The Desire for Freedom

We all have fears. Sometimes we fear the big things like traumas from the past. There are times we fear the unknown. We feel anxious and overwhelmed by circumstances. And that our fears will haunt us forever.

Just like the present Covid-19 vaccination, more people are getting anxious. Some would have wanted it, while others are still fearful. It's an answered prayer that finally we have a solution to the pandemic. 

We have protection in the form of a vaccine. We can't be living like this where people are getting infected and die every day. Since we now have a vaccine, we have to take action. We have to decide. We have to let go of our fears.

Some reasons for fears of the vaccine could be due to lack of factual information and the spread of disinformation on social media. The latter is common and harms the confidence of the people.

Some would also fear the side effects or adverse reactions they heard or watched on the news. They perceive it to be realistic and do they refuse to be a victim.

I'm now fully vaccinated against Covid-19. The day before the 123rd celebration of the Philippine Independence, I got vaccinated for the 2nd dose. That was an act of courage and altruism. That's because we protect not only ourselves but also our families, loved ones, and communities. 

We've been suffering a lot already for more than a year since the pandemic. It made us keep our distance from our loved ones and other people. It created a barrier on our physical bodies by wearing masks and face shields. It has made people lonely and depressed. It affected the way we live. And it killed our higher hopes and dreams.

The time will come for the Covid-19 vaccine will be rolled out to everyone. We can't afford to get sick, and we don't deserve to die. We have to achieve herd immunity so we can regain our lives. 

Life has to move on despite the challenges we all face at the moment. Life is good, no matter how worse circumstances are. And on our desire for freedom, we have to give our greatest sacrifice. We need to show our love. 

©️ 2021 Del Cusay

Magical Night in Jaipur

To complete my journey to India's golden triangle, I was lucky to visit the lost Kingdom of Jaipur in the state of Rajasthan.

It's known as the Pink city since many palaces and structures are painted pink even back in the old days of its monarchy.

From Delhi, it took us five hours to reach Jaipur for a grand MDP talk about Harmonizing Power, love, and light among women at Marriott hotel.

That was a well-organized event and an inspirational talk of Master Del Pe, as he empowered women about their role in society and awakening their inherent power.

Among the cities in India, Jaipur is one of the most welcoming. The hospitality of the Rajasthani people is heartwarming. That's one thing I admire even on a short visit.

Some magical moments happen at a Rajasthani specialty restaurant. That was a cultural night showcasing their dance and music. It was fun watching cultural performances that are wonderful and graceful.

After the cultural presentation and the welcome drinks, it's time for dinner, and we entered their indoor dining area and waited for the food to be served fresh and hot. 

It was a unique ambiance with a Rajasthani backdrop and painting on dim lighting. We were seated on the floor like a typical Indian seating position. The servers carefully pour over the food on the plate for every meal course that includes dessert. 

That was good Rajasthani cuisine and a light mood until we finished our meal. Then we had our pictures taken on a backdrop that resembles the arches in the palace. 

That was a fiery hot night from the cultural presentation to the sumptuous meal. I had fun and was delighted.

Magic happens when we see something unimaginable, and Jaipur showed us their best offering.

From Delhi to Agra and Jaipur. Finally, I'd completed the golden triangle. Those were the best moments worth reminiscing. There's always a spark, and there's always magic. And it leaves a lasting impact in our hearts.

© 2021 Del Cusay

Getting a Vaccine Against Covid-19

If there's one thing I would regret not doing on this pandemic, it's about not being vaccinated against Covid-19.

When thousands of people are dying every day, and millions of people are infected, I couldn't care less by non-participation in mass vaccination.

We've all been waiting for this. That finally, the world will have its solution to protect humanity against deadly diseases. Now, the world has produced highly effective vaccines that would help us achieve herd immunity. The next move is on us. 

If I don't get vaccinated, I'll have a chance of getting infected. Also, I can infect many people, including my loved ones. I may have strong immunity, but there's also a chance that I'll die if it's severe. When the people I've infected would also infect others, the cycle goes on, and more people are at risk of their health.

