jodelle journals

Look at what I stumbled upon. This struck me so much and made me think..

When I close my eyes, I begin to feel, to be present, to live in the now. And what great relief it is to feel — everything and anything in between. It is to be human, to be a living being just like the birds and the flowers; to be with the mountains and the oceans; to be with the universe.

When I close my eyes, I realize that I open my heart. I open myself to the endless possibilities of this world. I become my most authentic self.

Sofia Coppola Archive

If you didn’t know by now, I love Sofia Coppola. I love her films. She really is for women as what Priscilla Presley said about her.

My favorite films are Priscilla (2023), Marie Antoinette (2006), and The Virgin Suicides (1999). I love how she portrays girlhood in her works. I’m sure girls who’ve seen those movies can understand.

Here’s the reel that I’ve mentioned in my previous post.

An Afternoon At The Museum

It was June 21st, a Saturday, and my family (mom, sister, aunt, uncle, cousin, nephew, and niece) booked a hotel for a staycation. After checking in, we decided to stroll at a nearby mall. Nothing too much. Just strolling and sharing stories of once-upon-a-times and checking new stores and restos in the city.

Later in the afternoon, we spontaneously decided to visit a museum that was a few minutes away. That museum has been standing there for quite a few years but I haven’t really been in there — until that day. So I was excited. It was my very first time to be there. I love museums! And so we entered. It was beautiful. More so, historic. The works of art were made by local artists and that made me so proud of my roots. I even made a reel about my visit but it’s for another post. I’ll upload it here soon. The photos above were the ones I took whilst there. I love that there is a museum of this kind in my city. Downstairs was also a place about the history of beers. Different kinds of beers. I don’t drink but it was interesting to know and learn a thing or two.

Then came dinner. The sky turned into a comforting shade of indigo signaling the day was almost over. Our stomachs were churning. What’s for dinner? We asked. And that’s when my cousin presented to treat us at this bar and grill restaurant. I’ve eaten at this place before but there’s always something new to try, right? So we went and ordered. It’s a treat and it should feel like it. We had steak, beef salpicao, chicken fingers, buffalo wings, fries, rice. Some of my favorites. The steak sauce was to die for. It was that good. I was full and happy. What a good combo it is, I realized.

Le Petit Prince

And it’s done. On June 19, 2024, I finished this. I remember reading The Little Prince when I was thirteen because it was required at school but I didn’t really quite grasp the message and moral of the story.

Today, I am smiling. The sun is shining. It gets better. I can't believe I'm saying this but it's real. And I know there are gonna be days like yesterday so I'm thankful for days like this -- like I'm normal, not crazy. Iykyk.

Now, I'm listening to Taylor Swift. Blank Space. hits. every time. Got a long list of ex lovers, they'll tell you I'm insane. Oh, only if I have a lover. Who knows, maybe I'll meet him tomorrow, next week, next month? There's a blank space for him.

Anyway, I don't know if I should do Jodelle Journals again on Instagram. Like, journal through my stories. (But I'm actually surprised that people tell me they read it!). I will think about it.

On April, I was having a bout with anxiety again. It was terrible. So I took meds and I was relieved. I realized that life is really a series of ups and downs. So when it's in the up, I make the most out of it. When it's in the down, I call unto the God.

sunset sessions

here comes the sun

pov: you’re the birthday princess

she’s so priscilla-coded

december dump

this is what december looked like sans the festivity photos. upper left is a mirror selfie from the beach resort room where we stayed for our company's annual gathering and christmas party. upper right is a photo of me winning the best dressed that i shared with other colleagues. lower left pic was taken during the preparation of the event and lower right was taken on the cebu yacht club where we had dinner on our first night in the island.

soo, hi. it's been quite a long time, isn't it?

so much has happened since december and all is well, still, thank god. speaking of december, it was my favorite month of the year 2023. god really saved the best for last. i am my best self. i won best dressed in our company's annual gathering. my hair is straight, silky, sleek. my sleep was restful, relaxing, deep. my weight is back to normal. my outfits were slaying. my life, finally, together. everything is on fleek. ahh the mountains and valleys and hills (and maybe even rivers!) that i have climbed and crossed 'til i got here. nobody knows. really. so i celebrate my wins because it took so much of me to be now "me". im so proud of you, self. so, soo proud. i might even cry while typing this but maybe that's just the pisces in me or my because my period is set to arrive tomorrow. whatever, it is, i'm just so sentimental acknowledging my growth -- as a human, as woman. cheers to me!

january and february have been pretty well. i've got a haircut but six days ago i had my hair fixed again so all is well. on valentines, as usual, i have no valentino, but no worries, amigos. i ate my favorite meal at mcdonald's and bonded with my baby nephew (he was nice to me that day!). i originally planned to watched priscilla directed by sofia coppola that one sweet day but found out that it was only shown in limited cinema days. so... ok. at least, my tummy was full. mcdonald's fries didn't disappoint. by the end of february came pisces season. i was so excited! my birthday was so near!

and you stood there in front of me just close enough to touch close enough to hope you couldn't see what i was thinking of

sparks fly by taylor swift is such a classic. i am currently listening to it now as i type this. once upon a time, i remember listening to it at the very tender age of fifteen, a high school girl and giddily lovestruck over some boy who doesn't even matter now, and really being able to relate to the lyrics. what i didn't thought was a decade later and i would still relate to it as much as i did before. a girl, or should i say, a woman's heart never really grows old or even worse, hard. it stays soft, sweet, and full of treasures through time (or at least for me, thank god).

"my mind forgets to remind me you're a bad idea". this is probably my favorite line in the song. it was and it still is. funny how the heart has a mind of its own. it forgets logic when you like someone. how insane is that? love is really the highest law. love conquers all. love is heaven on earth. perhaps that's why they say you're in a cloud nine? maybe.

i know i lack experience in love so who am i to say things in that perspective. however, what scares me is not having the courage to love. do you get me? i hope you do and i hope i make sense. i hope most importantly that i get to love and be loved back in return even more. i know the person for me exists. it's just a matter of time before i meet him.

october duma dump

so i was at dumaguete. again. it's probably the most chill city i have ever been in the philippines. guess why i am back? yes, because i'm at an education fair -- again. oh, the perks of being an education counselor.. you get to travel and try new food in every new city. best of both worlds. i guess you could say i'm hannah montana. just kidding.

anyway, i was so happy i was able to take some cute photos (considering that my phone is in its retirement stage). first pic upper left was a mirror selfie while i was preparing for the fair. second pic upper right was a very beautiful decoration i saw at a dainty local restaurant that served the cheesiest nachos i have ever tasted and sweetest (the right amount) mango shake i ever had! no kidding. the mango shake was really THE BEST. i also found out it was the harvest season so that explains why. third, fourth, and sixth pics were from the boulevard where the nightlife is really pretty and chill and breezy and peaceful. fifth and eighth pics were platters of seafood but i did not eat because i am allergic to shrimps. seventh pic, the second to the last, is me in my pink dress that i love. it's so dainty and feminine and i bought it at such an affordable price! i didn't expect it to be of really good quality but it is. such a steal.

i enjoyed the duma trip. it was the ultimate laidback city where everything is mostly handmade and homemade. i recently learned that it's the top retirement place in the philippines. this explains why a lot of people all over the world are in there. it's like being in boracay. you come across people of different nationalities when you stroll in their streets.