Little Miss Honey

HELLO 2026! WHAT HAVE I BEEN UP TO?

Saturday, January 3, 2026

I haven't updated this space for months now. Maybe for 2026, I need to write more in my blog. I realized that memories are precious. I love looking at archives of photos in Instagram and Facebook - makes me appreciate life more and the lessons, opportunities and blessings it bring.....

It has been my tradition in my blog (those all of it has been deleted now because those post got corrupted ) that every new year, I would do a Hello (This Year), Goodbye (Previous Year) post and would write down things that I am grateful for the year before. But maybe this time, I will give an update of my life.

In the end of 2024, in September to be exact, I left Singapore, left a high-paying doctor job in a new hospital in Singapore which great opportunities for learning a speciality in Family Medicine. I flew from Oman to Singapore in February 2024, hoping that this was the life choice I wanted - what my husband and I had decided. He and the kids will return back in the Philippines - he will start a Korean grill restaurant franchise business (we will franchise my sister's Korean restaurant business) and kids will go to school in the Philippines. Our main plan was for them to go home in Philippines and if business will do well in 1-2 years time, I will resign from Oman and move back to the Philippines. If the business is thriving enough to support our family, I might have the chance to do the residency training I always wanted before - Psychiatry or I can just open a Family Medicine private practice. But if business is so-so, I will stay in Oman until retirement or maybe until 55 years old. My good friend Mel in Singapore told me of a new hospital in Singapore needing doctors. I was hesitant. I know Singapore may be a beautiful, comfortable country to live in but work life can be extremely demanding and stressful, not to mention that living expenses there is so expensive. I replied to my friend that I will mention it my other friends if they are interested but it was a No for me. I told J about it, hoping we will get a laugh out of it - No way I will live & work Singapore again! But his response was - "Why don't you try it out?" He said that I have lived in Singapore for 6 years so adjustment in the life there would be such a shock and Singapore is near the Philippines - flying to and fro would be easy. So it was settled, I applied for the job in Singapore with a mindset that if it is for me then I will be accepted for the job. I chose the department of Palliative Medicine because it is specialisation in Family Medicine with component of Psychiatry in it. I got accepted for the job and the application for my Singapore medical license started. It was a long and tedious process to acquire my old Singapore medical license. It took also 8 months of 2023 for me to get the approval of my Singapore medical license. Resigned in the Ministry Health of Oman by end of 2023 and flew to Singapore by February of 2024. I thought it will be easy for me - like riding a bike. But alone in Singapore without my family, working in a very new hospital with less manpower because they just newly opened so I have to juggle few responsibilities in different departments which I adjust to the new work culture. I felt like I wasn't performing my duties as efficiently as I should, I started to question my medical knowledge & abilities to be part of the team. Loneliness & homesickness of being away from my family started to permeate my very being. I was doing duties under Palliative Medicine, Rehabilitation Medicine and General Medicine. Out of the 3, I wasn't particularly fond of General (Internal) Medicine and never will be. I felt like I was forced into a specialisation training that I don't like. I had a thought in one of those days, if I am just like going into a specialised training, should I just apply to one that I really like? Plus the electronic medical record - EPIC- was cumbersome. It felt like the criteria to being a good doctor there is how much you beautifully placed all the informations you can find in an absurdly long notes even before you see the patient. Don't get me wrong - I have worked in different companies (in Singapore and Oman) using EMR and I know EPIC is a ridiculously expense EMR but navigating it & the way we were suppose to add repetitive data can be frustrating. I was exhausted and anxious all the time. I was so scared I will make mistakes - small or big. I was on edge all the time. Three months in my probationary status, I was a nervous wreck, depressed and almost suicidal. I didn't know what to do but all I know is was unhappy, anxious and tired. I was thinking maybe I was just experiencing perimenopausal symptoms. I would have nightmares about work. I would go home, physically tired and wake up physically tired. I miss my kids so much and the guilt of being away from them pains me everyday. I feel sad when I miss their birthdays, events in school and they would ask me, "Why are you not here, Mommy?". I go to work super early before earth crack of dawn to do rounds and go home dead tired, wondering if I missed anything in my rounding notes or made errors in prescribing. I love to crawl in my bed, curled up in fetal position, comforter over me. I didn't know what to do next. I was scared to give up my job because I know I couldn't get that same salary if I returned in the Philippines. I was so used to being the breadwinner of the family. But I opened up my struggles to my husband and he said - "Come home. We will be okay." He said that his brother - our business partner- will be leaving soon to work overseas for year so it will be helpful if I can come home to help him with the business. I was sooo relieved. I breathed a sigh of relief. It was all that I needed to hear. My husband being okay that I will go home. Then I started to think of what my plans are when I get home. I spoke to my senior doctors and boss that I will tender resignation. I informed HR of my resignation. For my plans going back to Philippines - I wanted to make sure I would find a job that can make me earn as close to how much I earn abroad. I know that is a tough call but I started strategizing. I can just help my hubby out with the business but I think it is better if one of us has a regular paying job. I thought of maybe starting a private practice clinic in Family Medicine but I know I would earn as much, would just be cutesy side hustle. I can also work as hospitalist in some hospital. If it is in the city, the pay will be really low but if it is outside the city, it will pay more a bit but it would mean travelling far & away from the kids. Then I thought maybe this is the chance for me to do the training I have always wanted - my TOTGA (the one that got away)- Psychiatry. I will be working in a government hospital which mean better higher pay with great benefits, protected because I am in training and I will be doing the thing I am interested in. So it was decided, I will apply for Psychiatry Residency Training. I submitted my requirements online and the chief resident contacted me via phone call. He gave me a schedule for my interview once I settled back in the Philippines. By August 22, 2024, I officially resigned from my hospital job in Singapore. I stayed for a few weeks and by September 1, 2024, I flew back to Iloilo City.

