I think this is the perfect time for me to tell you how proud I am of the person you’ve become. You went through the hardest times of your life with so much grace. You carried yourself through those storms that I couldn’t even imagine going through when you were younger. You fought through your loneliest nights, you cried out your heart almost every single day only to come out with a big smile on your face. You’re one of the most kind, caring, loving and compassionate person Ive ever met. Im proud of the person who you are now, and you’ve come out as the most beautiful version of yourself and even better in the years to come, please never lose your heart. Im proud of you for championing yourself through it all. There may be times that you may have felt alone but God has been there with you and He gave you the strength to over come. You have been your most courageous and strongest self, standing up for yourself and reaching your dreams one day at a time and you conquered it all with so much heart. You are your own champion and warrior. I want you to know Im proud of who you are and who you are still becoming. I’ll be kinder and more compassionate to you, giving you the love you so much deserve, from deep within. We’ve gone far and your beautiful chapters are still ahead of you. Never lose your hope. I’ll never stop celebrating you from now on. Cheers to another year of a stronger, wiser and braver you and for the beautiful things you are waiting to unfold! 🥂 Photography by @paodequina Dress from @guanzaph

Your best adventure is still yet to come. Hold on tight and keep your head up high. Step out of your comfort zone and step into the biggest adventure of your life that is in front of you keeping in mind that good things are coming your way! May your new adventure be filled with all things your heart has ever wished for! I wouldn't promise that it would be easy but it will be worth it and it will be beautiful. Im proud of you for not giving up and for always pushing yourself to move forward. The best is still yet to come, keep going. 🤍 (A letter I wrote to myself on the 23rd of June, 2022)

How long does it take to heal? How long should it take for one person to truly heal? But the real question I ask myself is, how long does it take for one person to heal after believing with all her heart and get shattered a million times over? To be honest with you, I still don’t know the answer to that question. But to where I am now, I know I have taken a few steps forward from where I was before. The pain I used to feel, its a little less than before. Have I just gotten used to the pain or am I already on the next stage of healing? I don’t know. But what I know is that even if I feel like Im ready to face things again in life there’s that new part of me whose fears are much more stronger than before. Fears that are much harder to break, that any time you flick me, I’ll shatter again. But what Im sure of right now is the only thing that is left in me, and that is my trust and belief in God that He knows what He’s doing in my life. That one day, when Im ready to face every thing whole heartedly again, no matter how slow I go, life will bloom again. I know one day, He’ll shatter all my fears and gently guide me through that next phase in my life. As long as I trust Him, I wouldn’t worry even if it takes baby steps to start. I know one day, winter will soon be over and flowers will soon spring again in my heart. All it takes is His love restoring mine. Til one spring day. 🌸 (Written on one of those days I’ve broken down and decided to journal what I felt and hoped for on the 28th of April, year 2023) Photo dated back to February 25, 2021 Photography by: @corinnarosephoto ❤️

Today marks my 4 years of stay here in the land of the free. It was 4 years ago that a plane from Manila landed the Golden State. I had nothing but tears and jibbers in my heart not knowing what lies ahead. I left my home not certain of what I’ll go through. And 4 years later, this land has now been my new home. This land was a witness to this foreign girl’s biggest heartbreaks and biggest set backs; it has seen me at my worst but then it has also seen me bounce back and rise higher like I’ve never been before. I’m thankful that this land gave me all the opportunity that I’ve never had, and gave me the courage that even though one has lost everything, it has been willing to share what it has to heal someone’s broken and empty heart. It has been a home to many of my dreams coming true, trying to patch up on my life’s biggest losses. It has allowed me to heal at my own time and also pushed me into things that I never thought I will ever experience for myself. Its beautiful sights and endless opportunities gave me hope to start a new life, knowing that everyone gets the same opportunity and blessing to each and every person who now consider it their home. I thank God for making this possible. Thank you 🇺🇸

