One Step At A Time.

Rise.

I suck at relationships. I can build robots and program it to do whatever I want. But relationships? I tried so hard to learn it's language and the most I lasted was a month. So how on the name of vegans have we been seeing each other for four months? I have no idea. I don't even like fruits and vegetables. I was insecure, I was doubtful, like I said I suck yet here we are. Loving and caring for each other the moment we first met. Everything click and it was funny how I saw you everyday for the first seven days. I was telling myself this was too good to be true. To our first date at whataburger, to the first time we volunteered and made awkward conversations with kids, to the first time we star-gazed, to our first time watching a concert together and to the first time I nervously met your parents, thank you for everything. You without doubt made me grow, you showed me how to love and be loved. You cured my insecurities and raised my confidence. You're the proof that the world is great. I cannot teach robotics anymore, I lost my car, and I lost my job. The career I had built for the last ten years, I lost it all, and yet... And yet here you are loving me more than ever. Loving me for who I am. Loving me while I slowly grow and become better. Thank you for trusting me, thank you for believing on me. You have seen me when I was great, and you have seen me at my worst. So here I am working hard, going back to school, while working full time because you show me how great the world is. Thank you for making me smile, thank you for being honest and correcting me when I'm wrong. Thank you for making me eat vegetables even If I choke on it. Thank you for giving me the warmest hugs. Thank you for giving me the most beautiful smiles a woman can give. Thank you for singing beautiful songs. Thank you for spending time watching the sunset with me. Thank you for showing me how to love myself again.

Live life to the fullest and appreciate, because you choose if the world is ugly or beautiful.

Work smarter not harder. Be aware of impulses. Be quick, but not careless. Be patient and don't take shortcuts. Think, but do not overthink. Love others but don't expect to be loved back. Make time for the important things in your life but use it wisely. Reflect a lot from the past, work on the present and don't worry too much for the future. Don't hold back, be happy and be sad. Listen more and talk less. Act more and brag less. Spend money, be confident, have fun, if you have it. Be content with what you have but don't settle for who you are. Worry about the future, but don't hesitate to take risks. Appreciate but don't depreciate.

2018, it's a dog year. I try not to pay attention on the Chinese Zodiacs because I believe that it is up to our hands whether tomorrow will be a better day. Maybe it is because it's the year of the Dogs, or maybe I wanted to change and break the never ending cycle because it is our year. Who knows. All I know is, I took a risk. I  had loved robotics for most of my life. It is my passion. And for me, it was something to die for. Years passed and it has changed me. It showed me that it doesn't matter how fast and smart you are. What matters is consistency, a little bit of luck, timing and dedication. If you have those, life will give you priceless happiness. Robotics changed me, it gave me friends, family, students, and most of all, it taught me that anything is possible as long as you will it. It has been stinging for the longest time. When you put your whole life, your whole career, your whole heart to an idea, to a group of people and then lose it all. It's madness. A burr that you can't quite deburr. It was an identity that I will always cherish. People respected me, loved me, and was inspired by me. And there were many times I thought it was a dream, to be loved and be praised by people that you do not know. And now I know, I must accept the fact that now it is only a dream. A sweet dream that is slowly drifting away. But just like any other dream, I must accept my reality. Because the more I choose to fail and linger, to put effort on effortless stagnation , the more life will be a blur. Like a broken record, repeating mistakes till death do its part.

It doesn't matter how long you know a person. It doesn't matter if it's been years, months. I've known this person for a long time and every year this person just get smarter and smarter, and only time will tell how far this person will go. But the thing is, this person has been through a lot, more than one could imagine, more than one anyone would dare to discuss. When we first met, five years ago, as a ten year old, this person was wild, filled with energy. And I never thought a kid could be happier. But this person was more than that, putting on a show to the whole world, and no one even knows. This person is a living proof that no matter how shitty and fuck up the world is, great people are born not because they are naturally smart but because they don't give up. And I'm glad we met, and I'm glad this person is humble, enduring all the pain with no one knowing. But I'm also sad because I'm afraid this person will get used to all the pain and suffering, all the fake smiles with out anyone knowing... Because in the end, the reason people don't care is because we always pretend we're okay. We are foolish and blind because we are naturally selfish and think of ourselves. I want to be like this person, I need to be like this person , not because this person pretends, but because this person keeps on going.

Don't travel because you're sad. Don't travel because life hits you hard. Travel because the world is beautiful, because the world is waiting for you. #adventures

I'll miss you Canada. 🍁

Wanderlust. Batanes is many things, throwback to one of the best places in the Philippines.

Nature is resilient. Life is meant to be resilient.