One should understand that there really is no timeline in life. That at a certain age, this is where you should be. Screw that. Society wired us to think that way, so now we have a difficulty on thinking a better one. It’s hard to go away with it.

See, we all have different roads we ought to take, so comparisons are of no use, it actually just makes matters worse.

See, just because the world is telling you this and that doesn’t necessarily mean that you should give in to what it dictates you to do.

See, just because friends your age are in relationships or are getting married or are having babies or are having their own families doesn’t necessarily mean you also should be doing the same.

See, there is nothing wrong with being single, with being different, with being true to yourself and with being the person you’re comfortable with. What if it’s not what the world wants? So? It’s never about them anyway. It’s about you at ease with your own skin and not minding what others are thinking or saying. At the end, it’s about you and your choices. It’s about you and your Maker. It’s never going to be about you and the world.

See, it’s perfectly fine to take your time. Go and date yourself, enjoy your own company. Be your own bestfriend. Know what you like and don’t. In the process, be gentle with yourself. You deserve love as much as others do. Fall in love—with the stars, the moon, the flowers, the sunset, the beach, with your job, your family, friends, and especially, with you. You deserve your love, too.  

See, don’t give in to the pressure of the world. There are lots, that’s for sure. Relax. Trust the timing of your life. Trust that God listens to your prayers. Trust that He wants what’s best for you, that’s why He wants you to wait. And in waiting, you’ll learn vital life lessons you shouldn’t have learned had you rushed. In a world where instant and fast are all you can hear about here and there, it’s not wrong to take things slow. To pause. Breathe. Be in the moment.

See, instead of trying so hard to “un-single” yourself because of all that pressure, why not take this time to make yourself a priority? Use the liberty to your advantage. Cross off some things in your bucket list. Travel someplace neat. Read a book. Enjoy the rain and toss that umbrella. Fall in love with cold nights and warm beds and your homemade coffee. Make a wish at 11:11. Pray in churches, in temples. Grow and be that person you always want to be, because who knows when you’ll be this single again, right?

See, there really is no timeline, there’s just God who knows you better than the world does. And timelines are man-made, temporary and fleeting, your Maker isn’t. So what if you’re single? So what if you’re not meeting others’ expectations? So what if you’re on a road less travelled? The questions are endless. So what? Don’t let it get into you. As long as you know your purpose and you know you have God in you, you have all you need. And you’re on the right track.

Keep moving. Keep the faith, and everything else will fall into place.

*Some of my ideas came from reading Thought Catalog.  

No. Don’t give up. Keep fighting. It’s hard. For sure. The kind that wants you to disappear. To get lost. And never be found. For good. The kind that makes you wish you can bury yourself. Along with your thoughts. And all people who came along leaving you nothing but scars and hurts. The kind that makes you angry and frustrated everytime you wake up. Angry at the world. At its people. At everything else. Frustrated. Depressed. Why? You ask. It’s unfair. Hey. Try and look at it differently. And zoom in on the small things. Remember when your Mom told you “it’s about the small things?” She’s right. Imagine just missing one sunrise. Or not being able to breathe. Or drink. Yes, those little things. See? You’re blessed you’re alive and not in a war zone fighting for your right to live. In all that chaos. When you think of giving up, think of how many battles you fought before just to be here now. Now. The today. I mean, everybody is fighting their own demons, too. Many are in their heads even. So no. Don’t give up. You’re stronger than that. You’re stronger than the person who thought giving up is one of the choices. Because it never is. Or was. Keep fighting. Don’t you dare give up. 

–things i tell myself everytime i want to give up

shower (and pours)

The December night wind hushed through

the open windowsill, the never invited

guest sent shudders and shivers

– on my thin skin, the likes of a

newborn baby, making its way

to my bones, softly breaking from

his goodbyes and I’m sorry’s,

finding its path to my rib cage,

knocking hard, it echoed despair

over and over, wanting to get

to that part of me which I

never got to protect, it was

hard to breathe, I was turning

ice cold from the grips of my

nemesis, it was slowly creeping,

slithering, crawling to my core,

I battled hard, doing everything

in my power to hide it from

this enemy. I know I am bound

to lose, nothing but a shattered

heart is fighting, pieces are

scattered it’s hard to fit in

the puzzles together. But it

was harder to let him go,

to listen to his bidding words

of iloveyoubuts and repetitive

sorrys, to see him in his

perfect smile holding

not my hand but hers. These thoughts

made me tremble, I can hear

my scrawny body tear apart,

the sound of ripping his love letters

wrongly sent to my address,

the falling of teacups and

plates from an outburst of

shock at his going gone.