I guess I’ll be seeing you again, New York! 💋

About 2 years ago, I made my 18 year old self proud. It was my biggest dream to sit on the steps of The Met and dress up like Blair Waldorf. When I was 18, I loved watching Gossip Girl and it was probably the only show I ever watched back then. I fantasised on every outfit Blair has ever worn and have always I tried my best to wear the prettiest outfits I know she would approve. And there it was, me, sitting on the steps of The Met, sans a yogurt cup, dressed like B, in my pearl headband. My 18 year old self must be giggling so hard seeing this dream come to life and all I can say is that even my 30 year old self wasn’t able to get over it and served myself the giggles all the way as I strut the streets of Upper East Side, until now. Here’s to knowing that no matter how old we are, we can never be too old or too young to see our dreams come to life as long as we work hard for it and trust God that He’ll help us make our dreams come true. XOXO 💋

“𝑇𝑒𝑙𝑙 𝑚𝑒 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔, 𝑔𝑖𝑟𝑙 𝐴𝑟𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢 ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑦 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑚𝑜𝑑𝑒𝑟𝑛 𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑙𝑑? 𝑂𝑟 𝑑𝑜 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒? 𝐼𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑒𝑙𝑠𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢'𝑟𝑒 𝑠𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑐ℎ𝑖𝑛' 𝑓𝑜𝑟? 𝐼'𝑚 𝑓𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐼𝑛 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑔𝑜𝑜𝑑 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑠, 𝐼 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑚𝑦𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑓 𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔𝑖𝑛' 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑔𝑒 𝐴𝑛𝑑 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑏𝑎𝑑 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑠, 𝐼 𝑓𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑚𝑦𝑠𝑒𝑙𝑓 𝑇𝑒𝑙𝑙 𝑚𝑒 𝑠𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔, 𝑔𝑖𝑟𝑙 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑛'𝑡 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑡𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑟𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡𝑜 𝑓𝑖𝑙𝑙 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑣𝑜𝑖𝑑? 𝑂𝑟 𝑑𝑜 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑛𝑒𝑒𝑑 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒? 𝐴𝑖𝑛'𝑡 𝑖𝑡 ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝑘𝑒𝑒𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑖𝑡 𝑠𝑜 ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑑𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑒? 𝐼'𝑚 𝑜𝑓𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑒𝑒𝑝 𝑒𝑛𝑑, 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑐ℎ 𝑎𝑠 𝐼 𝑑𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑖𝑛 𝐼'𝑙𝑙 𝑛𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑚𝑒𝑒𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑔𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑 𝐶𝑟𝑎𝑠ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒, 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦 𝑐𝑎𝑛'𝑡 ℎ𝑢𝑟𝑡 𝑢𝑠 𝑊𝑒'𝑟𝑒 𝑓𝑎𝑟 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤 𝑛𝑜𝑤” June 25, 2021 📍New York City No picture can depict or tell what one person truly feels inside. But looking at this picture dated back to almost 2 years from now, I can still remember how I felt and you can probably tell a story just by looking at it. When I saw this picture after we’ve taken it, I thought to my self, “Shallow” by Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga was a perfect song to caption it. It was definitely how I felt and the song that was in my heart that moment. Longing for all the right things to come into my life as I was trying to pick up my broken pieces and trying to find my way back into the world again. It wasn’t an easy journey and it still isn’t, I still struggle every day to find myself again after my loses and with my broken pieces. There’s no easy way to get to the better path but I guess all you have to do is to brave yourself and take things one day at a time.

With all the things that life has put me through, I’ve learned that it’s not about worrying that you are getting older as the years go by. It’s more of celebrating the fact that you’re getting wiser as you grow into this person you never thought you could be. It’s embracing yourself knowing that you have aged gracefully and in fact grown from that girl into that brave woman you are now. It’s all about realizing that your dreams are not dreams anymore but realities you worked hard for yourself and has been blessed with. It’s all about being proud of yourself and your achievements you never thought you could ever do. It’s all about celebrating yourself cause you knew there were times you doubted yourself but now you know, you could and acknowledge that. It’s all about celebrating not only yourself but the special people that have become a part of your life who you know have made you who you are. It’s also all about cherishing the beautiful memories you made and looking forward to more that is yet to come. So cheers to my 32nd year on earth! No more bashing how old I get but celebrating a wiser, stronger and grown woman that I am now. Here’s to another year of growth, memories and dreams that are yet to unfold! Excited for the next journey that is to come. Thankful as always to God, my angels, my family and friends who’ve always been there. Wish I can celebrate with you all. ✨ (Late birthday post but it’s still Libra season so it’s still not so late! ✌🏻) Photography: @sweet.escape @enytheresephotography