So getting vaccinated isn't just a choice. But it's an obligation. I don't care only about myself. I also care about my family, friends, and humanity because we're all suffering from this pandemic.

We've suffered a lot already, and our way of living had changed tremendously. Several country's economies were affected, and many companies had closed. More people lost their jobs. Individual and family income had decreased, and more people are getting mental health issues.

We've learned a lesson from this pandemic. It's a test of our resilience, tolerance, and character in times of crisis.

This pandemic should teach us to be stronger. It shouldn't lead to misunderstandings, fights, and blame games. It shouldn't destroy relationships, and it shouldn't destroy humanity.

This pandemic is about our commitment to a new start. It's time to be more health-conscious because good health is valuable. We may have neglected our health, but this time we can't afford to get sick. Hence, we have to be in excellent health.

We may never know when we'll finally remove our masks and face shields. We may also never know when we can keep closer to hug and kiss our loved ones. But, with proper health protocols and vaccination, we're on the way to reaching our goal. That finally, the day will come that everything is back to normal and that we'll no longer suffer in our daily lives.

Be brave. Be bold. Keep on fighting, and keep on living. Once this pandemic is gone, it'll be a battle we've fought so hard. We've survived, and we'll thrive.

©️ Del Cusay

Pashupatinath Temple: Of Life and Death

All life comes to an end. That's a reality that most of us are scared of or in denial of the fate of human existence. In short, we'll all die. But happens when on our earthy departure? And so, one day, I was brought to a place to see the dead bodies for cremation rites on the holiest Bagmati River in Kathmandu, Nepal. 

My tourist guide brought me to one of the holiest Hindu temples in Kathmandu. He thought my visit wouldn't be complete without it since it's declared a UNESCO World Heritage site and is a highly revered place among Hindus.

It was a unique place since the temples and ashrams are on the riverside. The Bagmati River is holy among Hindus, and it's where they bring the dead bodies of their love for cremation rites.

I can't believe to had witnessed cremation rites open to the public. It was like more than five dead bodies are cremated in the first hour since I arrived.

I was on the hill portion of the riverside, where other locals also came to witness. You can see the greyish-white smoke emitted from the dead bodies as it's burned. You can imagine smoky air on the cremation area from afar. I felt uncomfortable at first, but I have to respect and learn from their religious beliefs.

Hindus believe that our physical body is irrelevant as we die, so they cremate it instead of burying it. In Pashupatinath, families bring the dead body of their loved ones. It's to perform the last rites before they bid farewell to their dearly departed.

As the dead body arrives on the Bagmati riverside, they wash their feet with water from the river. They sprinkle some rice and shower some marigold on the face before it gets burned. Then the ashes are scattered in the river. The family members would also walk three times in a clockwise direction around a wooden funeral pyre before placing the dead body on top.

That was an unforgettable experience back in 2013. Suddenly, it flashed back when I watched on television the mass cremation rites in open grounds in New Delhi. This time, families cremate their loved ones who died due to Covid-19.

Pashupatinath temple is a holy site in honor of Lord Shiva, the destroyer in Hinduism.

When I stepped out of the Pashupatinath complex, I had mixed emotions. The place and the cremation rites may not be for the fain-hearted, but I survived.

I may not have enjoyed much my visit to Pashupatinath, but I'm glad for the learnings. It was like reliving a lesson from my world history class. 

One thing I've learned is that when we die, our families will be there until the end to care for us. Our physical bodies may have vanished, but great memories remain in their hearts. Like Hindus, we may believe in the concept of karma and reincarnation. That may be, we don't only live once, but we're just waiting on our rebirth when our time comes to an end.

©️2021 Del Cusay

Mother's Day Special: Endless Love

What happens when we're no longer on our Mother's side? What happens when we have separate lives away from her Motherly touch and care?

Now that we're grown up to live a challenging life, our Mothers will always be there to check on us and make us feel loved and cared for from a distance.

