Highlights of 2016

Another year has passed and it is time to look back at all that has happened this past 2016. This blog has always been more than just an avenue for me to share my thoughts and let my creative juices flow. In a way, it's also been a diary where I write about the ups and the downs of my life. The year was an eventful one, but much like last year, I still praise God for all that has happened. I want to be able to look back at 2016 in the years to come which is why I'm dedicating the last post of the year to the highlights of the year that has gone.

Without further ado, here are the highlights of my 2016:

1. My friends and I went to Enchanted Kingdom for my high school's foundation day. Never riding Anchors Away again.

Photo by Alyssa Abesamis

2. For our English exam, my class did a production of And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie. I was less hands-on with this play, so I got to spend more time bonding with my classmates over props-making. That play was so refreshing for me to do and I praise God for how it turned out.

3. After our exams, some of my friends and I had lunch and worked out afterwards. We spent time having devotions as well and I was so grateful for that day. My body did ache the next day, but it was a blessing being there. 

4. Before the school year ended, my batch and I went on a retreat for a time of rest, fellowship, and crying. Read: Retreat

Photo from Mayumi Paras

5. My friends and I went vintage for the batch's yearbook photoshoot! You can say we had fun posing and pretending to be models that day.

Photo by Alyssa Abesamis

6. Come March, I graduated high school alongside my family, Batch 2016. Can't believe it's been that long since we graduated. It honestly feels like we graduated last year.

Photo from Mayumi Paras

Photo from Mayumi Paras

7. I dressed up for my batch's Graduation Ball! Needless to say, there was a lot of food (and crying).

8. My friends and I threw a surprise farewell party for a friend moving abroad to study.

Photo by Camille Arcilla

9. I finally learned how to ride a bike. Thanks to Jeremiah and John for teaching and to Gino and Camille for being patient with me. 

10. Beyoncé's album Lemonade was released out of nowhere.

11. Attended a friend's wedding. It was my first time attending a friend's wedding and this friend of mine is a close one. Attending this wedding was so special and magical and I'm just so happy for him and his wife!

12. Travelled to and explored Osaka, Japan with my family. Read: Japan 2016

  

13. Attended Camp LIVE, my church's youth camp. We had a banquet night and the theme was Pokémon. I was a very happy Umbreon. Aside from that, I got to spend time with church friends who I don't hang out with very often. I got to witness my friends get baptised as well and it was such a blessing. 

14. Took part in UP Manila's Summer Bridge Program. I was initially iffy about having summer classes, but I'm grateful that I went. While I was there, I learned more than just academics. Having been in a Christian school for the past four years, I was sheltered from the realities outside the four corners of our classroom, and so coming into these classes, I had to (re)learn how to engage with people very different from me and the people from my school. It was definitely a blessing in disguise because adjusting into the University was much easier than I expected when I started having actual classes.

15. In July, I saw my high school house, Green Flames, win the House Cup this year. Returning to my high school to see them compete and bond with another was such a blessing. I left so proud of my kiddos. Can't wait to see what 2017 has in store for them!

16. August came and I officially started school in UP Manila. Who knew it was gonna be one heck of a ride? 

17. There, I met a bunch of amazing people in college who made school so much more bearable and fun. Missing from this photo are Raffy and Ara. 

18. After so many years, I finally go to live my dream of becoming a Pokémon trainer with Pokémon Go. After going around and waiting at certain places to catch Pokémon while in campus or on rides home, I can definitely say that I was a Pokémon Trainer this year.

19. Last September, I saw my queens, Pentatonix, live in concert again at their Manila tour stop. Read: Pentatonix World Tour

20. In October, I attended a friend's debut for the first time. I've been to a couple of debuts before, but this was my first time attending a friend's debut. I definitely had loads of fun at the party especially since I got to spend it with my other friends as well.

21. In the same month, my block and I went on our first fieldwork in Zambales. Read: Zambales 2016

22. I attended my first Lakbayan this year! While my block and I were there, we spent time with the Lumads, listening to their stories and learning about the current situation in their homelands. I even got to see some of my high school friends studying in Diliman while I was there. The entire event was such an eye-opener that I'm grateful to have been able to participate in.

23. My uncle's son was born this year! It's the first child of my mom's brother so it was a very exciting time for the family. Can't wait to meet the baby boy!

24. I turned a year older this year! 17 is such a weird age though. Read: 17 Things About Being 17

25. This year, I finally got my own record player! I have been wanting one for such a long time now and to finally have one makes me so happy! I do need to buy some more vinyls though. The ones we have are more of my parents' time.

