WEEKEND WITH GOD AND NATURE

 

Last Holy Week, hubby and I planned to spend it in a beach in Guimaras Island - a time of fun leisure under the sun with kids, a boat ride from the city. But it didn't go the way we planned. We all got into our vehicle, with a knapsack of our swimwear and a plastic filled of snacks. We headed to the pantalan to board a RORO that would take our trusty vehicle to Guimaras. The queue to board was long and the wait even longer. We waited and waited like the other vehicles lining up for our turn to board. Hours passed and we asked if there is a possibility of us ever going to board the cargo ship that will take us to Guimaras. J called the cargo ship to inquire. He was told that it would be impossible for us to board the ship anytime soon. They are only take 1-2 cars at this point. The weather was unpredictable and we will be waiting our day in line. So we decided to find another place to spend the rest of the day.

We decided on SOL Y MAR Beach Resort. This beach resort is a memorable place for me and hubby because this is where we first become a couple.

Kids swam on the beach and we ordered lunch. I also got to nap in a hammock on top of tree house - simple joys!

After our lunch, my satisfying nap and kids were done swimming, we fixed our stuff and paid for our meal. We were told we are given a free pass at the Sol Y Mar Farm, a few minutes drive from the beach resort. We checked out the farm and had fun walking around exploring. It was a wonderful day - spending time with family, being with nature and quiet time with God.

Sol Y Mar Beach Resort

Address: Tigbauan, Iloilo

Phone: (033) 321 6069

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HALA BIRA ILOILO 2025

 

This is such a super late post. 7 months delay to be exact. It was Dinagyang Festival in Iloilo this January 2025 and the streets are blasting with drum beats and the feverish pitch of festival air. Dinagyang Festival is a special festival for hubby and I, not only because we are Ilonggos but also because hubby used to one of the Dinagyang warriors when he was in high school. He belong to an award winning Tribu which brought him and his tribemates for free to Singapore to perform in one of the programs there. When we were still in our courtship stage, he took me to watch the real live performances of the Dinagyang competition with actual seats! It was my first time to watch the performance up close because we often just watch it on TV when we were younger and go out to Dagyang on the streets when the performances were done.

Since this is our first Dinagyang that we are permanently settling for good here in the Philippines. We didnt get tickets for the competition and opted to Dagyang in the late afternoon so kids will experience it. 

There were still tribes performing like street dances on the streets of Iloilo. The drumbeats were infectious. We couldn't help but sway to the rhythm of the streets. 

We walked around a bit more. We tried foods sold in the corners of the streets. It was fun walking arounds, trying street foods and watching the crowd.

J painted the kids faces with my Bobby Brown lipstick and my Faceshop eyeliner. We were too cheap to pay for the street face artist who paints people faces for a fee. J didn't know my makeup cost more than the  face painting and my cosmetics were almost unusable after using it in our kids face. Hahaha! But ohh well.... 

We stayed until the sunset. We viewed the lights in the government buildings nearby and we headed back to our restaurant to spend the rest of the night there.

Til the next Dingyang! Hala Bira Iloilo! Padayon!

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CHRISTMAS DAY AT LASETTE RESORT HOTEL

 

Last Christmas Day, my family and I spent our day in LaSette Resort in Oton. My husband discovered it online and decided we tried it out.  There was entrance fees to the resort. It is a fairly new resort and constructions were still on going. The place was beautiful. We just enjoyed the pool and the relaxing atmosphere. Our table was near the bar and pool. The kids has so much fun the the pool. They even have bubble machine later that afternoon.

I joined them in the pool a little later because I enjoyed my hot black coffee by the pool, first. The service was a bit slow but understandable because the place was packed. The food was average. The dishes was a variety of Western and Filipino dishes.  It was okay to say the least

I joined the kids and hubby in the pool after I explored and walked around the area. It is definitely a nice place for family and friends to come over, relax and bond.

