Throwback Thursday: Philippines 2014

Hey all,

I wanted to dedicate this throwback to 2014 trip to the Philippines, specifically my time in Dumaguete. That was my hopefully not my last trip there, but it was my last time seeing my Lola Mommy. Lola in Tagalog is grandma.

She passed away August that year.

My mom sent her these bees years ago and Lola saved them. She called them "honey bees" and was really proud of them. It was actually quite sweet how proud of them she was. Any chance she had to mention that they were sent by my mom and that she called them "honey bees," she would let me know.

I also finally got a picture with the "I <3 Dumaguete" sign by the coast. I never noticed this sign before or I must have forgotten. Dumaguate will forever remind me of my Lola.

I wanted to repost something my cousin posted on Facebook after my Lola died. Author is unknown but it is so beautiful:

God saw you getting tired

and a cure was not to be

so He put His arms around you

and whispered, Come to me.

With tearful eyes we watch you

and saw you pass away

and although we loved you dearly

we could not make you stay.

A golden heart stopped beating

hard working hands at rest

God broke our hearts to prove us

He only takes the best.

- Author unknown

I do want to end this post on a happy note.

The Philippines has a summer anthem (and Christmas song!) each year. When I went in 2014, the song was called PINAsmile.

The video highlights the beautiful smiles of the Filipino people. And now that summer is here, people are happy and smiling, rejoicing together in the beauty and love that is the Philippines and Filipino people.

The main "cast" of the music video are Filipino celebrities, but the video also showcases every day Filipinos in the Philippines. It makes my heart happy.

It's a beautiful song and it makes me oh so proud to be Filipino. And of course, it makes me miss the Philippines, my Lola and my family a bajillion times more!

Xoxoxo