A Year-end Essay in February

The past year was full of transitions. I could write a lot of melancholic thoughts about letting go and settling in, or adapting to a new but familiar place, but I guess all my posts are just like that. I figured it might be time to try something new. Something upbeat. Something else. Something else that could capture what makes my 2019 different! But let me see if I can keep the pace. 😏

I entered 2019 with a hopeful heart for what God will do. I readied myself with a mindset that there might be big changes, but I never really imagined things would be like this until they finally happened to me. One of them was the fulfilment of a daydream of serving in whatever capacity God has designed me for. It also includes leaving a certain lifestyle into somewhere else which I never knew I would enjoy and embrace well. That's just the start. I guess you'd have to read on if you'd want to know the details. 

As for my highlights, I've selected these which are either new or too impactful that they changed the trajectory of my life. Big ones include my resignation from my first job to work as a digital nomad and starting up communities of faith and tech here in my home city. Some of the photos show the people whom God allowed me to meet as I transition back here. I am grateful and privileged that I get to cross paths with them!

What does faith and tech look like in Iloilo?
Here's a first. #indigitousph (c)Mikeel 

We praise God for the new coffeeshop with which we met for #digitalmissions.
Thank you, Riverun Craft Coffee! Photo grabbed from them too.

On the other hand, I praise God for proving that He really cared about friendships! When I relocated to Iloilo, He led me to a set of Christians who I think identified with my burden (and the blessing) of being a digital nomad. We are a mix of people from different occupations who were brought together by serving God through Indigitous #Hack Iloilo. On a side note though, I find it amusing that we lived in a really small world of connections because our friends somewhat know one another. Working together for #Hack led us to open up topics in life-to-life experiences, specifically relationships. It was actually just one session in our chat conversation but for some reason which was beyond me, we decided to form this group (which I am still grateful to God for!). We called ourselves the Shipmates— navigating the seas of “-ships”... together. Cheesy, I know.

The Shipmates (c)Mikeel

Of course, travelling has been one of the best experiences this year. But it's by God's grace that I got to be in places where I have never set foot before. Adding Addis Ababa to my visited cities was like a bucket list accomplishment for it was previously a city that I just get to read from the list of timezones! Bonus part was meeting inspiring brothers and sisters there, and getting encouraged in what God is doing in Digital Missions! Here are some shots from my travels:

A Taiwan-derland visit to Ying De University from Meteor Garden, among others, with the #FirstbornSquad.

Coffee roasting is made before brewing and a sidewalk seat with the locals is just a treat in Addis.

Made a new friend from the US during a trip to Singapore.

Went to see Japan autumn to reminisce the old and make new memories.
また日本へ行ったことは本当に楽しかった！

Also during this year, I decided to go back to my hometown. I lived again with my family after being independent for almost thirteen years. Independence surely grew into me, so it was challenging to unlearn and relearn habits. It's quite weird to go back to a really familiar place, especially now that I know that I am not the same person anymore. I sometimes wonder if relocating to a new place altogether would be so much easier. But no complaints! I am grateful for this chance that God has given me to be back here after such a looooooong time. This season also brought me back to reconnect with good old friends who were a part of the younger me.

A shot I took in my hometown while on a motorcyle.
Notice the canopy of mountains!

Iloilo City means co-journeying with these ladies again!

I mentioned about transitioning from a season of my life into somewhere else, and working with a Christian organization with which I was a part of since college made it unexpected. Indeed there are situations in life where the timing of how things happen convince you that there is something more than just coincidence. It has really been God's grace, and I thank God for this privilege to work here. What more, I get to work at home, travel at times, and rest in the identity of being just the child of The Creator of the Universe! It has been a privilege waking up everyday, being excited about getting to know Him and serving Him in this capacity that He also designed me for.

Faith and technology, they fuse so beautifully.

To top it all off, here's a 1SE (one second a day) video of what my year looked like. Not all 365 days were filled, so you'd see random selfies there (sorry about that!). January 1 opened with an immediate flight from Manila to Iloilo. I left Japan from a business trip a day before and arrived just hours before the new year. I got into a fix with my transportation, and feared being left by my plane! But all was well that ended well. Whenever I watch this video I get reminded of God's faithfulness through every season. You could notice the transitions as people enter and leave the frames. I guess you'll have to see for yourself (it's roughly five minutes)!

