Divine Mercy Shrine in El Salvador, Misamis Oriental

Last November (2017), I had the chance to visit the Divine Mercy Shrine in El Salvador, Misamis Oriental. If I may say so, I think October and November of last year is my well-traveled months. It was... refreshing.

I was staying at New Dawn Hotel Plus in Cagayan de Oro when out of the blue, I decided to go visit the Divine Mercy Shrine since I was already there and it was a free day for me anyway.

A Summary of My 2017

Having a tragic 2016 made me not anticipate anything for 2017. But unexpected things (good ones) happened — things that I never thought would be possible. I am just so glad that I did not expected anything, and they just kind of happened.

"Everyday holds the possibility of a miracle."

- Elizabeth David

CLOSURE

I never thought I needed closure to a place that gave me (and my entire family) a lot of fears and doubts in life. I didn’t realize that until I was in that very same place, eleven years later. Prior to going there, I was already feeling a lot of things altogether. I was so close to cancelling the trip at the last minute but later on I realized that I have to do it, once and for all.

It was a business trip, but after all the affairs I needed to attend to, I went to see a friend that I haven’t seen for the last eleven years. We were still young girls when we last saw each other and now, she has a family of her own already. Before meeting her, I went to visit Nuestra Señora Virgen de Regla Parish Church. This church has played a big role for my family when we were still living in Lapu-Lapu City. My parents used to be street vendors, just right next to the church and I used to help them there after school, every day.

For a year and couple of months of living in that city, I saw how my parents struggled. It was tough. I can’t believe we survived that time of our lives.

To Renew or Not

I’ve been planning to renew my passport even though it will expire by December of 2018. It is not because I will be traveling for a long time, but it’s because I just want to get my hands on the new Philippine passport.

I know it’s a silly reason, but based on the pictures I saw online, the new passport looks really nice.

Life in Biliran

I've been to many provinces in the Philippines, especially in Eastern Visayas and Northern Samar. Living in the province is one of the most quiet and safe place in my entire life. They established harmony, hospitality, and peace. They preserved the norms and traditions, that only in the provinces in the Philippines you can experience.

Photo grabbed from Vigattintourism.com