But the future I was looking forward to didn’t come into realization. The year 2020 happened. The pandemic put everything to a halt and like everyone else, I found myself in a fork in the road with seemingly dead ends on both paths. I no longer know where I was going and how to keep going.
The sun is up and mighty this unexpected holiday – and out of nowhere, my mind began to dream of the cool waters, the warm company, the sumptuous food: that much-needed trip to Maribago Blue Waters. Weird. On normal days, my mind would usually drift into the trails and mountains. Those close to me know I’m no beach person. It’s always summits rather than seas.
There was a time in my life when I also dreamt of becoming a cosplayer, an animator, and a graphic novelist. It was the obvious fascination with anime that led to those childhood fantasies. Growing up, I’ve always pictured myself doing something related to those Japanese animations.
‘Mr. Queen’ tells about the gender-bending story of a Blue House chef from the present (Bong-hwan) who got into a comical accident and got his soul entrapped in the body of the Joseon-era Queen (Kim So Yong).
When the Camellia Blooms follows the story of the single mother Dong Baek (Gong Hyo Jin) who settles with her son in the fictional town of Ongsan. There she puts up a bar business, named Camellia, which became the talk among her conservative neighbors. Years after she meets the local policeman, Hwang Yong Sik (Kang Ha Neul) and finds love in him, the people around her, and the circumstances that came along with her life.
Watching Haikyu!! brought back those years. The crazy energy. The drive. The willingness to practice. The team. So nostalgic. It was the answer to Kei Tsukishima’s question on the first season of the series: if it was just a club activity, why spend so much energy and put your heart into it?
Cebu Mountain Tour is actually a popular choice among those who fancy mountain adventures. Thanks to Cebu’s unique topography, going to its highlands will only take a few minutes from the city proper. This is the reason why bikers and motorcycle riding clubs frequent these places – accessibility, astounding vista, and gentle mountain breeze.
But Nam Do-san of Start-Up Kdrama series made me realize that I’m not a hopeless case. That not everyone can practically manage raising themselves like Ji-pyeong. That it’s okay to not know where you’re going. That it’s fine to have insecurities – and compare yourself to others. That you just have to continue because along the way you will meet people or experience events that will help you answer this existential question. You just have to trust the process.
Before 2020 ended, my friends and I decided to do a hike to one of Cebu’s notorious trails: Mt. Babag. We all know how risky hiking is in this ‘new normal’. Those who have been in the outdoors know the potential injuries, trail hazards, and now, virus infection this pursuit of passion entails. Here’s what happened in our recent ascent to Mt. Babag.
So, Christmas must go on. Despite all the troubles of this year, the fact that you and I are still alive (and kicking for that matter) is totally something to celebrate. As this year is a little different, maybe we should also scale up the gifts that we are planning to give to keep everyone safe but still happy this time of pandemic.
Dakilanglaagan 