It’s been a while, my friend!

1 month ago

Hello everyone! I’m alive! So many things happened within the 6 months, the good, the bad, the ugly, and the unbelievable. Here’s my little recap icymi 1. I still have Balai Tauhay, but in a “new” home I decided to forgo my spot in Coquitlam on March. While I am eternally grateful for the people I have served and met in that space, It wasn’t feasible for me to be in a space where I am not really profiting. I decided to continue as a contractor for my mentor at MBL Artistry in Richmond. It started out slow, but now, I’m glad I’m getting more trusted clients, free educational upgrades, and at the same time, a lot of experience. I also decided to study more techniques and now, I’m also an official Japanese Head Spa therapist! This is a great job but it has also tanked a little bit of my finances for a while. Building a business is very hard and as much as I also want to fully focus on my business, I had to be realistic. So, I decided to look for more jobs which brings me to… 2. I have a fun “full time” seasonal job I am currently working for a tour bus company and honestly, I’m so glad I’m here. I’m back to my customer service roots and believe it or not, I am really liking this job! Honestly, I love customer service facing jobs and I know there are times when dealing with people can be tough. But for some reason, and not to toot my own horn, I’m actually good at it. I also love helping out people to their destinations and also showcase how beautiful Vancouver is! But, it doesnt stop there 3. I picked up a job that is still a little bit of a secret until it’s official (and it’s permanent if I am succesful!) It’s a really exciting one! Until the final exams are done, then I could really tell what that job is. Just a little hint, It’s also a customer facing job that’s related to the job I’ve done about a decade ago for around 4 years. Speaking of exciting I did a lot of things crazy within the week of Canada day and well, that weekend too. But, I might have to do a separate one on this 🫣 (clue: it’s related to my new tattoo) To summarise it all, I’m still working on building Balai Tauhay but I also did my best to keep it going by supplementing my business with a job. Don’t worry, Balai Tauhay is not going anywhere. It’s just going to take some time to have it all for myself again. We’ll get there!

Boss Up, Settle Down (not really), got a wish list

8 months ago

It's almost the end of the year. I'm here to reflect on the things I would want to do in the next few weeks, months, or even years. Call me crazy, I'm a more go with the flow type of girl. But I know, that would not work in the business industry, especially when I am still starting. I know a lot of my friends are very busy for the holidays, and as much as I want to plan a goal setting date with my girlies, I might resort to this. My goal this 2025 was simple. It was to live up to see 12/31/2025 and ring the new year in 1/1/2026. I was in my darkest place last 2024 and I'd never thought I'd see the day where I'm currently still existing. But that's more of a story for another time ______________________________________________________________________________________ HERE ARE MY 2026 AND BEYOND GOALS (as of 12.21.2025) I know there's gonna be more Business: - Get clients through advertisements (and actually have enough money to do paid advertisements) - Get at least 2 clients a week (then build it up one client at a time. Maybe 5-7 a week would be amazing) - Get enough funds to at least pay for my rent and more - Get feedback to upgrade myself and make myself better - LEARN HOW TO DO MY OWN BOOKS AND TAXES - UPGRADE MY SKILLS by learning newer facial techniques - WORK SMARTER AND HARDER so I can have funds for my further education - LEARN TO TAKE CRITIQUES WITH MORE GRACE (Telling myself that it is okay, that's a real valuable lesson) - FINALLY sell my crafts (with proper research) - BUY THAT LED FACIAL LAMP/RED LIGHT THERAPY LAMP - SHARE MY SUPPORT AND LOVE MORE TO NEW STUDENTS Personal: - TO ACTUALLY STAY ALIVE TO SEE THE WHOLE 2026 - Sing again (I have lost the ability to sing with passion for some reason) - Dance again (Gotta shake that booty for myself) - WORK ON COMMUNICATION AND EMOTIONS - WORK ON MY HEALTH (woops) - BECOME MORE FINANCIALLY INDEPENDENT AGAIN - Be not afraid of failing and getting disappointed again and again - Accepting what life has to offer more than ever - Get myself out there and date again (and be okay with disappointment) - Learning how to cook more yummy vegetables and actually eat them (I usually don't like salad and the only way I'd eat veggies is if it is in soup or it is cooked) - Have my own personal time more often - Finally financially treating my family like to good dinners BUCKETLIST (NO DEADLINES) - STUDY IN ASIA FOR NEW TECHNIQUES (Hello Thailand and Korea) - Record a song (professionally) - Open up my own brick and mortar business - TO LIVE AND BE ALIVE __________________________________________________________________ I know this list would still be upgraded. 2025 aint ending yet. We have 10 days left. A lot of things can happen in those days. One thing's for sure, I'll do my best to enjoy it and stay alive.

