Singapore Bucket List

They have just announced plans for re-opening here in Singapore. I have been thinking about places I'd like to visit for the rest of the year. I think going out at least once a week would help me increase my energy and stamina. I'm also so fair already I need more time under the sun. 

I've lived in Singapore for 10 years already. I've been to the usual stuff, but I think there are more places I should visit at least once. I wanted to visit all the Toast Box branches across the island, but I've been to a handful only. I found a buddy to do this but then the pandemic happened! We only got to go to one branch before he left. 

Here are some places I'd like to visit:

1. The Joo Chiat shophouses/Peranakan shophouses - I've only seen them in photos. I have been so fascinated by the artwork by Kildi Photos which I first saw at my PT clinic. Super love the colorful shophouses, it's inspired me to create a quilt project. 

2. East Coast Park - the last time I visited this park was before I moved to Singapore. I always see it on the way to the airport, but haven't had time to visit. I just live across the West Coast Park and we love going there. I wonder how different the ECP is.

3. A reservoir - I've only been to the Bedok Reservoir. There are many more and I heard that the MacRitchie Reservoir is a great place to visit. 

4. Jurong Bird Park - I've been there several times, but it never gets old for me. The last time we went was before Miggy went back home in August 2019. I'd like to see the Philippine eagle again and say hello. 

5. Pulau Ubin - believe it or not I haven't been to Pulau Ubin. It's supposed to bring you back to the 1960s when you go there. I'm really curious to see the island. Will have to research whether they allow people to visit. 

6. Sentosa Island - I used to live near Sentosa Island. On weekends we'd just walk over. They regulated visitors last year so we just avoided going. I wonder if we could come visit again soon. We just enjoy walking around and spinning Pokestops. No need for me to go to the Universal Studios, taking a photo by the globe should be enough haha. 

7. Night Safari - taking photos is better during the day though. I've been to the Night Safari only once and it was fun. Oh I should check whether the zoo has moved. I remember they announced that they were going to move last year. 

8. Singapore Flyer - would you believe I've never been on it! I have been trying to convince my boys to come with me. Maybe Sweetie will go with me soon? Or maybe at least the cable car. 

9. Sunset Sail - I saw this attraction from a leaflet when we did a staycation a few months ago. I'm really curious how this works. 

10. Chinatown - we used to visit Chinatown often, usually after hearing mass. The energy there is really different and I miss the food! Maybe we can finally try the Michelin starred stall there. 

CB///*Yr2/88 #StuckAtHomeDay/Yr2/115 #NewG358 #Home132 #StayHome #BeKind 

Moments That Changed My Life

Have you thought about events in your life that changed your life completely? I started thinking about this after reading the Didache reflection last night. I looked back and thought about events and decisions that changed my life completely. Here's a few I thought about -

That time I had Miggy - having Miggy early ignited the fire in me. I had that burning desire to succeed because I wanted to provide the best life for my son. It hasn't been easy, but my decisions have always been what I thought would be best for him. 

That time I decided to take graduate studies - I was already working at a telco when I realized what I really wanted to do with my career. My undergraduate degrees were far from the direction I wanted to take so I enrolled in grad school a year after graduation. This decision helped me gain important skills I still use.

That time I worked for my Mom - I had a hard time during my first year in grad school. I was still inexperienced. They usually accept students with at least 2 years work experience. I got in because I got a good recommendation. I tried to move departments in the company I was working for but they didn't allow it. I realized that I wasn't going to get the opportunity to grow there so I left. I joined my Mom's export business and that's where I really learned a lot. I was doing web marketing as early as 1998. This moment set my path to where I am today.

That time I bungled up an interview - unfortunately my Mom's business was affected by the crash of the economy. All export businesses were affected. I completed grad school at that time and had to find a job. I made a good impression on the HR manager and was immediately sent to the president for the interview. I got really nervous and failed the interview. I had another interview the next day with a start-up company. I over-prepared and got the job. The interview I failed pushed me to the right direction (who would've thought I'd end up in the tech industry?). 

OHSI days.

With my scout brothers.

That time I applied for a job at Google - I heard about the opening from my boss. She heard about it from a conference she attended in HK. I looked it up and the job description was overwhelming. I checked it again six months later and was surprised that the job description changed. It was less intimidating. I submitted an application without expecting anything. I was super surprised to receive an email the next day. I went through the eye of a needle and was eventually hired. This is probably one of the biggest life changing moments in my life. 

That time in the airplane I asked God to take over - after a series of disappointing relationships, on September 27, 2007 I begged God to navigate my life. During that year I told him that if by September 30, 2007 I didn't have a partner I would enroll in post-grad studies and live a life of single blessedness. I had no clue that He had already started writing my love story when I met Sweetie. On September 29, 2007, Sweetie asked me if he could court me. 

SG office when it was just tables and chairs.