Will definitely return back here next time. Will probably bring my parents along with us. Til next time, La Sette

LaSette Resort Hotel

Bray Trapiche Oton, Iloilo City, Philippines 

09993669636

lasetteresort@gmail.com

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DID I EVER REGRET RETURNING IN SINGAPORE?

Our plan last 2023 for me to resign from my job in Oman and work again in Singapore was very spontaneous decision made by my husband and I but somehow it fitted in our future plans so we went ahead with it. Start of 2023, my sister spoke to me if my hubby would be interested in managing a branch of her Samgyupsal restaurant in the Philippines and she change it to, if we are interested to franchise her Samgyupsal restaurant which means hubby needs to move back to Philippines. I threw that option to my hubby, assuming that he is not interested. He has always been resistant of us being apart as family. But I was surprised that he was interested in starting a business and bringing the boys along with him. We have been in Oman going 5 years already and it was very difficult for him to find a job. So the initial plan is: we all take a vacation Summer of 2024 - during school break while we would find a suitable location for the business and start the business before I return back alone to Oman. I will stay in Oman for maybe 2 more years and if the business is doing well, I will come home in the Philippines for good. There was the possibility though of business was not as reliable as a stable income, I may be staying in Oman until I decide to return. However, while hubby and I were mulling over our plans, a good friend of mine who has been working in Singapore for years asked me if I plan to return to Singapore to work because there is a new hospital opening up. My instant response is “No thank you. I am quite comfortable already in Oman and anyways, we are planning to move back to Philippines soon.” I told hubby of my conversation with my friend and he said why don’t you try it out, anyways Singapore is near to Philippines, it is easier for us to flying back & forth Philippines-Singapore to bridge the distance between us. I love Singapore but I also know how stressful it is working there, I am not sure if I would want to face that again but then again, I have exposure to living and working in the country, I assume that it will be easy for me. So that was decided. I applied for the job and I was immediately accepted. My family will move earlier than expected back to the Philippines while I was processing my papers to work in Singapore. My family flew back to the Philippines in August 2023 while I aim to fly to Singapore by end of 2023 or early of 2024.

The processing of my papers to get my Singapore license was like an uphill battle and it took longer that expected. I was thinking I will get my license approved fast because I had worked as doctor in Singapore before but it was like back to square one with lots of additional requirements. I admit I cried several times while I was complying with the application for my medical license to Singapore Medical Council. And after many back and forth and thousands of papers to be certified & notarized, I finally had my Singapore medical license approved by end of November 2023. I was due to fly for my Philippines vacation by December 2023. As advised by my employment agency who were processing my documents to file my resignation before my vacation which I did and I will return to Oman by January, work for 2 more months and fly to  Singapore by 1st week of March 2024. I really enjoyed my time in Oman - it was like a work break with salary for me. Work hours were so chill and I was well-compensated. It was perfect work-life balance I have longed for. But it was time to move on.

I was employed in a new hospital under Palliative Medicine. I had high expectations that I will love Palliative Medicine. Since I am Certified Family Medicine doctor, Palliative is one of its subspecialty and it has a bit of Psychiatry aspect which since medical school, Psychiatry is something that I have always been interested (will blog soon why I didn’t specialised in Psychiatry). I was thinking if I will love Palliative Medicine, I will probably aim to pass Diplomate Exam in Family Medicine in Philippines and aim to get fellowship certificate in PallMed in Philippines and eventually practice PallMed  in Philippines if I plan to return home. Or even open up a nursing home or something. 

So there I was in Singapore. Upon arriving Changi aiport, I felt like the airport feels like its has grown old with me - grey, signs of ageing, feel old somehow but I also get to see new and younger version of Singapore like the Jewel but I could seem to connect with it. My first day in Singapore was an exhausting day. Headed to the agency office, met up with my friend, went back to the agency office, went to HR for signing of papers while dragging my heavy luggage and going around a mall to find a telecom to fix my sim & finding the exit for taxi stand while carrying my heavy luggage in escalators. I finally just rode a bus and search for the temporary HBD room I will stay at. I was exhausted to death and somehow that exhaustion and sleepiness carried on up until I started my work in March 25. 

