When Rejection Becomes Redirection

For almost a month now, I have been carrying a heaviness inside me that I haven't quite known how to put into words. I got laid off from work. Even writing these words feels strange. For most of my working life, I had never experienced anything like this. I was always the one who decidedContinue reading "When Rejection Becomes Redirection"

From A Squirrel to A Wandering Sole

Friends often ask me where I got my wanderlust. I suppose it comes from my constant desire for change—from something as simple as a change of scenery to the profound changes that travel has brought into my life. One of my favorite transformations has been the one from my old “squirrel self” into a wanderingContinue reading "From A Squirrel to A Wandering Sole"

Stochastic Neural Processes

Originally written: 30 July 2010 Some people can't see beauty in complicatedness. I can. When I die, I will leave this thought for mankind to ponder upon: Complexity is beauty made profound. I'm often attracted to the jaggedness of a thing. Maybe it's my obsession with perfection. If you noticed contradiction in my previous statement,Continue reading "Stochastic Neural Processes"

Not Everyone Who Smiles at You Is for You

You know what I’ve learned lately? Not everyone who smiles at you, hugs you, checks on you, or tells you they’re happy for you is genuinely for you. It’s a difficult thing to accept, especially when you naturally assume that people mean what they say. We tend to associate warmth with sincerity. A smile feelsContinue reading "Not Everyone Who Smiles at You Is for You"

Bida-Bida

There’s a word I’ve come to think about differently over the years: “bida-bida.” In Filipino culture, bida-bida is often used to describe someone who seems eager to participate, takes initiative, speaks up, volunteers, performs well, or consistently finds ways to contribute. On the surface, it can sound like a harmless observation—just a way of sayingContinue reading "Bida-Bida"

A Walking Oxymoron

Originally written: 15 July 2010 You need not always say things to convey them. Sometimes, implying them is enough to get the message across—unless, of course, the person you're dealing with is insensitive, oblivious, or simply too slow to catch the drift. I know. I'm too emotional to be considered intellectual. According to WordWeb, beingContinue reading "A Walking Oxymoron"

The Price I Have to Pay for this Kind of Bliss

This blog entry was originally written on May 5, 2014 I can only write beautiful odes when I am melancholic... My writing muse seems to abandon me whenever i am happy. It feeds on my loneliness, on my sorrows, on my miseries. Without any depressing thought, my creative juices run out. I had been inContinue reading "The Price I Have to Pay for this Kind of Bliss"

This One’s for a Woman Named Fermina…

I had always been a daddy's girl. And when people asked me whose genes I got, I'd automatically and proudly say, "From my dad!" And I would see my mom look away whenever she heard me say that remark. She had never conveyed to me how she felt about it. Although she'd sometimes have thisContinue reading "This One’s for a Woman Named Fermina…"

Pinoys in Poland Celebrate Summer Grill 2025

It had been an annual tradition for Filipinos all over Poland to come together for the Summer Grill Party. The Catholic congregation, Anthonian Institute, hosted this year's extravaganza in Warsaw, which was attended by more than 400 participants, majority of which were Filipinos, but there were also Indians, Indonesians, Poles and other nationalities who joinedContinue reading "Pinoys in Poland Celebrate Summer Grill 2025"

My Preply Profile!

Hello there, future English speaker! Are you ready to dive into a truly magical English learning adventure? Fantastic, because you've found me! I'm Teacher Elle, and I hail from the beautiful Philippines. I'm currently here in Poland to finish my master's degree in Marketing. I'm not just an English tutor; I'm a TEFL-certified guide withContinue reading "My Preply Profile!"