That time I jumped at a role that brought me to Singapore - I never intended to leave the Philippines. My Dad would not have allowed it if he was still around. My old mission had ended and I was told to look for a new role. I really thought my journey had already ended. My managers though were keen to keep me and it was fate when my manager met my future manager in a trip to Indonesia. He set up a call with my future manager who was based in Zurich. That call eventually brought me to Singapore. 

That time I had open heart surgery - It was honestly the move to Singapore that eventually saved my life. The surgery changed my life completely. I had to change the way I lived my life. My family wasn't living in Singapore when I did my surgery. Sweetie stayed as long as he could (he had to go back to work). My Mom and Miggy stayed with me until I was well enough to fly back to Manila to recover more. I never went back to normal so the OHS effectively changed the course of my life. 

That time I had pulmonary embolism - post-OHS I was still able to do a lot of activities. I tried to cope after the first PE, but it really changes your body. The second one I had early this year has changed my life completely. A year ago today I was a very busy bee. My focus now is to get a bit better everyday. I'm still living this moment and I expect it will be what will completely change the course of my life. 

Life is beautiful. We go through a lot of moments. Some effectively change the direction of our lives. I believe though that we all have our individual missions from God. He nudges us to the right direction at the right time. I'm never scared whenever I feel I'm going through a life-changing moment. I embrace it because I know it's where God wants to take me next. 

What are your life changing moments?

CB///*Yr2/87 #StuckAtHomeDay/Yr2/114 #NewG359 #Home133 #StayHome #BeKind 

Hello Outside World!

The last time we got to go out was when we went to the Star Wars Identities exhibit. That was more than two months ago. We've just stayed home to keep safe and just get our supplies delivered. Sweetie accompanied me to a check-up today. I was so happy when he agreed to go to my favorite mall after. 

We ended up dining at one of our favorite restos, Nana's Green Tea. It's a dessert place, but they have a great selection of meals. I usually order the oroshi hamburg. It comes with red rice and a salad. I should ask Uncle Fumio how to make this dish. I normally pair the dish with matcha latte. We missed Miggy since we normally eat there with him. 

The highlight of the day out for me was going to Spotlight. I needed to buy some fabric for a quilt project. I want to make a thank you gift for my doctors. I'll probably make a lap quilt since I noticed they don't use throw pillows in the clinic. My favorite doctor had the throw pillow cover quilt I gave him framed! Haha. i hope they will use the lap quilt I'll make. 

I was tired after just one store. I had to drag my feet to finish the rest of our errands. I'm happy we were able to get the free oximeter from the Temasek Foundation. They are providing one per household and you can claim it from Watsons/Guardian/Cold Storage or your community center. The oximeter is fancier than my old one! Thank you Temasek Foundation, really appreciate this support!

And now I'm flat on my back on the couch. I'm exhausted! The happy kind! I'll probably pay for this until tomorrow, but that's okay. It was good to see the outside world again! 

Of course, I forgot about my gratefulness challenge yesterday! I only remembered it after I posted my blog haha. Day 2 Gratitude Challenge: What you find beautiful. I find nature beautiful. I've been watching a lot of NatGeo, BBC Earth and nature vlogs the past few months. I'm truly amazed at God's creation. Watching documentaries and vlogs inspire me and I've been learning a lot too. Thank you Papa God for our beautiful home, earth. 

CB///*Yr2/86 #StuckAtHomeDay/Yr2/113 #NewG360 #Home134 #StayHome #BeKind 

A Moment in Time (aka Slumbook)

One of my favorite childhood activities was getting my classmates to fill-out my Merit slumbook (I wonder if they still print those haha). I got an updated one a few years ago from Powerbooks and got my colleagues to fill it up. They all laughed at me, but indulged in completing their pages. 

I found "time capsule" prompts on Pinterest and thought I'd do it for myself today just for fun. I haven't done this in a long time.  It would be interesting to do this every so often to see how much I change. I choose a list that resembles the Merit slumbook I had when I was young. 

Name: Aileen Apolo-de Jesus

Age: 45

Phone number: secret!

Current President: DU30

Favorite Song: currently liking Ben & Ben songs

Favorite Movie: most recent would be Fatherhood, forever faves would be Back to the Future and Amadeus

Favorite Food: spaghetti forever

Favorite Restaurant: currently Xin Wang, but Lachi's, Dayrits and Makati Supermart Coffee Shop forever

3 things I want to accomplish in the next 5 years: be reunited with family, have an appropriately sized house, improve my craft

What I like most about myself: survivor, flexible

What I most want to change: worrying!

