I can’t believe that the Jubilee 2025 is coming to an end. It seems like recently when I was just preparing myself because I want to be spiritually ready before I went to Rome, Italy and before I enter the four Holy Doors in the four Papal Basilicas. It’s just a few days before Pope Leo will finally close the Holy Door in St. Peter’s Basilica on January 6, 2026. I hope I am still alive for the Jubilee 2050 and I pray to experience it again for the second time. I am not making a list about my new year’s resolution for the year 2026 but I would love to share my new year’s realization before the chapter of the year 2025 comes to an end.

World Tour

I would like to thank my family, all my relatives, friends and all the people who are praying for my safe journey. Because of your prayers, I am safe during my travel adventures.

Remember that wealth fades but your character as a person is something that cannot be stolen by anyone. I might not be rich like other people. I don’t have fatty bank account. I don’t have many properties. I don’t have many owned cars. I invested in experiences not just in material things. I am so happy because I am courageous enough to travel and conquer some of my fears. Nobody could take all the experiences, the perspective and life lessons that I have and learned in life through traveling…

I guess if my plans happened in an instant snap, I won’t be that eager to see the world. I have been to so many countries and have made some friends in different parts of the world. Traveling means meeting incredible people along the way.

Here’s a little reflection. Are you also praying to explore and travel the world like me?  

So many Filipinos like me are fond of traveling. Yes, it looks good but remember that you should respect the country that you are visiting since you are only visitors in that certain place. It is our duty to not create any chaos or any problem during our visit.

These are some of my follow-up questions. Are you also aware that having the privilege to travel means that you must respect and abide with the rules and regulations of the country? Are you also aware that you should take care of your belongings and take care of yourself during the whole journey in a foreign country?

Every epic travel adventure comes with a great responsibility and an opportunity to be educated with other people’s perception. Realizing also that I am just living in a life full of answered prayers as I ticked off one country to another.

Underrated Blessing

I was driving all by myself in Metro Manila when I saw a vehicular accident.  I prayed before leaving home and while I am driving . It amazes me that God is protecting me all along. I am not saying that people who experienced road accidents are not praying. I just want to give emphasis in this underrated blessing that we received from the Lord almost everyday.

Being safe is something we all should be grateful. I love the Lord and the word thank you is not enough for the guidance and safe journey.

Before, I really hate delayed and cancelled flights but I realized that sometimes the Lord will let us to reflect and pause for a while before the road is safe and clear. As you mature, you will be happy that what you thought to be mishaps happened to avoid further accidents.

Raffle Winner

“Lord, para sa akin ba talaga iyong intraoral scanner?” That is my question while I was driving on my way home. I won in the raffle in a dental event that I attended this year 2025. I am crying tears of joy while I am driving. “Parang ang feeling ko noon, sa wakas sumakses din Lord! Sa wakas!”

God surprised me because something happened, something I never asked… I didn’t pray to be a raffle winner but God showed me that His plans are better than mine.

How can’t I not love my year 2025? The Jubilee Year 2025 showed God’s miracle again and my life was a living proof of God’s goodness. There are so many blessings that happened. In just one snap of a finger, my life changed. He truly works unexpectedly.

When I won in the raffle, I felt that God is telling me “My daughter, don’t overthink that dentistry is not for you. Don’t ask repetitive questions because your purpose is to create beautiful smiles and help other people to alleviate the pain in their oral cavity. I got you.”

Others might think that it was just a raffle prize but I felt God is telling me that stay hopeful because there are so many life miracles that are on the way. Whenever I think about it, it feels surreal that everything is making sense. Everyone is celebrating with my little success during the event. You really have to be happy with someone’s winning moment because you don’t know all the struggles that person overcome. One day your time to shine will come and you will be happy that you waited and trusted the Lord God above everything. Don’t be pressured by society’s definition of success. Always pray for discernment.

I thought of pursuing medicine and I am asking God for clarity if He wants me to pursue medicine. During my travels, I never stopped asking God to show me the right path. If God wants me to review and take National Medical Admission Test (NMAT), study for more years, help the sick and those people with illness by studying medicine, I will let Him. But the answer to that prayer really mattered when I know it was God who was giving me a sign that I should stop doubting. I could help so many people through my profession in dental medicine.

Do you have that instances in life that you are asking the Lord on what to do just like me? Do you also think of career shift? Or, maybe you are still studying and you think that your course is not right for you?

Listen to God’s inner voice! Sometimes, He uses people, things and others to serve as our guide along the journey.

I actually thought of winning in a raffle as an obligation and huge responsibility for me because God knows that if He blesses me with something, I will always give back. The secret of having blessing is giving.

My reader, giving is not literally always related to financial. You could also share by giving your time, sharing your talents, teaching skills, doing some services, helping other people to have that opportunity and simply, just being kind to other people. Being generous is a beautiful reminder that we are all brothers and sisters. We are all God’s children.