I couldn’t feel my nerves,

frozen from impact of the clash

I just lost, knowing that whatever

I’d do—to try to fight, to

try to fix, to try to hold on—he

will never be getting in that

door again. Nor knock. For

it was all over. I was numb,

I didn’t try to defy what came

next—sobbing, silent sobs,

a curling up on the bed, crying,

more wailing, silent shouting,

letting tears attack like thunder

and lighting letting everyone know

that like the sky, I can also destroy

thousands of papertowns with my

soft, gentle cries. 

kiss her cheek once more.

for the glowing gumball to

still-beating heart—awaiting

wide eyes, calloused hands, and

parentheses. Of brackets. Only

rescue umbrella. No more of

shoulders—alone, no more

rain fall {hard} on her loose

the sun kiss her cheek or the

now is ice cold and dull) of letting

[oh the fire it used to breathe

the caged Phoenix in her bosom

name, knowing this  would free

holding back in uttering his

and remembering at once. of not

and of morning strolls. of forgetting

go is hardwork—a series of daily pills

and brackets, she learned, letting

it into nothingness] In her parentheses

to be found [a cloud must’ve swallowed

each star, Her North, was nowhere

paint the calm night sky, tracing

unclose. the clatter of her thoughts

unparentheses. unbrackets.

yet mouthed Iloveyous.

and dried tears and suppressed

the unopened letters of sobs

the quiet lonesome world. opens

no less than a quake shattering

fogs her blurred eyes, the intensity

scattered, attacked. steam

dusty piles of rage, pages

throbbing. unboxed the

of burnt tears and temples

of wrath, there came a shower

she opens the year-old boxes

out:

S gone—she has to let it

[bracket… no more pair, the

holding her hand (parenthesis

gone with no goodbye. of him away

solo ice cream and movie ticket. of

self. of midnight daydreams. of

than its sum. in her uncontainable

her parts only a squareroot bigger

the entirety of her chopped. deduced.

[brackets] shredded. squeezed. stored.

she’s been enclosed (parentheses)

(catharsis] by joanna lanojan


all rights reserved 2017

During the Registration Part

During the Entrance of Superheroes

The Dean during her Welcome Address

The passing of the Key of Responsibilities

Ms. Abaquita durng her song number

During the Raffle Draw, the President and Storm

Angel Fire on stage!

HRM's very own Sessionistas entertained the audience

The three lucky winners for the Grand Prize of the Raffle Draw

During Dr. Rocha's song presentation

Mrs. Fabrica and the gang during the lively production number

And it was the teachers time to take over the stage, as they surprised the audience in their awesome dance number

Top Three heroes chosen for the "Hero of the Night" category

Top Five heroines chosen for the "Heroine of the Night" category

Time for #grouphie!

Us with the students!

DJ Via in the house!

The teaching Faculty of the HRM Department in their costumes and props

Awesome move caught during the dance number of Philippine Dancesports Champion

The crowd singing with The Sessionistas

The "Surprise Number" of the teachers with the HRM Crew

Students went wild seeing their professors dance! Look how they all stood up and took photos! FUN!

This cool group of heroes won the #SquadGoals category

Hail our winners! (L-R) Rodjun Magsanay (as Sister Grimm) for the Head Turner of the Night, Candice Patual (as Electra) for the Heroine of the Night, and Dexter Caburnay (as Professor X) for the Hero of the Night. Congrats guys! Well deserved.

During the EDM-- Electronic Dance Music. Let the party begin!!

It was a successful event, indeed! Kudos to all talented people in the HRM College of the University of Cebu (Main Campus)!   Credits to Lights in Motion Photography for the pictures and thank you to the Society of Junior Hoteliers for hosting and organizing the said event. Congratulations for its success!