Expensive Mistakes and Side Quests

9 months ago

Some jobs give you stability. Some give you excitement. Mine? Well… it gives me both, but mostly excitement and occasional panic. Facials, tattoos, and nails aren’t exactly known for consistency, and lately, I’ve been feeling the weight of that reality. One small mistake, one unexpected expense, and suddenly, the “what ifs” start piling up. But instead of letting anxiety take over, I decided to turn it into a side quest, a chance to create, experiment, and maybe even build a little financial safety net along the way. As we all know, facials, tattoos, and nails aren’t as stable as corporate jobs. I won’t lie—I’m really scared about my future because it’s not as predictable as what I’m used to. I miss the days when I didn’t have to worry about what comes next, relying only on my salary. I’ve sent out countless resumes and… well, let’s just say success has been elusive. I realized I needed to be creative and build a buffer. I hadn’t really thought about it until recently. Then I ran into a problem. A very expensive problem that's entirely my fault. My car got towed because I parked in visitors’ parking without a pass. Usually, I park there to make space for my clients. That day, since I had a later appointment, I parked in the spot beside our house. We finished well past the usual working hours. (I really don’t mind this. I actually love the flexibility of this job. I guess that’s what happens when you truly enjoy what you do!) I was tired and forgot to move my car. I assumed nobody would report it since I’d been doing this for YEARS. (We’ve lived in this area for over five years, after all.) But my car got towed. The consequences cost me nearly $500. There went this month’s earnings down the drain. Even though my family helped cover the fee (and even gave me an extra pass), I couldn’t help but feel anxious about the future. What if it happens again? What if I can’t recover? What if my business never flourishes? I started thinking about other sources of income. A “side quest,” if you will. Something to keep me moving forward. And then it hit me. If you know me, you know I love creating personalized gifts for my friends, baking cookies, drawing, making perfumes. I’ll try just about anything. But there’s one thing I’ve done consistently for the past two years as holiday gifts: PERFUME! either personal body mists or room scents. I love perfumes! Scents are deeply tied to my memories. I even collect perfumes from my travels to remember the journey. Since I was 14, I’ve always had a specific perfume memory each year, either buying one myself or asking my family to get it for me. With prices rising, I couldn’t always afford to buy perfumes, so I started making them myself to gift to loved ones, creating scents that reminded me of them. And that’s when I thought: why not sell them? I knew people can be very particular about their scents, so I decided to add another love of mine to the mix—lipsticks. As someone who’s passionate about skincare, both as an esthetician and a makeup enthusiast, I wanted to create lipsticks and skincare products that were genuinely good for the skin. It may sound crazy, but I’m currently in R&D for both products. I’m happy to say my family is fully supporting my little venture! They're even using my services to create gifts for their friends. Christmas is coming, and I know the holiday rush for both esthetics and gifts is starting. I’m excited to stay busy, save up for the quieter months, and maybe, in the future, achieve some financial stability. For now, I’ll be developing new lipstick shades, doing more research, and collecting feedback. Am I crazy? Maybe. Will I still do it? Absolutely. I don’t want to be anxious about the rainy days ahead. But I will prepare for them, with a lot of fun along the way!

Jack of all trades, Queen of some.

9 months ago

A double update? Yes! I mentioned this in my older (by older I mean 30 minutes ago) blog post: I have lived so many lives. I’ve tried so many hobbies. In reality, I feel like I am a master of none. But I could say I am a queen of some. Not perfect in all the ways I’ve learned, but I still feel like I’ve won a lot just for knowing, practicing, and trying. I may not be the best, and I know there will always be someone better. But I am still proud to say that I can dance to the beat, sing to my heart’s content, create art, make people feel beautiful through my facials and tattoos, and I am a queen in my own kind of way. I am fearlessly flawed, with a heart that still wants to grow and learn. I may not have the perfect path just yet, and I have so many things to explore. But in this crazy, imperfect life, I am happy, to say the least.

Prepare, Fail, Restart, and do it all again!

9 months ago

“I lived two lives, tried to play both sides But I couldn't find my own place.” Golden by HUNTR/X To be completely honest, I have lived more than just two lives. At different points, I have been an Architectural Technologist, Designer, Estimator, Project Coordinator, Ground Crew for an airline, Assistant, Dancer, Busker, Singer, Swimmer, club moderator, and more. My path has never been linear, but each role, whether shaped by privilege or hard work, contributed to who I am becoming. Even the things I spent years preparing for, although unrelated to what I do now, influenced the direction of where I am heading. Growing up in both the Philippines and Canada, I was given countless opportunities. I am very aware of the privilege behind that. My parents enrolled me in anything they could to help me explore my interests, including music lessons, swimming, and advanced summer classes. Hello Kumon and all those hand-me-down books from older kids. I went to a strong preparatory school. I had job referrals through family and friends. Moving to Canada was one of the biggest gifts in my life. All these early experiences opened the door for even more growth. However, privilege alone did not carry me forward. Hard work did. My childhood and teenage years were filled with lessons, rehearsals, tutorials, and practices. I worked hard enough to graduate with honours. I spent hours drawing each week so I could pass college entrance exams and eventually earn a spot at my dream university. I even had the opportunity to study architecture in two different countries. At the time, I believed this was my path. I thought I could never change it. I told myself that if I did anything else, it meant I had failed. Somewhere along the way, however, I became complacent. I stopped striving. I ran on autopilot. I thought, well, this is as good as it is going to get. Because of that mindset, I started losing things. I was let go from jobs. I struggled to keep a job. I faced constant rejection. I did not land roles in auditions. I jumped into new passions only to burn out. I felt lost, and for a long time, I saw that as failure. I focused on my flaws and my poor decisions. This led me into doubt and depression, but it also humbled me. It made me realize how much I had taken for granted. I once had so many choices in life and so many possible paths. Yet when I stopped putting in the effort, I drifted away from all of them. But the truth is that if I had not failed, I would not have become who I am today. Those failures were painful, but each one pushed me closer to the life I am building now. I had to redo many steps. I carried shame for restarting my life when it seemed like everyone else already had theirs figured out. With that realization, I had to be honest with myself. What can I do to become better, more authentic, and more prepared to face rejection? I had to fix my habits, confront the hard truths, and grow past the patterns that held me back. What I have learned is this: starting over is not something to be embarrassed about. It is not a sign of defeat. It is proof that you are choosing growth over stagnation. It is okay to begin again. It is okay to take the longer route. It is okay to start something completely different from what you did before. It is okay not to have everything figured out at once. I know not everyone has the same opportunities or privileges, and I will not pretend they do. But I also believe there are ways to start again, even if they take longer, require more patience, or appear in unexpected forms. The path may not be instant, but it is possible. So even if I am still figuring things out, I finally understand this: everything I have ever done, even the messy, confusing, and seemingly unrelated parts, prepared me for who I am becoming.

