Dear Reader,

I hope 2025 was kind to you. If not exactly in every moment, I hope at least as we close the year, you are able to look back at the year with some fondness. I struggle to do that, honestly.

I started the year still riding the high of the end of 204. Optimistic. Determined. Ready to slay. I claimed that 2025 would be my “Year of Yes”. Yes to pushing myself. Yes to discovering new things that excite me. Yes to the right people. Yes to uncertainty.

While I managed to achieve much, I couldn’t help but feel that I could have done much more, and could have done better. I could’ve made the year more meaningful. I could’ve been more present for people who mattered. I probably could’ve done more to not let my team down. I could’ve pushed myself more across so many things.

But, I couldn’t. 

The whole year I was pouring myself out. I was emptying myself without realizing it. This year taught me that you really can’t pour from an empty cup. 

I was burnt out. Drained. Fatigued. Enervated. Hollowed out. All without a proper support system. All while having to pretend I was just managing fine. 

It really was a year of yes. But I realized, while I said yes to many things with other people in mind, somewhere along the way I forgot the most important thing to say “yes” to; saying yes to myself, saying yes to stepping into the golden daylight. 

And as painful as it was to relive every moment of this year, it was still a chapter that needed to be written. Even if it’s one I wish that had a different ending.

Hello Friend,

As I reread and reflect on this chapter for the last time, I think it would be unfair not to recognize moments that were worth celebrating.

It was a year with a lot of movement. Cycling. Boxing. Reformer. And running. I’m most proud of that one. I went from couch to half-marathon in 5 months. I ran at least 300km from April to present…and that’s only recording road runs. God knows how much more I ran on the treadmill during the rainy season. 

I rediscovered my love for photography. A lot of time spent in learning and shooting, and understanding the science and art more of capturing and editing, and not just simply relying on film simulations. Managed to get some paid gigs in the process! 

I found myself visiting my second home, Vietnam, and one of my comfort countries, Singapore. Revisited places that sparked joy. Discovered new places that brought some excitement. Reconnected with friends and familiar faces all of whom had the same warmth. 

I had my first visitor friend. It was nice showing him around a bit, and helping him tick some boxes on what he wanted to experience while in Manila. It was great having a friend who wanted to fly to meet me. It felt really nice. 

I had a renewed interest in teaching. For the first time, I taught a full calendar year balancing 6 units per semester. It was very interesting navigating through such a different generation of kids. But, all fun, at the end.

I kept my circle small. I was more intentional who had my energy. I spent more time with people who were with me through the highs and lows, the midnights and afterglows. Similarly, spent more time as well with people I knew who needed a familiar face celebrating them or just needing someone to be there.

Not every experience this year was good. But there were moments worth holding on to, and a few people I hope will never become strangers.

Hello self,

It’s the first day of 2026. It’s a new chapter, and maybe, a new book in itself. It’s really up to you how you will be writing this year. The only thing important right now is to move forward.

As you do, you don’t have to do much. You don’t need to exert so much pressure on yourself because, guess what? You’re fine. So many years have passed when it’s been about getting stronger and wiser, doing so many things and slaying it. You’ve pushed yourself hard too many times to seemingly prove a point to other people. And you’ve successfully done that, time and time again.

Didn’t you once say that even at your lowest, you were still better than some at their best?

This year, promise me one thing: be gentle on yourself as you choose yourself. Other people don’t matter. Live out this year with yourself at the center of everything, for a change. Live your life the way you want. Again, other people don’t matter.

Seek happiness. Commit to consistency. Be grounded. Honor rest. Immerse in purpose. Open yourself to possibilities. Stick to your values. Protect your energy. 

You have just closed a chapter. That story is no longer yours. 
Now, pursue yourself.