Mother's Loving instinct is always right. She will check on our well-being, our whereabouts our achievements. That makes us proud and feel uplifted whenever we fight our challenging battles. 

Mothers are known to be superwomen. They can sense struggles and can heal our emotions to keep us whole. They have the power to communicate with us when we're at a crossroads and don't know what to do. A telepathic Mother who'll guide us wherever we are and whatever we do. Just call her name, and she'll surely be there to rescue you.

Mothers know best, and that is true. There are times when we think we are on the right track, but she'll be there to redirect us, and so we'll find our direction. The path she knows is safer and for our good.

Mothers are great fighters. They will sacrifice everything to raise us well. And so we can stand on our own. They fight hidden struggles unknown to us, and they were victorious.

Today, as we celebrate Mother's day, we also think about all the Mothers in our lives. To our sisters who are great Mothers to their kids and families. To our relatives and friends who are Mothers who never give up and continue doing their Motherly roles.

Mother's Day special is about showing our gratitude and endless love to our Mother. She's the greatest love of our life, and her Endless presence will always be our guiding light.

©️ 2021 Del Cusay

Mental Health and Coping during Covid-19 Pandemic

Today's world is full of stress that makes us feel tired and sick. That's part of living, but we need to stay healthy and full of vitality. We need to let go of the stuck energies affecting our health. We have to release what's unwanted on our bodies. We need to be well.

How can we become healthy when our world becomes smaller, yet we only have few choices left? How can we show vigor when we feel not about our best selves?

The Covid-19 pandemic is an addition to our stressors. It's making us sick day by day. The news updates we read and hear regularly causes anxiety and sadness. 

We can't just ignore the news and stay calm at all times. To feel empathetic is fine. It's normal to feel the suffering of other people. It's normal to sympathize with those whose lives were lost and still fighting for their lives to survive.

We can't just be feeling that way again and again. We can choose to stay above our lower emotions, and we can start to build up ourselves to become strong and unbreakable.

Dealing with our mental health during this time of pandemic is essential to our wellbeing. We need to continue living with sanity and clear consciousness. A sound mind is what we need for clear and best judgment. 

Wherever we are, we can always release our stress, anxiety, and fatigue. We don't need to physically go to the beach at this time of the pandemic. We can sit still in the comfort of our home or while lying on the bed.

Meditation is our best weapon to release our stress and have peace of mind. Since we can't travel a great distance to our favorite beach destinations, we utilize the power of our minds through meditation.

We always choose an ocean or a beach whenever we meditate. It's the saltiness of the water that extracts the stuck energy on our bodies. 

When we think of an ocean or a beach, its saltiness becomes a powerful extractor of our negativities. Same as we physically visit an actual beach, but this time we imagine and recall vividly the beautiful memories that made us feel good about ourselves. 

Releasing the stuck energies on our physical, emotional, and mental bodies enables us to plan and energize our future. 

This pandemic shouldn't make us feel bad about ourselves and the world that we're living. We can always feel good and choose wisely our thoughts, emotions, and intentions.

We may not be able to do as much in our community or help save as many people as possible. However, in our little way, we can start the healing first on our self. The healing always starts within us. That's our gift to ourselves and our contribution to our community -- to stay healthy and happy.

Despite the pains and sufferings, we share our best selves by choosing wellness over illness. Being physically fit, emotionally stable, and mentally healthy in these times of uncertainty.

©️ 2021 Del Cusay

Boracay's Environmentally Conscious Tourism

Boracay Island in the Philippines is one of the top tourist destinations and remains one of the top beaches in the world. 

Boracay Island in the Philippines is one of the top tourist destinations and remains one of the top beaches in the world. This island is recognized annually by various international magazines and travel websites as one of the world's best. And since then, it has contributed to the influx of tourists from all over the world.

What I like about Boracay is its diversity; from different nationalities and locations where it suits the taste and preferences of the tourist. It's like a melting pot of cultures and personalities making it truly a world-class tourist destination.