Two weeks became 4

9 months ago

Apologies for not posting updates for two weeks, my friends! I know I promised 2 week posts but my body just needed a bit of a break. I’ve been resting after getting sick, getting my shots, and family visits. I’ll get back to y’all soon

Being Thankful: A New Kind of Gratitude

10 months ago

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and more than ever, I’ve found myself reflecting on the deeper meaning of gratitude. This year, I’m especially thankful for the unwavering support of my family. When I opened up about the struggles I’ve faced—both physically and mentally—they listened without judgment. I asked for time: to rest, to take beauty classes, and to study a new path. Without hesitation, they gave me their full support. I was overwhelmed with relief. After spending over a decade in one career, I was finally given the space to pause, breathe, and rediscover myself. But if I’m being honest, part of me still carries a heavy weight: guilt. There’s guilt from stepping away from a high-paying career I spent years building. Guilt from not being able to contribute financially in the way I used to. Guilt for not immediately finding my footing in a world that feels new and uncertain. Architecture will always hold a place in my heart—I still admire its complexity and beauty—but I’ve come to accept that I need to love it from a distance now. Music, dance, and the creative industry? It’s a different story. I’m still navigating my relationship with them. I do covers, I explore different mediums, but sometimes I wonder if I’ll ever find my own voice—my niche—in an already saturated space. Starting over hasn’t been easy. I went from being a provider to needing support. I want so badly to help my family again, to be stable, to prove to myself that this leap of faith was worth it. I’m dipping my toes into business, juggling gigs, applying for part-time jobs—even as unemployment rates remain high. But here’s the thing: despite the fear, despite the pressure—there is hope. The universe keeps sending me little signs. Slower days have given me time to heal and rebuild. I may be far from stability, but I’m also closer than I’ve ever been to alignment—with myself, my values, and what truly brings me joy. I’m still a work in progress. But this Thanksgiving, I’m grateful for the chance to begin again. For the support, for the struggle, for the clarity that comes from starting over. Here’s to second chances. And choosing yourself—even when it’s hard. HAPPY CANADIAN THANKSGIVING YOU GUYS! <3

Changing careers and building non buildings

11 months ago

Earlier this year, I decided to take a new path in my life, to take the beauty route. After several attempts in music, years in the construction business, and a couple of detours in life, I decided to work on something I was passionate about on the side. Something I thought I can never get into or even start because I thought my then-stable job can make me live. Turns out, it killed me inside. I used to be consistent in busking in White Rock. Aside from the skyrocketing parkig prices that were more than my busking money, something terrifying made me stop. There were two consecutive fatal stabbing incident happened where I used to exactly do my busking last year. I was so scared for my life because the assailant stabbed the victims on their backs. It was and is still hard for me to come back in that area. While I do miss singing, I still get a few flashbacks and nightmares of that incident. I was at a crossroad of staying at my abeit-fun-but-a-little-bit-too-fast-and-toxic job, or quitting to find peace but getting too much anxiety from money works. Until my body and mind decided, I have to let go, rest, reset, and really find what I want. So in January, I decided to quit my job, get a lot of therapy, and take esthetics courses in the Philippines. I studied Semi Permanent Make Up tattooing, Lash and Brow Lift, Skincare Fundamentals, and Eyelash Extensions. On top of that, I took a course here in Canada and found the sweetest and most caring mentor, Lysa. It’s a very expensive investment and so far, it has been a little bit of a slow start. I have so many things to save on, one of them is a business license, but I still find so much happiness being in this industry. It’s a scary move, but hey, it’s an exciting one! Join me in my journey in Building Balai Tauhay! I’m building my business from the ground up, and your community support makes it possible. If you’d like to help fuel this journey, you can join me on here at Fanded! It means the world.

Welcome to my Fanded! ✨

11 months ago

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