Cole Notes

Eid al Fitr 2020

Flex ko lang ang photo-op ko almost 6 years ago sometime in October 2014, with Itsoura.

October 2014

This was before I met my now ex-husband. Age: 32 years old.

I am so happy with these photos and how it turned out. Talagang request ko kay Josephus I want the photos to be as natural as possible, and he delivered!

This one below is my most favourite. Yung natural lighting effect ng sunshine striking my hair, I feel it’s magical. Echos haha.

On the other hand, I have no regrets with the decisions I made. I even wrote about our engagement in my old blog here.

It was tough but I made it through and I’m alive. I am grateful to God of gifting me a child and I named him Eisa. Ipinangako ko sa sarili ko na papalakihin ko siya ng maayos, he is loved, he belongs and I will aide him in building his character.

I remain me. I learned a lot about myself along the way.

I had to endure the mental stress as aftermath of the collapse of my marriage. I still feel the pain kahit 3 years na ang nakakaraan, so I can’t get myself to watch the latest Korean drama na “The World of the Married” tagos sa puso ko charing hehe.

Though I had come to a realization that each time I stumble into hurdles, I feel it’s a revelation of either the two: (1) a lesson to strengthen my character, or (2) learn in letting go and believe that there’s something else for me.

The first year was difficult, slowly medyo naging okay-okay na as time passes. I heard somewhere, time is the best medicine. I have learned that I don’t have to please everyone. I ate to my heart’s content. And I indulged myself in watching Korean and Chinese dramas for my entertainment in the evenings and weekends. I actually took a liking of learning Hangul and Mandarin in the near future.

Periodically, I pause and savor my present. Life is beautiful.

My next personal goal is to build my core strength and achieve a 24-inch waistline. But rather than being skinny, I desire to be strong. No crash dieting, only gradual change into my eating habits and re-introducing workout routines. And I love my waist trainers, and improving my digestive health.

I wish me a happy me and a happy you. 🙂

Perspectives

After my father passed away, the thought of Mom being by herself most of the time made me think of a project that will allow me to do two things:

A project that will make Mom involved
A project that has a potential to bring us income enough to bring me back to Philippines

These thoughts led me to something very close to my heart and I am passionate about. Modern farming.

Various searches resulted into permaculture, sloping agricultural land technology as well as crop rotation to maximize profitability.

The problem though is we don’t have a big land to farm. My paternal grandparents have already subdivided their lands to their eight (8) children.

So from August until November 2019, we have been looking around to find our perfect match to start with our farming journey.

In Camarines Sur province itself there is abundance of agricultural land. Mom, Uncle Henry, Auntie Epin and brother Edy went for many site viewings.

First property was 7.45 hectares, four towns away from our hometown. The price was too good to be true for that size, we then found out that it’s about 2 kms away from main road, has to cross a paddy field as well as water stream. I really felt for the oldies to have traveled that far and for them to have walked the almost forest area. So thumbs down.

Second property was five towns away, this time it’s 11.6 hectares. It is too big, but ideal because it’s along the road it comes with a price tag. Again thumbs down.

Third property is 6 hectares. This one is perfect. Price is perfect. Only 500 meters away from the barangay road. Unfortunately I didn’t get the loan money.

Then on 9th of November 2019, my folks visited a 3-hectare agricultural property only 1 town away from our hometown. This particular property is a bit on a hilly and sloping land topography. Instantly, I fell in love with it. It is in Barangay Baliuag Nuevo, Minalabac Municipality.

My now new farming place.

Farm site not too far from Ragay Gulf too.

I dream of Nigerian Dwarf goats, Dexter cattle, giant bamboos, timber and fruit trees on top of the hill. I dream of Mom busy with her days organizing produce. She will never feel alone and isolated. I dream of coming home to a fresh environment and with nature.

We then proceeded on scheduling a tree planting activity for commemoration to be held the same week of Dad’s first year death anniversary.

Digging holes for transplanting the saplings.

This project still has a long way to go. I am just glad that we now have something to start with. I still need to collaborate with other land owners for a right of way to the main road which is about 500 meters away.