By September 11, 2024, I was interviewed for the Psychiatry training. I got accepted and I was due to start my pre-residency training by October 1, 2024. By Dec 11, 2025, I signed the contract to be officially a 1st year resident in Psychiatry.

By January 2025, my residency training was in full swing. I expected it will be a chill residency training but I was wrong. I always have an inclining it will be tough and exhausting from what I have witnessed and encountered during my pre-residency days. It was far cry from my Family Medicine residency training which was quite chill for me. OPD duties were tough - lots of patients. I was back to demanding 24-hours duties after hardly having a 24hours hospital duties or even if I did in my last work place in Oman, I slept most of the time during my hospital night duties. There were loads of didactics, presentation, supervisions, assignments, lectures and extra hours of work that extend beyond work hours. I also had some admin responsibilities that I have to attend to. I was exhausted honestly but I felt I was exhausted with purpose and if I didn't love it, I would have quit right then & there when things got tough. Honestly, I got frustrated at time, complain, cried a bit and questioned do I really want to do this. But I have an end in mind and I have wanted this for so long. It is a rare opportunity to be in it when I was always outside hoping to be in this community. It helped that I have amazing colleagues that were awesome to work with and have the same sense of humour to tide us over our current misery. Because what they say misery loves company, haha. So I kept on. This was on top of my duties at home - as mom, housework, etc. We didn't have any helper or nanny at home. We moved out of my mother-in-law's house and rented an apartment while we were having our starter home renovated. I let go of some of my business obligations which my hubby took on and helped with the bare minimum of doing staff schedule & doing payroll. I tried to make time for my parents, siblings and family - carving coffee time after my 24 hours duty. 2025 was an exhausting year, all I did was to survive it. It felt like I have so much on my plate but I just kept on moving forward. Funny that my 2025 theme was supposedly my Quiet Era or Calm Era. I was neither quiet nor was it calm. However besides surviving 2025, I did have several wins too. My hubby and I took my parents to a farm resort for massage and lunch. They enjoyed it tremendously. I also have 2 free trips to Manila sponsored by pharmacological companies. It was a work trip but it was also a relaxing one. I got a free hotel stay in Shangri-La with the room all by myself. I also had a 3-day Drug Dependency Evaluation Workshop Course in a hotel with a culminating activity of presenting a DDE presentation in the rehabilitation center. Our family didn't manage to travel overseas last year because hubby couldn't leave the restaurant with no-one to look after when he is away. I also successful presented my Grand Case Conference under the supervision of the consultant that inspired me to get into Psychiatry. It was a privilege to work alongside her.

Looking back at my 2025 New Year’s goals, I’m not sure I even managed to accomplish half of what I set out to do. There were moments when I doubted I could handle it all—the responsibilities of work, family, and business. I know I have a lot on my plate, probably more than I can chew, and honestly? All I did in 2025 was survive. But if I do say so myself, I was pretty darn good at surviving.

Usually, a New Year gets me excited. But entering 2026, I’m feeling a little anxious. I have a feeling this year might be just as demanding as 2025, if not harder. I’m a little terrified, wondering: Can I handle it?Despite the fear, I’ve written down what I’m grateful for from last year and set my goals for this one. It may be a difficult road ahead, but I know I still have enough grit in me to move forward. Because of that, I’ve decided my theme for 2026 is: Grace in Progress.

I think we can do this. Let’s pray for each other and grant ourselves some grace. Let this be a year of growth without pressure and learning without shame. We are allowed to evolve gently; we are still learning, and we are still worthy.

We are grace in progress, not perfection. Be gentle with yourself, for we are all still "under construction." Learning, unlearning, and becoming—gracefully. We don’t need to constantly prove our stability, productivity, or strength. We are allowed to pause, adjust, and rest, and still call it progress.

Happy New Year, everyone!

Saturday, September 27, 2025

Last May 9, 2025, our cheeky youngest Zeke turned 7 years old. We decided to celebrate his birthday checking in a hotel room for an overnight stay, half of the day swimming in the pool and pizza party with the family.

When we were living in Oman, we often do staycation birthdays and we missed it. Daddy have to stay in the restaurant until closing so we ( 3 kids and I) headed to the hotel and checked in after lunch. I messaged my parents to come over and bring the cousins. I ordered online some pizza and chicken wings. We hang around the room watching TV while waiting for my parents and their cousins. We stayed in Marriott Hotel.

When my parents arrived, they brought along my brother's kids. Our childhood yaya whom we recently reconnected with is now helping my parents at home. She took the kids to the pool, while I stayed in the hotel room with parents for awhile and we headed to SM City to buy some stuff. We came back and my brother and sister-in-law arrived too. I asked my brother to buy some drinks and chip in the nearby 7-11. My sister and eldest nephew arrived too. Kids came back from their swim, all happy and noisy. My eldest nephew, Ackie, set up his Nintendo Switch for the kids to play.

The hotel room was filled with so much kids' noise and laughter. They were having such fun. My family went home by 10:30 PM while hubby arrived from the restaurant. It was a simple birthday celebration for our little one and we are glad he loved it!

I pray he grows up to become a behaved and confident young man, always charming and sweet, honest & friendly. This is such a late post but Belated Happy Birthday , Tweety!

Saturday, September 13, 2025

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

Saturday, July 26, 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!

Sunday, April 27, 2025

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.