“𝑹𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒏𝒐𝒘.” You are right where you are supposed to be. And if you think you are not, then persevere and pray that God will take you places where you believe you should be. Keep the faith, work hard and pray unceasingly for your dreams. And one day you’ll see all those beautiful places you’ve only dreamed of before. ✨ This post is dedicated to Her Majesty, 𝑸𝒖𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝑬𝒍𝒊𝒛𝒂𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒉 𝑰𝑰, who has touched the lives of many. You’ll always live in our hearts! (PS Swipe til the last to see my memory with the Queen when I pretended to be Princess Diana’s lost daughter 😉) Photography by: @abiismail @sweet.escape

There’s no better person but only a better version of yourself. If I can go back in time and tell my old self how life’s gonna be, I would. I would tell her how life will be for her and who she’s gonna be. If I can, I would, not to scare her but to encourage her to be braver in life. I would tell her to not be scared of reaching her dreams for they will come true. I will tell her to never stop believing in true love for it does exist. I will tell her that life is not gonna be easy but she’ll make it through and everything that she’ll go through will only make her the better person that she hoped to be. I’ll tell her to learn to love her self and her flaws for she is a work in progress and that someday she will be the person whom she never thought she could become. Let no difficulty hold you back. Instead, let it push you forward to be the better person that you hoped to be yesterday. ✨ 🇬🇧Tower Bridge, UK 📷 @abiismail @sweet.escape 👗 @reformation

"𝑪'𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒔𝒊 𝒃𝒐𝒏" Shed a few happy tears seeing all these beautiful photos and that big smile on my face. It has been a while since I laughed and smiled this much. There have been a lot of times when I found it hard to paint a smile on my face and times where I forged laughter. This is probably the most genuine laugh and smile I’ve seen on my face in the last 3 years. It was a tough 3 years and I braved myself through everything, trying to find joy even in the simplest things in life. God has never failed to give me reasons to stay inspired and not lose hope in life. That even in all my losses He promises to turn everything around and give me new hope and a new beginning. He wants to restore everything that was lost and he wants to restore those broken dreams and even my broken smile. So no matter how hard everything has been, I smile and laugh knowing God has got me and that in time there will be new beautiful memories to make for the rest of the years to come. Taking this time to thank my family and friends who never failed to reach out to me and make me feel their love no matter how much time I take to respond and helped me heal. To my friends who takes time to see me, my friends who never stop checking on me and my friends so never fail to send me encouraging words and never failed to leave my side since day 1. And of course to my family back home who I miss and has always been there for me as well. Taking this time to thank my love’s family as well, who has been my new home and new family. You all helped heal my heart with your presence and love, especially mommy. I dont know how I could’ve made it through without you, and you know I’ll do the same for you all. I appreciate you all and you’re all the reason why I was able to smile again. And thank you to everyone for always bearing with my long posts! There’s a long list of you and I know you know who you guys are, you are my solid ground. I thank God for gracing my life with beautiful family and friends I could ever ask for. Photography by @enytheresephotography @sweet.escape

𝑨 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒆 (𝑙𝑒 𝑟𝑒̂𝑣𝑒 𝑑𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑡 𝑟𝑒́𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑒́) Dreams do come true. Here I am in front of the Eiffel Tower, seeing one of my biggest dreams come to life. I was once a little girl dreaming of seeing this, not knowing how, when or will it ever be and now, here I am. I am standing in front of the Eiffel Tower, gazing at its beauty. I was admiring how beautiful it was and the person that I was at that moment. It was faith, hope, courage and strength that led me here. I take credit to God for bringing me to this moment. For it is Him who makes all things possible for He knows our hearts. I took the time to give credit for myself as well, that even though it takes time, I fought my battles one day at a time and now here I am. I wouldn’t say I’m completely healed but I am healing. I am healing with God’s love and embrace who has never forsaken me and has accompanied me through everything. I told myself that God is with me and He has empowered me to be the person I am now. I braved the storms though scared and not knowing what lies ahead. I told myself to just keep taking things one day at a time and that at the end of the road there will be light. I knew in my heart that if God believed in my strength then so should I. I told myself that as long as I put my heart and soul to anything, I can make things happen for God is with me, believing in me. And so I braved my way out, still finding my way, and with courage in my broken heart, here I am in front of my biggest dreams. 📍Paris, France Photography by @sweet.escape @enytheresephotography