Boracay Island may seem like a perfect paradise, but it has its hidden imperfections uncovered. I've seen it! I was there in April 2016, about two years before President Duterte made an order for the island's closure for rehabilitation in April 2018.

For years, big businesses like hotels have deceived tourists and their hotel guests by providing reading material that explains the occurrence of the algae that makes the shoreline dark green and unsightly. I can't believe how they disseminate disinformation by making it appear to be a natural occurrence.

I saw the big pipes from establishments that excrete wastewaters to the shore where untreated sewages are flowing, making the water in the area dark green and dirty.

The president called it a cesspool, and that observation is very evident. Then he ordered a 6-month closure of the island. That move was a big sacrifice for the thousands of businesses and island workers and the number of affected tourists. The projected billions of pesos lost for the island's tourism paved the way to pursue its rehabilitation for intended revitalization.

What can we do to help our tourism have a significant impact on its sustainability and environmental protection? I believe that the 6-month rehabilitation of Boracay made us realize that money from tourism alone won't make us truly rich and progressive. But our environmental consciousness as a tourist will help destinations like Boracay to be sustainable and highly livable.

Tourism is our number one industry, and it's booming before the Covid-19 pandemic came. When the lockdown happened, tourism was down and almost dying, but we've seen clean and crystal clear waters of Boracay. It means that business establishments and tourists are the main contributors to the pollution of the island.

Do we need a 6-month rehabilitation of our topmost islands every six years? Well, that would surely hurt tourism, but it's for the good of the environment. We need to balance our tourism and its environmental impact so we can truly call it a paradise.

There's progress in Boracay as compared to the first time I visited the island in 1998. It's becoming too commercial, and the island may have lost its serenity and ambiance due to its fast-growing present-day development.

We need to boost more and promote our tourism. We have the best islands and beaches, but we also need responsible Businessmen, and for us to be environmentally conscious tourists. We leave no trace but footprints and great memories. 

When we can travel again without restrictions, we'll now become better tourists. And together, we help revive our tourism and our God-given paradise.

©️ 2021 Del Cusay

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Easter Sunday 2021: The Promised Land

Where will be our destination after this Covid-19 pandemic? Will there be a promised land waiting for us, just like God's command for the people's great exodus in ancient Egypt? Will our top leaders become like Moses, who will make a great sacrifice and lead its people safely away from threats and destructions?

The hostility and uncertainty during this pandemic brought misery and deep suffering in our lives in modern times. The powerful and influential even became strong, and the weak and poor became poorer.

That's our current reality. With billions of people suffering, we feel the oneness of humanity for a great plan of the massive exodus. This time is to end the pains and suffering of the pandemic that's killing us.

Moses protected its people under his leadership, and they succeeded and have reached the promised land. Today, it's the time our leaders must follow the footstep of Moses and hear the voice of God to protect and fight for its people against the unseen enemy.

Religions of the world play a role that influences the nation's government and its leaders to save us and overcome this great challenge of our time. 

Our leaders shouldn't give up on us even until the end. We may never know how long we're going to fight and remain steadfast. But, one thing is sure that God speaks to the leaders of our land amidst the noise and chaos.

We hope that our leaders listen to the voice of God that speaks to them; that they will accept the crosses entrusted. We all have our crosses we carry because God is testing our faith in the greatest challenge of our time. 

When we survive this pandemic, we'll all live in the promised land. That hopefully, our nation and leaders will be wiser. That we'll eventually become great believers, and all our lives become better than ever.

©️ 2021 Del Cusay

Holy Week 2021: The Path to Salvation

We live on earth for a purpose. We have a mission to fulfill for the glory of God and our salvation.

That's the promise of Christ. We live to do good and find a deeper meaning to our existence, and then we live in eternity when we die.

But how can we find a meaningful living amidst the threats and chaos in our times? With the Covid-19 pandemic, we all seem to suffer, and many people are getting sick and dying.

Have they fulfilled their purpose? Their mission? 