Apologies for some selfies. They were supposed to be fillers. 😂 

One day I might look back and see which of my life experiences brought me much change. For each and every reason I will be grateful to God in remembering that it will be this 2019. 🐳

Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”

James 4:13-15

P.S. I felt so "vulnerable" writing these memories down. I usually post online but I guess this one's under my category of rare. In this age of data privacy, it's ironic I had to post mine out. 😂 

Five years in a blink (and what an airport corner does to you)

I am here at the airport, waiting for a flight in an hour.
Came from a visa appointment where I got denied (though I am at peace about it), and now on a favorite coffee place in a corner of a slightly busy airplane terminal.

It's been a while, really a while, since I posted on this blog. Many a thing bloomed, some withered, others were cut off, but the bottomline is that there is growth. I have resigned from my first job after graduation and I am currently working as a freelance software developer. Even if I am not yet employed at this time, I am quite busy (and happy) with how things are going. I get to keep the part-time role as a life coach with a good addition of building communities around missions and technology.

If I were to ask myself about the current place I am in, I would say it's nothing short of amazing. Cliché you might say, but yeah, it might be, but I won't take it back. I guess there's this intersection of profession, passion, vocation and need. Some people call it ikigai but I think it's God's grace. For how long this will continue, I don't have an answer. But this movement and life of surprises is a good force to keep me hoping for the future and trust God with one day at a time.

Yes, I live with my family now, as I went back to my hometown. Our place is a good one hour and a half ride from the city. With it's share of green, leafy roadtrips, it's a bit colder there than the urban proper. I sometimes dread leaving my wee bit of comfortable working space to go meet people in the city, but I still do, because why not. More often, I get satisfied from the good conversations and realizations found from spending time with others on this season and batch of people. There are actually interesting ideas and topics that I get to immerse with at this point in time. But then before I get into the melancholy avenue, let me stop it.

I also realized that when I went back home, I first thought that it's me who will do all the adjustments. But lo and behold, people who are with me at home also did too! And while I say it was hard for me to get used to the vulnerable lifestyle after living with myself, alone, pretty, and funny, I think you realized those two adjectives aren't really part of the normal train of thought. So where was I... I think it was also hard for my immediate family members to adjust with me being there at each waking day of their lives right now. I often comfort myself into thinking they must also be thankful I am there again, but there also are times that I doubt such thought. Though it is really a good observation that they somewhat are comfortable with me being back at home.

It's funny though how I just got to start writing down these thoughts as my flight is getting close, and my bladder's acting full. I think it's a first for me to just candidly write down my thoughts and honestly, I got pretty surprised by how it turned out. I enjoyed it, too.

So before I go and leave this cozy corner of mine, let me know what you think at the comments below. I might just be at a good start of trying to dig up that voice. Alright, ja ne~

An Unposted Last Day

Today I opened my drafts. I looked at the unfinished piece that apparently went unfinished because I got distracted. I had a chuckle when I read it, so I decided to just put it out there.
I know I can't control you, but don't judge me. *nervous chuckle 

This year has been much of a roller coaster for me. I have had heartbreaks, I have had ecstatic heart flutters, and I have yet to embark on one of the most important journeys of my lifetime: passion and calling. I honestly have not been able to prepare for this post, but because I have prided myself to be able to post once a year, I should not let this LAST opportunity pass. It's December 31, and tomorrow's never gonna let me bring back this day. So while I am still fresh of the nostalgia this year brings, let me cite the lessons which God has opened and is still opening. There are alot! But this year, let's see the top five I remembered. First is vulnerability. Second is, hard work. Third,  urgency. Fourth,  stewardship, and last but definitely not the least: integrity.

I know right. Have a good day ahead!

Upward Falling

"I touch the sky, when my knees hit the ground.."

Touch the Sky by Hillsong

I suppose I could put a dramatic entry here about why my definition of regular blogging became yearly (quite amusing), and how I have arrived to a deep realization about things happening in my life lately, or even post pictures of how I have transformed throughout that span of time! Which actually I realized, I needed to put something new here, or at least an update about anything.