If you are familiar with the Bukas Palad Music Ministry’s song entitled “Panalangin sa Pagiging Bukas Palad.” The lyrics of the song include these specific lines:

“Panginoon, turuan Mo ako maging bukas-palad
Turuan Mo akong maglingkod sa Iyo
Na magbigay nang ayon sa nararapat
Na walang hinihintay mula sa ‘Yo”

The lines from the song definitely caught my heart and these lines say it all… If you are giving to other people, be happy to share without expecting anything in return… Always keep that in your mind and heart.

Sobrang sarap sa pakiramdam na wala kang hinihintay na kapalit at binibigay mo lang ng bukal sa puso mo. Sobrang sarap maglingkod.

I am not planning to run for elections because I don’t think that being a public servant (politician) is my calling. I just want to be an instrument of peace even if I commit mistakes most of the time.

I believe that there is a time to save, there is a time to invest but let us not forget that there is also a time to give and share. You cannot give if you don’t have anything in life. The process should always be constant because it will fulfill our life mission and that will be a reminder that we are all Lord’s servant. No matter how many material possessions that you have, we are all created equally by our Almighty Father.

Posting of Photos and Videos

Some people would say that you don’t have to post when you do good deeds and acts of charity. Just be silent in the deeds that you do. Some people would say to just keep it in yourself but I would like to share that I was inspired to do community service because of the dentists in Plaridel, Bulacan that I personally visited and interviewed in their clinic during my college days. I want other people to have the same mindset as mine because if I posted that and some people would do the same there will be plenty of people we could reach.

Let’s face it. There will come a point in which my time in this world might end but my writings, the photos and videos will still be alive as long as someone will see them. Some people will be influenced by what you post and the words that you’ve said so you really have to think before you click.

I could still remember that the clinic’s waiting area is full of photos during their dental missions. It inspired me to always set aside few money from my pocket for the less fortunate by doing dental missions. It will be very beneficial to the hungry, sick and poor no matter how small nor big the amount of money is. Besides, the real face of Jesus is in everyone.

Lourdes Miracle

I wanna share the testimony of my faith many years ago and the mistakes I’ve made before.

This part is about licensure examination, we all know that preparation is necessary before taking any examination. The lesson here is I believe that when you pray and trust the Lord, you must never doubt God’s miracle in your life.

During the board exam preparation, I studied and work hard. I even attended the mass everyday in the chapel of St. Paul University Manila. I am not sure if I was preparing for the board exam or I am preparing to be a nun. I am just kidding in the latter part. Religious life is not for me.

I deactivated my facebook account and just leave messenger as a way or form of communication while I am waiting for the results of the licensure exam. I am scared to see the results and if nobody would message me and congratulate me that time then it only means that I failed. Ayokong hanapin ang pangalan ko…

Flashback… After the last day of the theoretical phase of the Dentist Licensure Exam, I went immediately to Baclaran Church. I could still remember that silent prayers in my heart saying “Lord baka naman po pwede isang take lang.” I leave all the things that I used during the theoretical phase of my board examination in the candle offering section of Baclaran Church. I saw that so many board examinees are leaving their pencils there. Others divided the pencils that they used. For me, I just want to offer all my belongings in the church to glorify the Lord by my life. While waiting for the results, I attended a mass in our parish on December 8 since it was the Feast Day of Immaculate Conception. I have no idea that after I attended the said mass, the DLE results will be released on that day. My friends messaged me via text message and in my messenger account. They are all congratulating me. That’s why of all the Marian apparitions site, Lourdes, France is my top favorite.

To my reader, if you prayed about it then don’t doubt the Lord. I was actually contemplating on why am I scared and why did I deactivated my facebook account that time. The answer is very simple, I am afraid of rejections. I am afraid of people judging me. 

My advice for students who are reading this post that no matter what course you are taking is give your BEST, work hard to reach your goals and the most important is to PRAY and fully TRUST the Lord.

Some people would say that it is easy for me to say to TRUST the Lord God because I passed the board exam in just one take…

I am actually giving an honest advice here so you won’t commit the same mistakes that I did.

Here’s also a beautiful reminder that: Your FAITH should be your greatest weapon and that your FAITH should be bigger than your FEAR.

I want to also inspire all the students out there especially those who are in the field of science and medicine who are almost giving up. Believe me when I say that in my years of dental practice, there is NO patient who asked me about my college grades, no patient asked if I graduated with awards, no patient asked if I passed the Dentist Licensure Examination in just one take… Some of the things that I’ve mentioned are all superficial.

My point here is, if you failed, that is not a reason to give up. Remember why you started, remember your parents and your loved ones who are cheering for you, remember that you are a human, remember that no matter how many times you try and study to get that dream license, it will never define your worth because our worth is defined by the Lord. This is also a reminder that it is alright to commit mistakes as long as you improve yourself through that.