The rich and the poor, the young and the old, the weak and the strong are dying. No one seems spared once infected by the deadly unseen enemy.

A year has passed, and we seem to repeat our mistakes. It's like suffering continues until a lesson must have learned. It's a cycle, and we keep on experiencing a predictable turn of events. We seem to know what will happen next. We've been there, and we're just viewing a rewind and watching another season of the same events.

Are we in control of all of these? Is God in control?

One thing that Christ had sacrificed is his passion, death, and resurrection to save humanity from sin. He endured sufferings for us to understand our nature of living. And not to be cowardly or defeated by our demons and weaknesses.

If the world is doing its cleansing, we all suffer; either we survive or die. We're probably the first or the last in line. Eventually, our fate is that we die. Not our will, but His divine will.

Who will save us? What happens when we die?

Christ taught us that, He is the way, the truth, and the life. When we listen and follow Him, he'll forever be in our hearts and minds and eternally. Our path to salvation will always have Divine guidance. Our salvation is to live each day with faith in our hearts. To follow and be guided, to suffer and survived, and to be crucified and be resurrected.

©️ 2021 Del Cusay

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The Purple Garden in the Sky

Purple color is known to be a symbol of spirituality. It gives a pleasant appeal before the eyes and deep into the soul. It nourishes the body and the mind and expands our consciousness.

That makes purple the color of choice among lovers who have chosen to celebrate a milestone with Divine love and light.

Anywhere we go, we see shades of purple. Like from lilac to lavender and from indigo to magenta. It's soothing, and it aids in healing. 

And so, we choose a spiritual color that rejuvenates the body and awakens the power of the soul. That makes us feel good, look good and do good; as we take the path leading toward another height -- our dreams, goals, and heart's desires. 

As we continuously seek the meaning of life and purpose, the purple color reminds us of our expanded consciousness and higher self. We're a spiritual being that experiences love and compassion that radiates to others.

The purple flowers in the garden and the purple sky are reminders of a spiritual connection that challenges our imagination and ambition. With clarity of our thoughts and intentions, we see the light shining through us. The radiance makes us feel light in an instant and out of the blue. 

It's this life we chose that makes us feel alive. We live each day with gratitude in our hearts, and we live to give inspiration and motivation, to keep on moving and in constant motion.

Life is good. We are very blessed with the people we share our love with so dearly. With the Divine blessings, we're even more delighted by the graces we receive every day. From this day, and for the rest of our lives.

©️ 2021 Del Cusay

Walking Tour in Ermita

The district of Ermita in downtown Manila serves as the economic and cultural center for centuries. It's where refined architectures of the 20th-century are well-preserved or rebuilt back on their glorious days.

It's great to have a walking tour in a Historical site that honors the bravery and patriotism of the Filipino people. Truly built for the Filipino and showcased to the world.

Ermita is once a posh community for Manila's elite and high society being the center for business, education, finance, religious and cultural activities. 

As the Philippine capital, I would always feel great and proud to walk on the historical streets of the old district of Ermita. There are so many emotions to cling to the past, from Spanish to the American colonial times.

When people nowadays prefer to go to malls as an indoor park, still it's not a match to the charm of a natural outdoor park where people would go for a weekend stroll and enjoy a relaxing ambiance.

It's good to have a developed and well-maintained central park in a large metropolitan where people can do several physical and recreational activities for health and leisure. 

A park in honor of the great Philippine national hero, Jose Rizal, remains the premier landmark and attracts local and foreign tourists. Rizal is highly revered and remains an idol of the Filipino people, especially the younger generations. He's truly an icon of democracy, bravery, and national identity.

As a reverence to his heroism, it's always great to visit and be in touch about history in his life, emulate his ways and learn about loyalty to one's country.

Before Covid-19, Rizal park was fully vibrant, with many people doing their fitness and activities for leisure. On June 12, 2019, I attended the flag-raising in commemoration of the Philippine independence day, witnessing the presence of Vice President Robredo for the traditional wreath-laying at Rizal's monument. That was a great experience to be part of a historical moment.