After two years of being in the real world, I could testify that it wasn't a joke leaving your home and live in apartments/boarding houses/condo units with other people. Plus the weight of responsibilities which meant doing laundry, cooking your meals, mamalengke, paying bills, creating a budget (and keeping it!), making sure hindi sobra ang OT and dealing with emotions (ok, that escalated a bit). Adulting is not a walk in the park! Well, it could be, but a park with dinosaurs and booby traps. But I swear, I learned a lot! Especially in how my relationship with the Lord has been tested and proven, but sometimes questioned and being answered as well. Confusions help lead to clarification, and when I usually ran away from them before, I learned to embrace them now.

There has been adventures and misadventures in my life for the past two years, and I am thinking about narrating some highlights here in my blog. It was fun revisiting them in my journal, which even refreshed my memory of the lessons which I think could benefit others when shared.

That's why starting this week, I will be posting a series of stories we could learn from, or even a picture or two. Until then!

of typographic art

As an art fanatic, I personally have been in touch with my "creationist" side. Typography has been one of my interests where I have been volunteering in as well. Just this morning while browsing some internet sites, I have been reminded that to be able to pursue typography in a higher level, learning about it and really knowing about the principles behind it comes a close second to simply doing it.

From the difference of straight and curly quotation marks to tips on what fonts to avoid, I was delighted with the fact that the author made sure that the site would own up to the topic it was about.

Creating this post was simply to share with you this site. Go, check it out:
http://practicaltypography.com/

slow and beautiful

I admit, I must be guilty for not being able to utilize this blog as much as possible. Another set of many months had to pass before I will write. Yet, the reason for my absence might just suffice.

It has been months since I left my hometown in pursuit of a job in a tech company here in Manila. Since then, I have seen myself learning and relearning lessons of life as I continue to meet new people, challenges and my self (yep).

One major thing I learned is that life isn't something I should rush. If I wanted to be pruned in character, I must be willing to get through the slow and painful method of getting hurt and learning from it. This generation has been blessed with so many gadgets and methodologies that make things happen in a snap that we forget how it feels to be stuck in slowness and the beauty of being immersed in it.

Silly how I have been such a pasaway of that lesson. Rushing studying and expecting to have excellent results always gets me frustrated. In this season of being a trainee, there's so much I have discovered in myself and in my attitude that would make me lose by default. Yet, I have learned that being able to take things slow is an attitude worth reveling in. Even caterpillars need enough time to change into a beautiful butterfly. I do believe that so do we.

By the way, as a part of taking things step by step, I have created a new blog entitled "Nihongo no nikki" which means, "Japanese Diary", as an effort to practice a new language I have been learning these days.
You might want to check it out sometime, though I can't promise a furnished grammar for that matter, though I desire to have. :)

Well then, don't hesitate to take things slow,you might get awed by the beauty that'd emerge. So as the bible says, "He has made everything right in its time". :)

Grace unresolved

I thought I died.

It has already been more than six months now since my last post, and my bittersweet desire of adding another continued to stick up the tip of my fingertips. Until now, when I realized that I couldn't run out of reasons to share what has been new in my life, that I need to translate it to words.

It all seemed just a blur for everything happened so fast, but clarity may just be seen in a single word: GRACE.

1. Our thesis was finished.
2. The Software Development project was declared "Closed"
3. I graduated from college
4. I have a job. :)

Looking back at how things unfolded, I could never understand how someone like me who can't even reach the highest of all expectations could end up blessed and privileged upon the end of my five-year journey in college. In retrospect, I could never comprehend how I had my life changed as I entered the gates of the university and now that I am leaving it towards a new horizon, I just can't get enough of the limitless possibilities of the real world. Though I believe that it's a "jungle" as they say, yet even their bloodiest stories of struggle couldn't dampen my outlook on the positive vibes the rich possibilities could bring.

Now that I am about to embark on this new book, I do have a lot of expectations. Though they might be broken or fulfilled, I just know one thing, it's still my purpose to know Him and to make Him known.

Come, the water is great for a swim. 

Let's dive towards the future, Batch 2014! :)