Don’t be afraid of failure because failing means growth as a person.

For dentistry students, the real world after college graduation and board exam is so much different from dental schools. If you will start your own dental practice right away, the real world is full of responsibilities, bills to pays like rent, electricity, water, and there are so many dental materials that you need to invest. Sometimes, renting is a lifetime commitment because you always have to pay for your landlord or your landlady but let us always set the fact that the commercial space will never be yours. You also should have an emergency fund that is solely for the clinic. There are many aspects outside dental school that will change your perspective in life.

Learning doesn’t end in the four corners of classroom. It is a continuous and lifelong process. Even if I am already a licensed dentist, I never stopped on studying and learning.

Our Own Unique Talents

I actually have a dream to serve in the church and I dreamt to be a part of the choir when I was still a high school student. Unfortunately, I am not blessed to have a good singing voice. God answered my prayer to serve Him in the most unique way. I became a student lector and reading God’s word during mass while I am still young made me fall in love with my Catholic faith more. Our parish priest, Fr. Mon once told me “Ang ganda mong magbasa ng salita ng Diyos.”

I believe that compliment is meant for me to be grateful of the special gifts God given me. I understand my faith more by reading Catechism of the Catholic Church and I know how to defend my faith. That’s why if you are reading my post some topics are really about my love for my Catholic faith. I believe in my faith so much. I wanna share my life testimonies and miracles here. I finally understand that I have seen God’s goodness and His mercy in every aspect of my life.

We all have different talents and please don’t hesitate to be a God’s instrument to serve other people in the skills that you have.

Churchgoers

Church is a place for imperfect persons and people should not thought that people who loves going to church cannot commit mistakes.  

In fact, church is a hospital for sinners.

Choosing Solitude, Forgivenesss, and Silence

As I mature, I wanna share this realization that you can outgrow someone without hating them. You are only choosing yourself and your peace of mind. If some people will cancel you because of your decision of choosing your inner peace, you don’t have to please other people because in the first place your feelings are valid. If you’ve been hurt before or maybe you hurt someone unintentionally, you can forgive and pray for them.

Forgiveness is not always having any connection nor wanting to have any reunion with them. Maturity means praying for their safety and realizing that those people who made you wrong are not bad person, it’s just some people doesn’t match your vibe, values and character. Forgiveness is a pleasing human action and it is necessary for our growth as a person and for our own healing.  

If the God closed a chapter in your life, never think of going back because God definitely has a reason why. Don’t ask for immediate answers, just let go and trust Him. Just always focus on the positive side not on the negative ones.

In life, there are moments that when someone throws a rock in front of you or maybe when someone will just look in the dirt of your face, you will feel the strong urge to fight back. You want to explain yourself and your side to other people who are questioning your character and intentions as a person. God knows the real story and what happened. Sometimes being right doesn’t need to prove your point and to voice out your feelings. God knows when someone is talking behind your back so He removes some people to replace them with good ones.

Choosing solitude, forgiveness and silence mean letting God defend you.  We are not always in a good state, sometimes we feel sick physically and sometimes our emotions are not stable so avoid making life changing decisions and saying words that can create new wounds instead of healing old ones. You can only choose what stories to tell and not everyone is meant to hear the whole story.  Remember that our Almighty Father knows about our own value far more than what other people may assume.

God saw our moments of sorrow, He is not just a God who is with us during our triumphs and success. He is also right next to you in the moments of trials. He was there guiding you when you felt like a failure, when someone disrespected you, when you’ve been hurt, when you’ve been gaslighted by the people whom you trust the most.

Let us learn to thank God not only for the blessings but also for the wound, pain and healing that shaped us to be a better individual. Praise Him through the blessings and pain. There are some things that are meant to happen for us to have a stronger relationship with our Almighty Father.

God defends our heart and He wants to protect all His children. Remember the phrase in Jeremiah 29:11 “plans to prosper and not to harm” because God has plans to give us a better future. God will always remove you from situations that no longer deserve access to you.

There is a time to speak up and there is also a time to speak in silence. Let us all trust that the truth will always prevail without necessary explanation and God will bless us innumerably when we SURRENDER everything to HIM. 

Let God fight the battles that were never meant to be yours. God is also preparing the gifts that He wants us to have in the future. I know that we are all still a work in progress.

Just like the farmers who waited for the harvest and reaping season of the seeds that they planted. Everything takes time and the process is not always linear.

And if ever you planned something and things went out differently to what you’ve planned originally, that is just God’s way of saying to you that there are so many good things waiting for you and you just have to trust His timing and be patient..

May this simple post be a source of hope especially to those who are lost and almost giving up. In God’s time, all our dreams and prayers will be answered in the most unique way.

Have a blessed 2026 everyone!

Love lots, A 💕

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“O woman, great is your faith! Your request is granted.” – Matthew 15:28