Today, Rizal Park in Ermita remains beautiful even with few people due to Covid-19 restrictions. I've never imagined how things would change due to the pandemic, but somehow grateful to have chosen a historical site for a romantic walking tour experience.

The parks and streets of Ermita will remain to be refined and wondrous places despite modernization in the 21st century. With bustling metropolis and the rising skyscrapers, it will still be the center of attraction with great learnings from the past.

I may visit the famous global landmarks, but I would always look back to have a deeper appreciation and reverence for our national heritage and national treasure.

Wherever we are in the world, Manila will always be our home and our identity. Today and in years to come, we'll always cherish the good times, great memories, and the lesson it brings.

©️ 2021 Del Cusay

The Old Walls and Cobblestones of Intramuros

Walking through the old walls and alleys of Intramuros gives a pleasant taste of what life is like back in time. The time when life seems refined and where arts are highly appreciated.

Today, the streets of Intramuros are back to life with people from all walks of life. Back in time, it was only exclusive for Spanish high-ranking officials and their families and other Filipino mestizos. 

Intramuros gives a new perspective about culture and heritage where the past meets the present time. The old Manila district of Intramuros is full of tales as old as time and turns into a magical place from sunset to dusk and beyond. 

The San Agustin church is a beautiful architectural wonder hailed as a World Heritage site and the oldest Baroque church in the Philippines built in the 16th century. It's a testament to the deep and meaningful faith of the Filipinos back then, and now it's continued to be preserved and restored for the generation to come.

Intramuros is also a home of the premiere church and a minor Basilica --the Manila Cathedral. It's one of the most beautiful churches in the country that stood the test of time. It was heavily devastated during wartime and rebuilt several times to bring back to its glory.

The façade of the Manila Cathedral is full of arts with sculptures similar to European pilgrim sites. It provides a beautiful backdrop and is always romantic. 

A year after the pandemic, more Filipinos, especially the younger generation, have a deeper appreciation and understanding of the rich heritage of Intramuros. We may have lost foreign tourists during this time, yet we Filipinos have not lost our sense of pride and nationalism as we patronage our very own national treasure.

The old walls and the cobblestone streets of Intramuros are a glimpse of our past. It's a window to our soul as a strong nation and as a true Filipino.

As we continue our journey, we show our deepest desires to fully understand our past and relate it to the present times. Our old Manila walks are just a great learning experience of remembering the past while living fully in the present moment --the Present times.

©️ 2021 Del Cusay

The Highlands of Tagaytay

When the smoke emits up high on a volcano, and when the ashes fall, that must be something scary. And what's even frightening is when the smallest active volcano disrupts peoples' lives.

That was the scene in January 2020 when the Taal volcano erupted. People were frightened and put on forced evacuation. Nearby establishments were closed, and many families lost their homes and livelihood.

A year after, life is back to normal for the people of Taal and Tagaytay. The beauty and grandeur of the famous lake captivate one's soul from any distance.

The cool climate of Tagaytay is perfect for a bowl of beef bulalo and a cup of coffee with the breathtaking view of the Taal lake and volcano. I love its romantic scenery, and I'll never get tired of it. I feel so relax, and it truly heals the soul.

People's park in the sky offers the best view of Taal lake. It's cool and windy on the highest point of Tagaytay, and the backdrop is naturally stunning. Tagaytay highlands and the Crosswinds offer a Swiss-like landscape with beautiful mountains and greeneries. 

I would love to be there. It's truly enchanting!

The picnic grove is fun-filled moments with a much closer view of Taal lake. The place has changed a lot since our last family visit in 2016. More changes are in place, hoping that it won't lead to overdevelopment, but a balance of nature and city life.

A year after the lockdown, more people visit places of interest, and they deserve a great place to unwind and rejuvenate. Tagaytay is just beautiful, and the Taal lake is naturally wonderful and perfect for a weekend family getaway.

