and I immediately get to change the channels I am tuning into, and of course, that one constant channel I go to is gratitude.

Just lately, after Mahal and I did our not-so-secret civil wedding and we’re finally and legally husband and wife, a barrage of grateful emotions have been and are constantly filling my heart. Who would have thought that I will be one of the lucky not-so-many who can get annulled and be married again when so many broken married couples haven’t been granted the same? Who would have thought that I will have another chance at a love like ours? The love, commitment, and loyalty we have for each other cannot even compare to the previous kinds of love I’ve felt in my life! Ours just constantly keeps getting better and better, and with a child like our son who is so good, so smart, so mature for his age, we feel so overwhelmingly blessed beyond words! I really cannot capture the right words for it, I end up just crying for joy! Thank you, God, for blessing us with more than we deserve!

I remember during those dark moments in my life when I kneeled on my bed, and cried my heart out to God with both my arms raised in heaven asking God for help… to help me get through that turbulent time in my life and help me find happiness again. What God has given us now is way beyond my expectations and I am eternally grateful! Thank you! Thank you!

You can read about my other gratitude posts here:

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How to Communicate Better With Your Significant Other? [Real Talk with My Then Live-In Partner]

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The recording of this video happened 13 months ago, Nov. 17, 2021, at Crimson Resort in Mactan as we were celebrating Tuz’s 6th birthday. I’ve always wanted to share this here in the hopes that it may give some helpful insights for other couples, particularly those living together for several years now, who are trying to be better partners and lovers and trying to find certainty about where their relationship is really going.

I mentioned it here on my previous blog post that Mahal and I have had our share of tough times in our relationship prior to getting engaged last April 25, 2022. There have been so many fights and we almost broke up for good. I believe that one of the major reasons why we were able to work things out, stay together, and continue to love one another was because of our willingness to be better communicators. We already know we love each other so, so much. That’s already a given. But if we don’t know how to properly communicate our wants, needs, thoughts, and feelings, we will continue to crumble as a couple.

So I’m very thankful for talks like this because it made loving each other much easier. Plus, looking back, it just makes me all the more proud of how far we’ve come in our relationship, how deeper our understanding of each other is now, and how much more we’ve grown to love each other, more than we ever did before…

So, here it is… bring some popcorn with you because this is quite long… ❤

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