26. I took to the streets and rallied against the burial of a dictator at the Heroes' Cemetery. 

27. I ran around the UP Oval twice for a fun run. Never doing that again.

28.  I survived a semester in UP. *victory dance*

29. To end the semester, I went to my first Lantern Parade in UP Manila! My block alongside the other freshmen in our college participated in the parade and cheered for our lantern.

30. I'm thankful I got to meet up with some of my high school friends when the semester ended. It was so refreshing to see familiar faces after being in a completely new environment having to figure myself out while going through the stresses of college. Catching up with them showed me just how much God's been faithful in all of our lives.

31. This past year, I was blessed to have been able to meet and get to know more people in church. Hey Ate Elisa, my Creatives Team friends, Nina, Lucas, and a bunch more people - thanks for making 2016 great!

Photo by Alyssa Abesamis

32. While continuing to serve in my church's youth Creatives and Worship Teams, I was blessed enough to have been able to serve in the new Social Media Team!

33. A few weeks ago, I went on a retreat with some of the youth leaders of my church to plan for the upcoming year.

34. Throughout the year, I was blessed enough to have been able to regularly met up with one of my best friends. It's so important for us to have someone we can trust and be comfortable with with our stories and who we are. Thanks Daniel for being that friend.

~

Before the year ends, I just want to say  how much of a blessing you, my readers, have been to me this past year. The blog began as a passion project meant for me to escape into my thoughts and my heart is so full knowing that people love this small blog of my mine. To all my readers, I hope your 2017 is full of love, happiness, and growth. I have so much planned for next year, but I'm so excited for what God has already planned for me and this blog in 2017. Happy New Year, everyone!

Previous Post: Baking Chocolate Chip Cookies
Last Year's Highlights: Highlights of 2015

Baking Chocolate Chip Cookies

Christmas is a time of sharing and happiness and one thing that makes me happy that I would like to share with you is my favourite recipe for chocolate chip cookies! I have gone through a couple recipes and I have found this one that personally just works. You get warm and chewy cookies that taste sweet with a hint of saltiness in there. These cookies are amazing and perfect for when you need something to munch on while reading a book or when you're looking for something to satisfy your sweet tooth after a meal!

This recipe that I will be sharing is a combination of several different recipes that I found on the internet. I will be honest though that the cookies in the photos don't look exactly the same as the cookies that I produced the first time I tried this recipe. I lacked a couple measurements of ingredients the first time I baked using this recipe but the cookies that I did bake this time around tasted even better than last so I'm pretty set with this recipe. The links to the other recipes that inspired this one will be below!

INGREDIENTS:

☐ 2 cups of flour
☐ 1 teaspoon baking soda
☐ 1 teaspoon of salt
☐ 2 cups of brown sugar
☐ 1 cup of butter
☐ 2 eggs
☐ 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
☐ 2 cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat your oven at 170 C.
2. In a bowl, mix in your dry ingredients.
3. In a separate bowl (preferably a large one), mix together your brown sugar and butter until thoroughly combined.
4. Mix in your eggs and vanilla extract to your butter mix.

5. Once wet ingredients have been completely mixed together, gradually add in the dry mix into the butter mix. This will prevent the cookie dough from forming lumps of flour. Use a spatula to mix in the dry ingredients. Mix until cookie mix is smooth.
6. Mix in your chocolate chip cookies with the use of a spatula, folding them into the cookie mix. Mix until smooth.
7. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or grease the sheet with butter so that the cookies do not stick to the sheet while it's baking.
8. Scoop 1 teaspoon worth of cookie mix into the cookie sheet about 1 inch from each other. This will give the cookies enough room in the sheet as they flatten and expand while baking.
9. Place yourcookies inside the oven to bake for 11 minutes. The cookies should look light brown, golden, or even dark brown (depending on the butter and sugar mixture) and a little soft to the touch. This is exactly what you want! They will look uncooked and that's completely fine. Do not overcook your cookies! Having the cookies int he oven any longer will burn and harden the cookies.
10. Place your cookies in a cooling tray or a large plate with enough space for each cookie to cool for 30 minutes. Do not touch or until after 30 minutes to make sure that the cookie completely sets.
11. Once the cookies have cooled down, they're ready to be eaten!

Other Cookie Recipes:
▷ BakingBlonde's Recipe
▷ PinchofYum's Recipe
▷ How-to-Simplify's Recipe
▷ Hershey's Recipe

Previous Post: Christmas Playlist

Christmas Playlist

It's finally December! I cannot believe that we are already in our last month of 2016 already. While it is cliché to say this, the year has been such a roller-coaster ride. There have been several ups and downs, but I am extremely excited for a very huge up in my life this year -- CHRISTMAS.