I was temporarily assigned in a sister hospital, shadowing different departments. I was the only junior doctor for Palliative Medicine in the new hospital. By April we moved to the new hospital. It was such a beautiful new huge hospital. I was filled with optimism and excitement to start a new. By 2nd week of April, I dive head on to my new role. I was like fish out of water, confused on my new responsibilities and overwhelmed with the new experience of working in a hospital setting and not a clinic (polyclinic). On top of it, I was also an addition manpower for Rehabilitation Medicine and General Medicine. The expectations and overwhelming responsibilities as well as my seniors questioning my medical knowledge, bombarding me with medical questions like I was medical intern had me in bundle of nerves, anxiety and extreme low mood, which made me doubt my capabilities. I was exhausted, missing my family so much - I don’t have the time to videocall them, anxious, depressed and helpless. I was feeling guilty for not being there for my kids but I also lack the energy to do other things but my work. I have worked in many new places, in different roles, different work cultures and I did fine, even excellently if I say so myself. But in the new workplace, I struggling. Every day my guilt for not being there for my kids increased, missing there so much becoming more unbearable and my anxiety towards my work is coming more pathological. I tried to talk myself to try harder or even reach until December 2024 or at least finish my contract. It was difficult to give up a high paying job and the opportunity to work again in Singapore. I was tagging in a full 24 hrs duty call for General Medicine and I could foresee that I couldn’t do this long term. It felt like I was in a residency training that I didn’t like. My body was exhausted and I couldn’t keep up with young doctors. I wanted to sneak out and rest in the oncall room because I was so damn tired. I was thinking I am too old for this (I am 44) and I blame possible perimenopause hormones. I said if I want to go into residency again it would be a specialisation I like. By July 20, I informed my senior doctor and the head of the department that I am resigning. I decided that my last day of work to be on August 25, 2024 - 5 months of working (again) in Singapore. I decided that my chapter in Singapore is officially closed. Other junior doctors call me brave for resigning, they would have wanted to do the same but their life circumstance prevents them otherwise. Some people at work still enticing me to give the hospital another chance - maybe change of department or take a vacation in Philipines & come back. My seniors would approve of my decision because they believe mothers should be with their children and they couldn’t imagine being away from their kids too for a long time.

I officially resigned in August 25, 2024. I went to this cafe shop near the sister hospital that I initially was assigned at first. I felt a wave of relief and freedom when I was out of that work situation. It was not for me - not that it was a bad place, not that people where mean to me - on the contrary there were all so nice to me - but I know I shouldn’t stay longer there. I learned a lot from my short stay there - having a glimpse of Palliative Medicine (some aspects of it which made me fell in love with it, some not so much), learning management of Palliative Care and learning a lot about myself - what I can do and what I can tolerate. I rode a plane back to my hometown in the Philippines by September 1, 2024 - ready to be with my family who I really missed and to pursue something that I have long have been interested in…..  

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DID I EVER REGRET MOVING TO OMAN?

 A friend of mine who also transferred to Oman from Singapore asked me this question when I was still in Oman: “Did you ever regret leaving Singapore a moving to work in Oman? I want to answer this question before I share my new chapter in Iloilo. The answer is NO and Never!

I am so glad that I chose to move to Oman to work and here are whys:

1. I experienced the amazing work-life balance that other people have never experience. Imagine our work would either from 7AM to 2 PM only or 2 PM to 9 PM (or 3PM to 9PM) only. I get to have my nap times or my free mornings.  When I transferred to work as a doctor in Internal Medicine in  a tertiary psychiatric hospital in Oman, even with an every 3 days 24-hours duty, it was chill and  manageable.

2. I learned to love being a doctor (which I really don’t before. I felt I was forced into it). I appreciated being a Family Medicine doctor. It was in my point in my life that I said I am glad I am a doctor.

