From Cobblestones to City Lights

    "The past is never dead. It's not even past." William Faulkner said. A  city that is rich in culture and history, has come a long a long way since it was only a simple municipality, Vigan. It is known for its strong, well-preserved Spanish colonial architecture and charming cobblestones streets, Vigan was once a quiet and simple town that whispered stories from the past. The beauty of Calle Crisologo, a popular stop for visitors because of its antique houses and calesas.

   In 1999, Vigan officially became a city. New opportunities for growth and development was caused by the change, but it didn't erase the town's culture, its traditions, and timeless charm. While modern infrastructure and businesses began to bloom,  the old-world beauty of Vigan remained, creating a unique blend of vintage and modern style.

   Vigan shines as a bustling city with new establishments, new and safer roads, a growing economy, all while keeping its heritage alive. Until to this day, Vigan still attracts both tourists and residents who appreciates the balance of history, and modernity. Vigan is a perfect example of how a city can grow without losing the essence of its roots.

SOURCES:

(1) Tewell, J. (n.d.). A street in old Vigan City, Ilocos Sur, Northwest Luzon, Philippines, before 1896. 

Flickr. https://www.flickr.com/photos/johntewell/36227106562

(2) Vigan | New7Wonders Cities. (2023, June 5). New7Wonders Cities. https://cities.new7wonders.com/wonders/vigan-philippines/ 

(3) Reyes, M. G. (2024, July 17). Exploring Vigan: a Well-Preserved Spanish colonial town in the Philippines. Tatler Asia. https://www.tatlerasia.com/lifestyle/travel/in-its-full-glory

Rewriting Myself in January Blue

    "This is the beginning of forever,' and I'm ready to make it count." Lana Del Rey said. As 2025 begins, I'm ready to embrace, grow from my past to be a better version of myself and make positive changes in my life. One of my goals is to read more books to expand my vocabulary, imagination, and most importantly, to gain more knowledge. I also plan to play my ukulele more often that my Mother got me for Christmas—it is so fun to explore my creative side. And at school, I'm ready to study harder and focus more on my lessons so I can achieve my dream; to be a runway model.

    Another thing i want to work on is being more responsible at home; doing household chores and cleaning my lovely room. I also want to improve my saving skills by spending less on "wants" in life and putting money aside for the future. These small habits will help me become more practical, organized, and disciplined as the year goes by.

    And Lastly, I want to take good care of myself. I plan to reduce on what I eat every day to feel healthier and more confident about my body. I also want to start a proper skincare routine to take care of my pimples, acne, and dark spots, which sometimes make me feel so insecure. This year, I'm focusing on self-improvement and building habits that will make me happier and more confident. New year, new me indeed! I'm ready to make this year my best one yet—Hopefully!

Soft Nights and Festive Lights: How my Christmas Break Went

    Our Christmas Break started on the 21st of December, it was short yet memorable. During our Christmas Break, it was the time for me to break for a while in academics, it was the time for me to relax and enjoy simple yet memorable moments with my family. We spent the holidays together, chit-chatting about random things, and many more. It felt comfortable and nice to be surrounded by the people i really love the most. I barely think about school during the break and appreciating the holiday season.

    And aside from spending time with my family, I made sure to have a quiet time to myself. I spend most of the time sleeping and relaxing, which helped me regain my energy. I also started exploring new hobbies, such as reading books, specifically novels that are somehow related to my life. I finished a couple of interesting stories like "Girl in Pieces" by Kathleen Glasgow and "The Virgin Suicides" by Jeffrey Eugenides. Listening to music and watching films became part of my daily routine too. It was fun to spend some time with myself without thinking about school.

    Also, during the break, i learned the importance of balancing time with family and myself. I really loved the peaceful days when i didn't have to rush or cram about anything related to school. It was simple yet memorable, it gave me the energy to start the new year. I'm so excited and really looking forward to my next holiday.