Christmas is probably my favourite time of the year. It's always had a special place in my heart. My memories from my past Christmases have always been good and so coming into the Christmas season this year, I wanted to make a conscious effort to make this year's Christmas one that I'll remember years later. With that, I will be putting up Christmas-themed blog posts throughout December to celebrate the season! This blog has always been a place for me to express myself and a journal for all that's been happening in my life and so putting up posts about Christmas seemed very appropriate!

For today's post, I have created a Christmas playlist on Spotify to get everyone into the holiday spirit. The idea came about whilst I was talking to a good friend of mine who was asking me for suggestions for her Christmas playlist for the year (thank you Aila for the idea of this post). This playlist contains all of my favourite classic Christmas songs as well as new ones that I have been loving that I hope all of you will enjoy as well! So without further ado, here is my Christmas playlist:

The playlist will also be playing here on my blog for the entire month so that you can listen to really beautiful Christmas music while you're reading through my posts! If you want to go pick a track, you can click the music note on the bottom right side of the screen and the playlist will appear. I hope you enjoy listening and that your Christmas be filled with happy memories!

Until next time!

~ Luis

Previous Post ➝ Zambales 2016

Spotify Links:
My playlist ➝ Christmas Playlist
Aila's playlist ➝ Happy Hollibae

Zambales 2016

Last October, I went on an trip to Zambales with my block as part of our fieldwork for our Social Science class. We were to research on the Aeta community in the resettlement areas of Zambales and how their lives have been changed by the 1991 Mt. Pinatubo explosion.

It was honestly so astonishing how beautiful the area was. Near and far, nature displayed beauty. From the small piles of differently coloured rocks and the collection of fallen leaves to the tall, green mountains that seemed to reach the sky, Zambales was beautiful. My eyes couldn't believe just how real the view was. Zambales was a beautiful painting that seemed to had come to life right before my very eyes. There was this sense of tranquility in the atmosphere that left me speechless. There was this unspoken harmony in nature that I found so beautiful.

Spending time with the Aeta community was such a blessing as well. Getting to know their story and how they live their lives now was eye-opening. If there's anything I learned from the Aeta community, it's that they are one of the most resilient people that I've known. To have been driven out of their ancestral homes by a volcanic eruption that no one could've possibly fully prepared for and be placed in towns in provinces and left their without support and yet still remain so strong and alive decades after is a sign of their resilience.

Being in Zambales was definitely a breath of fresh air. I have been blessed to hear their stories and witness their lives, and I would love to come back and be with the Aetas again.

Until Next Time!

~ Luis

Previous Post: 17 Things About Being 17

17 Things About Being 17

A few weeks ago, I turned seventeen and to be quite honest, not much has changed (except for the fact that I'm much closer to turning eighteen). But, a lot can and does change over time, and so I wanted to look back at my life and see for myself just how much I've changed in the past year.

So, here are seventeen things about being in this oddly awkward age of seventeen:

1. You suddenly enjoy having candles lit in your room because it actually lifts your mood. 

2. You've sort of found a style that you're comfortable wearing (although you don't know exactly what it's called). 

3. You sort of appreciate lotions now. 

4. You're starting to take more naps especially now that you barely get to sleep well. 

5. You actually like Big Macs now, but Jollibee is still life. 

6. You've been blogging for two years now. Two years. 

7. You're learning to say yes to new opportunities (even those outside of your comfort zone).

8. You enjoy a cup of tea a bit more than a cup of coffee now. Honestly, you've changed. 

9. You've been to a friend's debut. 

10. You've also been to a friend's wedding. 

11. You value your friendships more now than you did when you were sixteen. 

12. You value yourself more now than you did when you were sixteen. 

13. You suddenly feel old and young at the same time. There's honestly no in between. 

14. You're completely okay with not being okay. Read: When I'm Not Feeling It  

15. You've actually watched (most of the) Star Wars now.

16. You never leave the house without an umbrella anymore because you want to be prepared for when it rains and that's partly because; 

17. You're in college now. College. 

Looking back at how much has changed in the past year gives me so much hope for the next. That in spite of all the mess and sadness in the world right now, a lot can and will change over time. I'm excited for what God has in store for me and I can't wait to look back when I'm eighteen and see the growth and progress that has happened in my life.

Until Next Time!
~ Luis

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Previous Post: When I'm Not Feeling It 

When I'm Not Feeling It

There are just some days when I'm not feeling it.

Days when I don't really feel 100% about what I do and sometimes, myself. Days when the smallest things get to me. Days when the music I listen to doesn't feel the same way anymore. Days when I feel so disconnected from the people that I am close to. Days when I would say no to doing something I would normally be on board with. Days when life feels different and the lemons it gives I just let be. 

To be quite honest, I don't always have these kinds of days and the reason why I have them I do not know, but I guess sometimes you don't really have to know. Then again, that might just be me avoiding finding out what's causing this because I'm afraid of knowing. But that's besides the point. 