My hero is: Papa God, my family

I most want to be like: be the best version of myself

Favorite book: Didache for now

Favorite game: Pokemon Go

I belong to the following orgs/clubs: GEG, SVMM, a number of patient and quilting groups on FB

Favorite subject in school: sewing, logic

The school I attend(ed) is: SSC, DLSU

My favorite teacher(s): Lakangiting Garcia, Prof. Garcia (MBA) [past]; currently learning a lot from Chef Tatung (Simpol), Kevin (Epic Gardening), Chinkee Tan

Favorite hobby: quilting

The thing I am best at is: figuring out how to work out a problem

Favorite color: pink (but if you look at my closet most of my clothes are blue haha)

I enjoy learning about: quilting, finance management, cooking

Favorite animal: dog

Favorite TV show: Big Bang Theory

When I grow up, I want to be a: successful retiree (I'm at that age haha)

My favoring thing I did in 2020 is: gardening and working on my crafts

Something I want to do by 2023: travel again

Try it! Copy and answer the questions in a comment below! 

My Dream Life

Day 1 Gratefulness Challenge: One of my goals for this second half of the year is to be more grateful. I found a 30-day gratefulness challenge and will integrate it here in my blog. Day 1 challenge is to be grateful about your body. I am truly grateful that my body has been able to withstand so many issues. Even my doctors are amazed and they keep telling me I am blessed. Thank you Papa God <3

To be honest, I never dreamt of moving to another country. It was never in my plan. It happened at the insistence of my former managers. I was able to enjoy it only when my family moved to Singapore. My dream life is just to be with my family. Ideally I want everyone to be within physical reach. I say that because my family is scattered across the globe. 

I grew up with extended family living in our home. My Mama Lola and several Titas lived with us. There was a time my Tito and his family stayed with us when their house burned down. I was a happy child because I had additional mommies and daddies. Our Christmas reunions were always big and rowdy. I long for those days. 

So my dream life is to be back home, have a home with enough space to have get-togethers with family and friends, have time and energy to create more memories and be able to help where I can. My prayer every night is to be safe, secure, healthy and blessed. 

"It's never too late to focus on your dreams."

CB///*Yr2/84 #StuckAtHomeDay/Yr2/111 #NewG362 #Home136 #StayHome #BeKind 

Working Out Detours

I woke up with a smile today. I finally slept well. I feel the rain has stopped and things are just going to get better. I have been reflecting a lot about my new reality. The detour has forced me to take stock of what I can still do and what I have to let go. 

The Didache reflection last night was about the detours God gives you. Brother Bo Sanchez said, "Listen, if you’re not ready, God will allow a detour. But through that detour, He will mature you, shape you, equip you, and prepare you. Here’s my belief: God uses detours as doorways to your destiny." I have been asking myself why this happened to me and realized it's a detour from God to nudge me to another path.

For now my focus is to get well and my dream is to be reunited with Miggy and my Mom before the year ends. I chanced upon Bro Bo's vlog today. His topic today is about knowing your core gift to give to the world. If you don't know what you're good at his advise is to look back to your childhood. That will help you realize what you love doing and what you're good at. 

Detours are good. I struggled for many months because I wanted to go back to what was usual. The more frustrated I got the worse I felt. The best thing I did was to give up and let God take over. Recovery has been very slow, but I know I just need to trust God's process. I'm grateful my breathing has been better and I have more energy now. 

I'm sure my destiny will eventually be revealed. For now I'll just enjoy this detour and pray for the best! 

BTW, the Asia Pacific Google Educators Group are hosting their fourth live event this weekend! You can get more information about the events here.

CB///*Yr2/83 #StuckAtHomeDay/Yr2/110 #NewG363 #Home137 #StayHome #BeKind 

I usually watch reflection vlogs while eating breakfast. 

"Every Storm Runs Out of Rain" (Half-Year Review)

 

Waiting for my doctor.

The first thing I asked Sweetie today was, "Is it already July 1?" He answered in the affirmative and I said, "Wow half the year has passed already!"

"Every storm runs out of rain." - Maya Angelou

And rainbows usually appear after the rain. The past six+ months have been really challenging. I feel though that the rain is just a soft drizzle now. Things are changing and I could see the light at the end of the tunnel. My body was permanently damaged by pulmonary embolism. I will never be the same and I have accepted that. You just have to roll with the punches. 

I was in survival mode for the first half of this year. I'm still healing from last week's procedure, but I've been able to start picking up the pieces. I started to exercise again and hope to continue the Justin Agustin gentle exercise course I enrolled in. Sweetie still does majority of the chores, but at least I've been able to cook a few times a week now. 

For the second half of 2021 my goal would be to gain more energy and stamina, be reunited with my family and show gratefulness. My birthday is coming up in two months, I hope we could do a real staycation (no more hospital staycations!). I don't really need any material things, prayers are appreciated (but quilting fabric and Yoda is always welcome haha). 

CB///*Yr2/82 #StuckAtHomeDay/Yr2/109 #NewG364 #Home138 #StayHome #BeKind