Hara

 March 7, 2021

 

I have this sweet little god daughter whom I truly cherish and love. Her name is Empress Johara or Hara for short. I usually call her as Ate Hara because she’s now a big and kind sister to her younger sibling, Akira.

Hara is celebrating her 7^th birthday today. I was not able to attend her birthday party but we had a video call with her along with her other ninongs and ninangs.

Hara’s mom is one of my best friends since college. Hara’s mom has been one of my confidant and closest person to run to whenever I have problems and rants about life and love. Sleepovers, out of town trips, coffee shops, resto and bar hopping, her mom is my greatest company. We shared each other’s dreams and heartaches, even passion in writing and books. We had wasted nights, crying nights, and wondering nights together.

And when Hara was brought into this world, I was one of the few people who first knew about it. I’m thankful for the trust and reliance her mom gave to me.

I witnessed her growth and also her mom’s struggles and pains while bringing her up.

I’m happy to be her somehow second mother. From her baptism up to her previous birthdays, I usually make time to be with her and run errands with her mother.

Only this time that I didn’t make it to her birthday due to some personal reasons. Nevertheless, I still had time to have a video call with her and greet her on her special day. Also, I’ve got to see her a week ago when we did her birthday photoshoot.

Also, together with her parents, we always have a reunion at least once or twice a year. And that usually happens every Christmas. I always get to see her grow taller and prettier!

I’m thankful that I’ve got to stay connected with her and with her mom as well because I still get the chance to see her grow into a kinder and more loving girl. Currently, she has a lot of stories to tell and I pray that she will never stop being close with me and to her parents as well. May she never run out of wonderful stories to share with us.

I pray that she will be the best woman she could ever be. I also pray that she will remain kind, God-fearing, family oriented and she’ll be full of dreams that she will do her best to reach all of it. I will always believe in her and guide her with the best that I can. I also love being her personal photographer until she grows up.

I am also looking forward to a strong woman just like her mom that she will become. I do hope that she’ll be a true friend because her mom is just like that to me.

Happy 7^th birthday, Hara! Ninang always loves you!

Knowing your parents very well, you’ll be just fine and for sure, you will grow up being the best that you can be.

Love,

Ninang

A Glimpse of Eastwood

March 7, 2021

A sleepless city with full of bars and restaurants, call office centers or BPOs, high rise buildings, condominiums, malls and parks, coffee shops, churches, murals, and a lot more. I would personally relate these words to Eastwood City. This humble yet classy 18.5 hectares business center is very close to my heart as I’ve lived here since 2012. Located in Quezon City and was established by the Megaworld Corporation last 1997. It’s a literally work-play-dine-shop all in one kind of an urban place.

I’ve got the chance to capture its beauty through my lens one fine Saturday right after we had a church visit. We walked around Eastwood and capture everything that I can. I’ve never been yet to New York but I somehow picture it in my mind that Eastwood is a miniature version of my dream place.

Whenever I have time to roam around, I usually walk along Eastwood, appreciate every restaurant’s beauty, sit in the park and just watch people. It felt peaceful. There were also times before that I’ve spent nights on different coffee shops just to write. I usually get home by 2 a.m. It is safe to walk around here even if it’s already too late like that. Don’t worry guys because it was safe to walk around anytime of the day plus the fact that it was literally a kind of city that never sleeps – pre-pandemic days. 

Speaking of pandemic, when the Enhanced Community Quarantine aka lockdown started last March 16, 2020 – of course we know that the whole world has changed. Everyone was anxious, in doubts and in fear, worried and uncertain of tomorrow. Eastwood City became a quiet one. From a jam-packed party place, Eastwood has turned to an almost ghost town for several months. Many has lost their jobs.

And due to the pandemic, many restaurants and shops close their business. Every time we go to the grocery, we could see closing establishments then be replaced by another one while some remain vacant up to now. 

It’s almost a year since the lockdown and everyone including me hope that the “old normal” will be back. 

And just like every business and establishments now, Eastwood is slowly recovering. And trying its best to bring back its former glory. I just hope that it will be so soon. 

Eastwood is part of Barangay Bagumbayan in Quezon City. This simple and ordinary barangay is where I currently live. This is just adjacent to the kingdom of Eastwood City. It felt like I am living in the woods or in the community of commoners and Eastwood City is the castle that I can go inside just to roam around and appreciate its royal beauty. 

During the ECQ period, this rich community aka Eastwood City and my simple and ordinary community Barangay Bagumbayan has joined force to fight against Covid-19. 

We supported every small business that started to blossom due to the pandemic through the Facebook Community Pages. We also informed everyone about Covid updates and make sure that everyone is following protocols. We didn’t judge nor discriminate those who were infected and just showed empathy as if we are part of a one big family. It still felt safe living here during this challenging time.

Just like the sunrise I always got to witnessed on our balcony, there’s still hope and new beginnings waiting for us. To better days ahead! 

Thank you, Eastwood for giving me a home away from home. The soonest, everything will get back to normal.