The Highlands of Tagaytay is a home away from home. It's a livable city away from Manila and will always remain to be beautiful.

What makes it enjoyable and romantic is when you share happiness with your family and special someone. It's great to make memories that last, and we'll always create meaningful moments to cherish and reminisce.

©️ 2021 Del Cusay

Timeless Magical Moments

What makes you bring back to the timeless moments in your life? Those times when you're ecstatic and almost living in a fantasy.

There are times in our lives when we're chasing time that creates excitement. An exhilarating experience of a magnificent journey.

If only we could bring back time, it would have been the moment when we got to believe in magic. It happens, and it puts us on cloud nine.

Time is just an illusion. When we're in a hurry, time seems so fast, and when we're waiting, time seems so slow. But what's certain is that we can always choose to bring back time on a specific period in our lives.; those times when we celebrate our journey to love -- whenever we feel loving and giving.

There are also moments when we feel some regrets whenever we bring back time. There are those moments when we didn't listen to our intuition and became out of direction.

When I'm in a state of joy, it brings smiles and lightness from deep within. The magic suddenly happens, and the pain would disappear --it truly heals.

And what makes us glow is our timeless and meaningful experiences. We keep on rewinding, and we keep on reminiscing. 

From this moment, I won't be chasing time because the magical moment already happened, and it can make things happen.

Time can tell whenever we look back or see the future ahead. Just live at the present moment. Enjoy and let time do its magic.

©️ 2021 Del Cusay

Moving Forward and Going Further

When was the last time you think of giving up? Your goals, ambitions! Your dreams and desires!

When we're not fueled anymore by our passion and motivation, it's easy to quit. But what happens when we're no longer serving our purpose just by giving up? 

One thing I've learned in the corporate world is to keep on burning. Keep in mind the desires, hopes, and positive future.

Working at Ford made me realize the importance of going further; in life and just everything. To "go further" means many things to people. For me, it's about achieving our ultimate potential and doing our best to be at the top of the line; to be at the peak of performance; always full tank and energized.

Ford Global City and Ford Manila allowed me to be success-driven to go further. There may be some crossroads, but I always remember to move forward and keep the passion alive.

This time, keep on moving no matter what happens. The road to the peak may be rough at times, but we're not giving up because we believe that we can always choose to go further and live a better life forever.

©️ 2021 Del Cusay

Year of the Ox and the Valentine

It's a different celebration of Chinese New year for this year. I visited the Manila Chinatown for the new year, and it's not much vibrant and festive due to the health threat of a pandemic.

I remember how the district of Binondo in Manila was full of energy with the massive crowd celebrating the Chinese new year. 

It was colorful. It was fun!

And so this year is my year! I was born in the year of the Wood Ox according to the Chinese animal sign, and this year happens to be the celebration of the year of the said animal sign.

Ever since my younger years, I used to be fascinated with the Chinese zodiacs and astrology that we follow even up to this day.

With the Ox sign, I believe that it exhibits some characteristics like dependability and productivity. It may always be hard in the beginning, but eventually, things will be easy.

Ox born individual may have higher expectations and has good leadership potential. The vigorous and hardworking built of the Ox will make all obstacles and challenges be overcomes.

The most meaningful message for this year is to stay calm and patient, that eventually, the wheel of fortune will turn in one's favor. That's what I need to work on myself. I've been patiently waiting after a deep slumber, and may this year be a new beginning.

A new hope, career, passion, and energy!

And so, just two days after the Chinese new year is the celebration of Valentine's day. It's about evoking emotions of love and care -- of remembering and reminiscing.

February is the month of love, and so we have chosen this month for our lifelong undertaking. This time may be the most beautiful moment of meaningful and soulful expression of love.

And so, today is the heart's day. It's the time when we send special wishes to our loved ones. Despite the distance, love would always be there, not just for today but in every moment of our lives.

The new year is about a new beginning. We express our love, and we nourish it. And so, just like a flower, it will bloom and become beautiful. It gives smiles and making one cheerful.

©️ 2021 Del Cusay