Philippine corruption

Why I Left My High-Paying Government Job: A Personal Story of Privilege, Integrity, and Choosing Simplicity

📌 Editor’s Note:

This post was written in August 2025, during a time of intense public discourse in the Philippines around government corruption, political dynasties, and ongoing lifestyle checks on public officials and their families. It is a personal reflection anchored in the national conversation—one that continues to evolve.


I don’t usually talk about politics. But today, I will.

More than two decades ago, I worked in a large government agency. I was 24-29 years old, earning a salary most people my age could only dream of. My position was high, my pay was even higher—equivalent to that of a VP or top-level manager.

How did I get there?

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financial goal unlocked

How I Reached My Financial Milestone Without Sacrificing Health

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

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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2024 LOOK BACK: A Year of Growth, Celebration, and Dreams Taking Shape

As the clock ticks closer to the end of 2024, I can’t help but reflect on what an incredible year it has been for our family. This year wasn’t just about celebrations; it was about growth, stepping out of comfort zones, making bold moves, and seeing long-held dreams start to take shape. And so, as I sit down to reflect on 2024, I feel a mix of emotions. Though the latter part of December saw me struggling with a wave of depression, I now realize it was likely hormonal — my period suddenly arrived after a delay, which made me wonder if I might be entering perimenopause.

It wasn’t just hormones, though. My VA business has grown exponentially this year — I now have 12 clients! On top of that, I juggle multiple roles in our businesses: as co-owner and Chief Marketing Officer of our hotel, restaurant, café, and catering business, all while trying to keep up with the many business and personal development courses I’ve enrolled in. Somewhere along the way, I over-fatigued my already overloaded system.

Thankfully, I have my husband, Hanz, by my side. His unwavering support, his constant reminders to take breaks, and his effort to make sure my “love cup” is always filled to the brim helped me push through. Looking back at all that we’ve accomplished this year, the sadness has lifted. It’s been replaced by a deep sense of gratitude, hope, and joy for every big and small blessing that has come our way.

Here’s a month-by-month look back at the highlights of this unforgettable year. (Note to self: I hope to blog about each of these things in more detail this coming 2025…)

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