What I do know is that I do have these kinds of days, and sadly, I beat myself up for them because I feel like I shouldn't be having them. That these days shouldn't exist because having days when I'm not feeling it is me taking for granted what God has so graciously given to me. That having these days is disrespectful to other people and is therefore, unacceptable. That having these days is probably because I'm in sin, or that I don't trust God enough and that my faith is weak. That these days come because I focus too much on the negative things in life. That these days are exclusive to me because everyone else is pretty much okay with their lives and so there must be something different, something wrong with me.

In reality, it is completely normal to have days like these and that I am not the only one who experiences days like these. Me not feeling it isn't always the result of me paying attention to the negatives in my life. God and my relationship with Him doesn't necessarily have anything to do with me not feeling it on certain days because honestly, someone could have what is ideally the best relationship with Him and yet still have days when they really are just not feeling it ("it" isn't necessarily God or your relationship with Him). Sometimes, it's even these kinds of days that let me hear God speak louder and clearer.

Days when I'm not feeling it aren't really bad days. They're just different days. There are days when the waffles seem just a bit better than pancakes. Days when the warmth of the lazy boy feels so much more inviting than going to the mall. There are (extremely rare) days when I want to listen to Rihanna and not Beyoncé. It isn't because I've changed into an entirely different person. Maybe subconsciously, I just want to change things up a bit from time to time, and change can be good. 

So, today, I promise myself not to feel bad anymore whenever I have days when I'm not feeling it because no matter how horrible or wrong other people say it is to have them, these days do happen. They happen to me and most likely to you as well. These days are days in our lives that are there for a reason and that reason is probably not for us to feel bad them. When I still do feel bad about having days like these, I promise not to feel bad about that as well because I know that I am a work-in-progress and that there is beauty and value in progress. 

When these days come again, I'll live these days just like any other day because honestly, there really are just some days when I'm not feeling it.

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Previous Post: Japan: Day 3

Japan: Day 3

On our third day in Japan, my family and I visited two famous attractions in Osaka: Osaka Castle and the Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan. Our agenda for the day was to visit the castle only, but we decided that morning that we would spend some time at the aquarium as well. Both sites were such beauties and I would definitely love to come back to them and explore them once again.

Here are the places we visited on our third day in Japan:

1. Osaka Castle: One of Osaka's heritage sites is the Osaka Castle. Located at Chūō-ku, Osaka, this castle stands as a reminder of Osaka's long history. I may not be an expert in architecture, but the design of the entire place (castle, grounds, and all) was astounding.
The moat and the walls surrounding the castle and its grounds showed that the castle was built in a strategic position that allows for it to not only protect itself from impending attacks, but retaliate as well. The castle has been turned into a museum, which does have an entrance fee, where tourists can tour the interior and learn more about the history behind the castle. Accessible by train, the Osaka Castle is definitely a must-visit in your Osaka trip.

2. Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan: Housing several species of aquatic animals, the Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan was definitely a sight. Visitors can take a tour that starts at the 8th and top floor of the aquarium and work their way down the floors through all the exhibits. A few of the animals at the aquarium were penguins, otters, jellyfishes, and stingrays. Much like most museums and public aquariums, visitors can buy merchandise at the store at the end of their tour. If you're planning to take photos, do know that photography is allowed at the exhibits as long as the flash is off.

3. Tempozan Ferris Wheel: Beside the Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan is the Tempozan Ferris Wheel! We didn't get to go on the ferris wheel because of my anxiety, but I am adding this on here as a recommendation for all the brave souls out there. Riding the Tempozan Ferris Wheel would be the perfect opportunity to unwind from all the walking and touring and to just take in the beautiful view that is Osaka.

4.  Glorious Chain Cafe: Serving American-style sandwiches and burgers as well as pancakes and salad, the Glorious Chain Cafe was such a delight especially after a long day of walking and exploring Osaka. The soft beef and the melted cheese in their Philly Cheesesteak sandwich tasted amazing. I also enjoyed their English Breakfast Iced Tea which did not disappoint! Eating these definitely refreshed my palette after eating so much sushi and curry rice in the past two days! The place is located in Shinsaibashi near the actual station which makes it very convenient especially for those staying outside of Shinsaibashi. I'll definitely be returning to the Glorious Chain Cafe!

Those are all the places we visited on our third day in Japan! All the places that we visited are accessible by train and the staff at the train station are friendly so don't worry about getting lost! I'm happy that we're finally exploring Osaka and I can't wait for the next few days in this Japan series. I do apologize for the long break in between Day 2 and Day 3. Days 4 and 5 will be coming soon so stay tuned for that, but that is all for now!

Until Next Time!
~ Luis ~


Previous Post → Pentatonix World Tour
Check the rest of the series here → Japan 2016