3. I learned to live a minimalist and simple life.

4. I learned a new language - Arabic!

5. Our family got to save a ton! We shopped less and went to mall less (only once a month because it is 2.5hrs drive away)

6. I met a lot of new friends and interesting people.

7. Oman gave my family and I a wonderful experience and lovely story to tell living in such a unique country

8. Family and I experience the living near the rocky mountains and near the desert.

9. Family and I spent a lot of fun staycations in hotels in the city.

10. Follow up to #2. I learned to be more confident being a doctor. I learned how to deliver babies, do prenatal ultrasounds, manage emergency cases and medical psychiatric conditions.

All in all, I am glad I left my admin work in Singapore and move with my family in Oman to work as a doctor again. Since I only worked 2 years in a non-doctor role, it is still an acceptable gap year as a doctor. If I took a long time off in a non-doctor job, I don’t know if I could have returned back as doctor. I enjoyed my relaxed life in Oman with my family. We didn’t have a helper or a nanny but my husband and I made a system that worked for us and managed to create seamless teamwork in taking care of kids, doing housework, etc. It was a comfortable life, too comfortable I must say. And we know it was time for us to go because it was getting too comfortable for us too….. 

After more than 4 years in Oman, my family and I decided that my husband and our kids will go back to Philippines for my hubby to start a new business offered by my sister & for my kids to study there while I will return in Singapore to work in a new hospital in Palliative Care, taking advantage that Singapore is near to the Philippines.

Will write soon if I ever regret returning to Sinagoire in my new blog post. Till then…

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THINGS I LEARN FROM CATS

First week of September. I went a little cat cafe in Balestier Street in Singapore for a little me-time to think of what 2024 taught me & what I hope for the remaining years of 2024. 

It was the night before my flight back to the Philippines, saying my goodbye to Singapore. Found this cute cat cafe, QQ Cats & Cafe. Ordered my go-to Caramel Macchiato with oatmilk and TIramisu. Observing the cats inside the transparent glass walls playing around.

I have always preferred dogs to cats. But I realised there are a few things we can learn from cats. 

1. Independence: Cats thrive on self-reliance, reminding us of the importance of being comfortable with our own company.

We may need people in our lives but it is important to learn to rely on ourselves because at the end of it all, we can only rely on ourselves and no one else. Learn to eat alone in restaurants, take sole trips, watch movies in cinemas alone and just enjoy your own company. Be your own bestfriend.

2. Self-care: Cats are meticulous about grooming, teaching us to prioritize self-care and personal hygiene.

This the era of self-care. It is time to glow-up, baby. We need to prioritise pampering ourselves, grooming and being our best version of ourselves. 

3. Patience: Whether waiting for the right moment to pounce or for food, cats demonstrate how patience often pays off.

We stop all the rushing. Let us take our sweet time. We will get there. Stop the non-stop hustle and bustle. Take your time, girl. Enjoy the journey. 

4. Curiosity: Their natural curiosity encourages us to explore, ask questions, and never stop learning.

Never stop being curious. Life is beautiful and has so many surprises. Discover life's wonderful surprises.

5. Adaptability: Cats are skilled at adjusting to new environments or situations, showing the importance of flexibility in life.

As life can be unpredictable, we need to be flexible and adaptable to what life's challenges and surprises.

6. Rest and Relaxation: Cats know how to enjoy downtime, reminding us of the need to rest and recharge.

Never forget to rest. When you know your body needs rest, when it feels tired & exhausted, stop pushing and please rest. We take for granted our need for rest and relaxation. Our bodies pay for it if we ignore our internal thermostat asking for rest. 

7. Confidence: Cats carry themselves with poise, encouraging us to be confident in who we are.

They don't call it 'catwalk' for nothing. That is why the models gracing the runaway sashay gracefully with head held high with confidence because they emulate the Queen-like aura of our feline friends. 

8. Boundaries: Cats are clear about setting boundaries, a reminder of how important it is to establish and maintain personal space.

Ohhh, how essential this is to protect our mental health and our peace. Know how to set boundaries and guard it with utmost care. 

9. Live in the moment: Cats are excellent at savoring the present, a gentle reminder for us to be more mindful and enjoy life as it happens.

