In The Spirit of Thanksgiving - Part 1

This week, everyone here will be celebrating Thanksgiving. I never knew that it's supposed to be like a kickoff to the Christmas season until I came here in Saipan. My view of Thanksgiving have always been how Bacolod Adventist Medical Center celebrated it - lots of food from the different departments (mostly local delicacy) to celebrate the year's abundance, different speakers talking about the blessings they received that year, and everybody feasting on the food afterwards. Thinking of it now brings me back lots of childhood memories being a "hospital kid". It is what you call someone whose parent/s worked at the hospital, grew up playing at the hospital premises, and attending all hospital family functions.

Since I am away from all of that right now, I will dedicate this post to people that I am thankful to have in my life. There are several and some may not be included here, but I am thankful for all the people that have influenced me in big and small ways and have made me who I am today.

I am thankful for my family for all the support that they have given me throughout the years. Now that the family is growing, I am thankful that our bond is stronger and that, despite the distance, we still keep the communication lines open. It is always a joy coming home because all of them will take the time off to spend time with me. I am definitely blessed to have all of them!

She might probably kill me for choosing this picture among all the pictures in her Facebook but this picture is the closest on how I will always remember my childhood friend, Yeng Buhat-Galang - playful, will always pick on me but I will never have the strength to fight back or hate and never fails to make me laugh. I will forever be thankful to her for being practically like my second mom when we were growing up. Though I haven't seen her for 8 long years now, she will forever be a huge part of my life.

 
I am equally thankful for this highschool partner in crime, Maybelle Belican-Espulgar. Highschool memories wouldn't be fun-filled and enjoyable without my experiences with Yeng and Maybelle. I will forever cherish that.

These 3 sisters were a huge part of my college life - Myrel Joy Macawili-Martinez, Zernah Faith Macawili-Alekseenko, and Helen Macawili-Huynh. I think music was one of the main thing that brought us together. That, and the fact that we were roommates for the most part of my college life. I am thankful to have them in my life. My college memories have been meaningful and fun-filled because of them. I have also learned a lot from them. Thank you, Ate Mai, Ate Luv &  Manang Helen! I will forever hold you dear to my heart.

I am thankful for this great study buddy in college, Helen Cheryll Tan-Ebreo. Without her encouragement and persistence in keeping me awake on those long exam nights, it would have been hard keeping that GPA! Thank you, Friend!

I am thankful to have known these two great people during my first professional experience in Manila. Thank you, Leilani Joy Aba-Jucaban and Myla Mia Lope-Del Rio. Whenever I look back on my life in Manila, you will always be remembered with great fondness. Thank you for being there in one of the toughest part of my life.

This is it for now. Part 2 will be posted in the next few days. I am happy to have a few days off this week and spend Thanksgiving break with my housemates. I am glad and looking forward to making great memories this year! Advance Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

The First Step

I can't remember how many times I've thought about starting a blog. I always had reasons at the back of my head why I probably won't. I guess all you need is to take that first step. So, here I am. I am finally taking the first step and starting this blog. I don't know how often I will be able to post, or if I will always be active. All I know is that I have so many thoughts recently that I just want to share. So, now, I am bravely taking the first step. I hope this will be a start of something great!