Celebrating the Beauty of Life

God knows how many times I’ve been asked this question. From answering “I’m just too busy” to “I still haven’t found the right guy yet”, I’ve eventually found the courage to brush off the question, ignore the person, and move on.

Does that make me rude? I don’t think so. I don’t know I owe someone an explanation as to why I’m still single as if being single is a crime or a sin. But just to put an end to that question, let me tell you my story:

When I was younger, I wasn’t allowed to date. My mom has this strict “no dating, no boyfriend” rule until I finish college and I can do whatever I want – move out of the house, get married, or have kids.

As the eldest among three girls, I was expected a lot – be a good role model to my younger sisters, have straight A’s at school, be obedient and I was given an exact baon just so I couldn’t hang out with friends after school, but enough to pay for my two-way transpo and meals.

My dad was an Overseas Filipino Worker in Saudi Arabia then so I was left with no choice as well. And whenever I would ask for extra money, my mom would always remind me that she still has tuition fees and bills to pay, and that I still have two younger sisters who are also studying.

I became this ‘home-school-church-home-school-church’ type of girl, whom I know most people would find really boring, but in time, I’ve learned to appreciate. Though I do admit there were times I envy couples holding hands or sitting together at school, wishing I also had someone who could walk me to school, fetch me at home, go to dinner or see movies with, or just hang out with.

Not even once had I thought of leaving the house or going against my mom’s rules, because at that time, finishing college was my top priority. Right after college, it took me another two years to finally have a boyfriend. But it lasted only for 20 days. My second relationship lasted about a year and a half, which was an accomplishment on my part considering how short-lived my first relationship was.

Thought I’d finally end up with this guy as he already asked me to marry him. But I was a 23-year-old college graduate then, not yet ready to settle so I refused him.

I would have been married by now with three or four kids. But you see there are people whom you think you’re in love with but don’t really see a future with.

My last and most recent relationship was something I didn’t see coming. Only a few close friends knew about it because we didn’t officially become a couple.  

I’ve known him since we were 18 years old and became the best of friends. He was someone I knew who will always be there for me so I took him for granted. He was always invisible to me. Not knowing that one day, I will see him on a different light, which was after 20 years of friendship.

I tried my best to hide my feelings by convincing myself he was only a friend, but all the more, I started noticing his good qualities, how good he smelled, how brilliant he spoke or acted, or how confident he was becoming every single day.

We started seeing each other every month and going out on dinner. But when I couldn’t fight my feelings anymore, I told him I was beginning to fall in love with him, but it was too late.  

No matter how much we wanted to be together, we both knew it wasn’t going to work. He had already decided his path, a path he has seen traversing since he was a kid, and that doesn’t include me or anyone else. So I had to respect that.

I was so heartbroken, but I have to move on and focus all my energies into my family, career, church work, and friends and before I knew it, it’s been years and I haven’t been in a relationship again.

In time, I’ve learned to ignore all comments and negative criticisms as to why I’m still single, but I do admit I still get hurt sometimes. Am I really that ugly, picky, or intimidating to be single for a very long time now?

But as you can see I’ve tried! Tried dating, online dating, meeting up, but it’s just that I can’t force someone into my life or myself to love someone again if I don’t really mean it no matter how hard I try. Love just happens.

I know in time, that relationship, that husband, that marriage, and those kids I’ve been longing for will come, I just don’t really know when and how.

For now, I will just be content and happy with what I have. People spend so much time thinking about what they lack in life that they take for granted what they already have.  

I'm the aunt of 7-year-old, Rianna Jewelle Orillo-Bacud, who has been confined at the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit of Makati Medical Center, Philippines for more than three months now.

Rianna has been diagnosed with Encephalomyelitis t/c Mycoplasma last October 17, 2015 (Saturday), and as of the moment, our bill has already reached PhP 4.03 million pesos.

I am earnestly seeking for your help, hoping you can help us in our present financial difficulties. My sister has the full custody of my niece, but her freelance work is not enough to cover all the hospital/medical expenses, even with our combined financial support.

She’s out of work now and we have to shell out to pay for the child’s other necessities like diaper, milk, vitamins, and other related expenses to lessen the hospital bills.

From food, fashion, language, people, television series, movies, schools, there’s no doubt that Koreans have already invaded the Philippines and it isn’t hard to see why.   

Korean meals, for one, can be very delicious and highly sophisticated when prepared by a skilled chef. But just like Filipino food, rice is always present in Korean meals and kimchi, but when you taste Korean food from its texture and flavor, everything is in perfect balance – there’s a bit of salty, sweet, spicy, mild, sour, bitter, and there’s always green and red leafy vegetables, and meat, always complementing each other.

When you visit an authentic Korean restaurant, meals are usually served with an array of side dishes, known as banchan, numbering to almost 20. So make sure to dine out with friends or someone so you can savor the food and you won’t be overwhelmed with all the dishes served in your table. 

If Filipinos loved everything about Koreans, it is no wonder why the feeling is mutual. 

Kyung Ha Yoon, president of Yoree Korean Barbeque Dining in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), fell in love with Manila the first time she visited in November last year because of Filipinos’ friendliness and hospitality in nature.

“I love Manila. People are very nice to me, always smiling,” says Kyung who became a regular tourist since then. 

When Kyung is in Manila, she would usually play golf with her friends and dine out; but the problem was, she could not find an authentic Korean restaurant anywhere in BGC where she usually stays. 

“We cannot find Korean food in Bonifacio (Global City), no more Korean restaurants. So I decided to use my talent here… So I opened Yoree,” says Kyung. 

Yoree may be new, but it is slowly gaining audience from both Filipino and Korean customers for its authentic Korean dishes, and stylish and sophisticated ambiance.

“Many Koreans like Yoree because it’s high-end with real Korean taste. All the ingredients and food are from Korea,” shares Kyung.

Kyung wrote for KBS Broadcasting from 1992 to 2000 before she and her husband decided to open their own restaurant business in 2003.

While she admits that she only cooks as a hobby, her husband, who is a chef and has been in the restaurant business for almost 39 years, and their team create the recipes they serve in their restaurant using authentic Korean ingredients and sauces. 

“I can also cook, but not as well as them,” says the smiling and very soft-spoken Kyung. Instead, she personally designed the Korean ceramics being used in serving the meals. 

At present, Kyung and husband have 25 restaurants in Korea, two in China, and two in the Philippines. 

If you want to taste Korean dishes cooked and prepared in the way they should be, you should try Yoree in BGC; and savor authentic Korean dishes, just like you would in the old restaurants in Seoul.

(Photos by Jose Martin Punzalan)

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My father worked in Saudi Arabia for almost 13 years. We would see him once a year for a month then he would be away again for 11 months.

When I was in grade school, my father decided to work in the Philippines because my mother wanted him here so he can watch us grow and help her raise a family.