We live only once. We should live in the present, stop worrying about the past that is gone and the future that is not here.

10. Unconditional affection: Despite their independent nature, cats show love in subtle yet meaningful ways, teaching us that affection doesn’t always have to be grandiose but can be heartfelt in small gestures.

Subtle genuine affection is all we need, no need for over-the-top gestures. 

We all can learn from cats...... Meow meow......

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THINGS I LEARNED WHEN I QUIT INSTAGRAM

My last post in Instagram was November 16, 2021. That was around 3 years ago. It was an Au Revoir to Instagram and being active in posting in social media. I was still lurking around Instagram and my personal Facebook. I was still posting some family photos in my personal Facebook because I have been using it as my personal album and free storage space for photos I want to remember by. However, I have completely stopped posting in Instagram - in my feeds and stories.

Why, you may ask?

I have always have this ambivalence in sharing my life online. I love the outlet. I love the community. It was a perfect avenue to channel my love for writing and creating inspiring content or just the chance to share something that I discovered that people may also be interested , ignites my spirit. But it sometimes lives me vulnerable, naked and somehow invites people to comment, criticise and analyse your life & life choices. 

In 2014, when I was starting to attract brands and marketing agencies through my blog, they wanted bloggers to have a strong Instagram presence. I have to submit the number of my followers, change my Instagram to Business instead of Personal and I have to ensure that my reach & engagement are competitive enough. Marketing my Instagram account was so hard for me. I hate hard selling it and painstaking needing to drop in to random accounts to comment with hopes that they will follow my account. I feel pressured to get a lot of likes in the post because I get paid for the brand sponsorship and get loads of free products. I just wanted to write and take nice photos to remember but I feel that time I need to do this to establish my micro-influencer status. I also feel the need to document every moments of my life or I will miss out an awesome content. 

However, I continued on, I started to feel that little ambivalent voice whispering to me in a soft tone, “Do you really need to keep this up?” I started to feel more protective of my privacy and my plans. I didn’t want to come off wanting attention from the world which was never my objective. I just wanted to document my life in my blog, my Instagram feed and hoping if anyone passes by will find inspiration or a kindred spirit they can engage with. When all these thoughts have been hovering around in the mind on those past months before I quit Instagram, a loved-one told me that all I do is take photos of EVERYTHING. I realised, “Ya, I was so engrossed in creating that perfect Instagram photo, am I still being present in the moments of  my life?” Right then and there, I just stopped posting. I said I will not post maybe for a few months. Eventually those few months turned into years.

What have I learned during my abstinence in social media?

I realised that life was more peaceful without the need to document my life every minute of everyday. Life was more uncomplicated. I got to do more things with my time (initially). I realised I have spend so much effort in my Instagram feed to maintain my “influencer” status - doing likes for likes, commenting on other people Instagram post to increase my algorithm, spending so much time in doing content planning and doing all those reels. I realised life got more simpler. I love the peace and the simplicity. 

But with all the good, there is also some drawbacks when I stopped posting. I became more complacent and lazy. I stopped seeking for more interesting adventures in our lives. I became so protective of my privacy that I was almost too scared to share anything at all. I became so closed off from people, fearing of judgement, comments and opinions. And I thought, “Wait? That is not the kind of life I would want to live as well”. Too much in my shell, too distant from the world. I needed a balance of both worlds. I missed out documenting wonderful moments we have experienced. I love looking back at the Instagram stories I posted when the kids were younger. I was glad it is still in my archive. I love looking back at those moments. I also didn’t make too much effort in appearance because I don’t take any photos of myself. I did got a bit lazy and tired to even make an effort in myself and finding new discoveries. I know that I experienced more before because I wanted something interesting to share and it eventually enriched our lives. I know I feel great when I would post something - blog or Instagram post. The productivity juices somehow revitalises me.

So what now?

I still like the no-pressure posting in Instagram and in my blog. I will continue to blog and will start to post again in Instagram - but I will do it in my terms whenever I feel like it and with intentionality.

See you in Instagram, my friends…….

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