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I grew up thinking I wasn’t rich. My parents did a great job providing for me, but they would always remind me that unlike some Chinese families, I shouldn’t rely on inheriting a family business to inherit after graduating college. The inheritance they could give me are two intangible things nobody could take away from me: education and character.

photo via thesingingrunner.com

This principle taught me to study hard and dream big. As early as elementary, I viewed the hours spent studying as investments, like money used as capital by an entrepreneur. My mom always told me to study to learn, not for the grade, so while the benefits of studying were not immediate, they were investments for my future. Whatever I put into my mind are equivalent to my future food, clothes, travels, and luxuries.

With no family business for me to take over, the slate was clean for me. I had the freedom to choose who I wanted to be, what I want to take up in college, what field I wanted to enter. No limitations, no expectations to inhibit me. I remember being so excited when I looked at the list of courses that different universities offered. I could be anyone.

There was an urgency to make myself better; there was a thirst to learn. After all, that was my investment. I downloaded apps that allowed me to use MS Word on the go, I listened to audiobooks, I closely observed more experienced people in the media and writing industry, and I researched about different rakets available for me. I still fail many times like when I procrastinate and waste my time, but I really couldn’t credit my failures on circumstances but on my attitude.

I acknowledge that money can buy a lot of things: books, connections, gadgets, and trips to museums abroad. But depending on how we handle circumstances, the lack of finances may actually have benefits like independence because you know you can’t rely on a fabulous future laid out in front of you; and making a name for yourself because you have no other name to flaunt and rely on.

Maybe you’re rich, maybe you’re not well off, maybe you’re in between, but whatever circumstance you may be in, it’s no reason to doubt just how far you’d go. Dream on, Candy Girl, and live inspired! <3

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Hi, Candy Girls!

I just got back home from a 5-day Youth Camp. I’ve been looking forward to it formonths, and the wait was totally worth it. I got to bond with my brother and barkada, I met new friends,and I learned so many new things!

Photo courtesy of Franc Mangahas

The theme for this year’s camp was based on Hunger Games, and the question that followed was, “What do you feed on?”

Photo courtesy of Michelle Mariposa

There were two illustrations from our speaker, Pastor Jebo Banzuelo, that really struck me. First was anillustration about how locals in the province would catch monkeys. They would make a hole in the buko and insert seeds inside. They would then leave the curious monkey. The hole must be big enough for the hand of the monkey to insert when its hand is open, but small enough that the monkey can’t get its handout when its fist is clutched. Because the monkey doesn’t want to let go of the seed, it’s later caught and cooked for kare-kare.

Photo courtesy of Michelle Mariposa

Sometimes, I’m like that monkey. I don’t want to let go of the lesser things in my life, seeing myself as the winner because of fleeting things I desperately hold on to.

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A day after graduation, my batchmates and I celebrated the annual Graduation Ball. I opted for a gown inspired by Shania Twain’s music video, “You’ve Got a Way.”

I just fell in love with her gown, her makeup, and even the setting of the music video. Luckily, our ball was going to be held at the Glass Gardens. I had my gown made by Ding and Tany from Marquezillini and showed them pictures of Shania Twain’s gown.

My girl friends and I decided to have our hair and makeup done by Tita Bong in my friend Michelle’s house, so we all enjoyed some girl bonding (and fab feasting!) while preparing for the ball.

The family that owned the house is also the owner of local clothing brand Terrie, so they generously shared their studio at home before we headed off to the Glass Gardens.

During the ball itself, each person was given a dance card, where you could fill in the name of a person you want to dance with for each corresponding song. The rule was that you couldn’t dance with the same person twice. I danced with some friends I knew I’d see around in college, but I also danced with some a friend who was going abroad already.

There was also a song reserved for “Serendipity.” Each person was given a boutonniere and corsage with a corresponding number. In that song, they were asked to find their partners for a dance.

“Confessions was a game when a name and a question were randomly drawn. You were asked to hand over a rose to the person who fits the question you drew like “If only you weren’t taken,” “My first crush,” “The friend I wish I never grew apart with,” “The teacher who inspired me the most,” “My almost lover,” and “I thought you were the one.” We had a great time bonding as a batch through the aww answers that made us reminisce and the shocking revelations we were oblivious to for thirteen years.

Towards the end of the program, each person was given thirteen button pins, each with their name written on it. We were then asked to give them to thirteen people who made high school worthwhile, symbolic of the thirteen years we spent together. It was very moving to see people making their way through the crowd, hugging each other, crying, and thanking each other for the beautiful journey we all shared.

Sam, one of the organizers, went up to the stage and asked us all to close our eyes and approach the person we think of everytime someone says the word “high school.” I thought of my best friend ever since the third grade.

We were then asked to go to the parking lot. While standing out there in our gowns wondering what happened, a classmate joked that the rental was over and Sam just wanted an excuse to let us out =)) While nobody was expecting it, beautiful fireworks lit up the sky. It was just like in the movies.

I’m so grateful for those who organized and sponsored the event, especially to my kabarkada, Sam, who rambled endlessly about her plans to my friends and me more than a year ahead of the event. I saw her cry, laugh, and get angry throughout the year just for one night—and it was a night we’d all remember. The place was beautiful, the food was delicious, and the photographers and photobooths were accommodating.

My girl friends and I had an overnight at Shang afterwards. Our room was right in front of Hanson Brothers! We drank coffee and stayed up all night eating, and having some fab girl bonding.

Looking back, the Grad Ball was but fitting to end thirteen years of an epic journey. It was complete with the tears, the joy, the friendships made, and time spent with people who made high school meaningful. I couldn’t think of a better way to spend the last night of the thirteen beautiful years.

To my beloved batchmates, thank you, I’ll miss you, and I wish you all the best. <3

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1. The Bead Shop is my favorite shop for meaningful gifts. Most items are personalized like having engravings of sweet messages or your name in a bracelet. You could also choose what color you want the bracelet to be. It’s an ideal gift to a friend who needs support and inspiration. When I was going through a difficult time, my friends surprised me with a bracelet that said, “I AM BLESSED”. Everytime I look at it, I remember to look at the glass half full instead of half empty.
   Another one of my favorites is how you could ask them to write a message or a name in a grain of rice. The grain of rice is later put in a plastic pendant for a bracelet or a necklace. You could choose the shape of the pendant and even the color.
2. Egg [Exciting Gifts and Goodies]
   Egg has vintage hair accessories and colorful bags and cellphone pouches. If you want to be fashionably organized, you’ll definitely enjoy Egg.
   
   Regalong Pambahay, the same company behind Egg, also offers cool finds to design your home. My favorite is the Meet me in Paris, a vintage luggage collection. It would be a nice idea to store letters and pictures in a cute vintage luggage.
   
3. Folded and Hung has designs that are effortlessly classy, but it also has a very fair price range. They have many shirts that have classic shirts offered in different colors. When my guy friends celebrate their birthdays, I turn to Folded and Hung for an ideal gift. I’ve come to like their shirts so much that I started buying shirts under the Men’s Section for myself.
4. CMG is my favorite shop for shoes. The colors pop up, the patterns are sexy, and the designs are always sexy and unique. They have wedges with fierce animal prints, or sandals perfect for color blocking.
   
5. Penshoppe
   They’ve brought Mario Maurer and Ed Westwick to the Philippines. Now, Zac Efron is up next. :>

photos courtesy of brands featured

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