Happy Sandwich

 I discovered a cool game this 2023. I just love its details and Mug!!

31st birthday

 

December 10, 2023 | Lord, let us see Your kindness and grant us Your salvation. Psalm 85

 1st time everrrrr to be a psalmist

December 5-8

 

December 3 Competition

November 20-24

Returning for duty after my October jiu-jitsu competition, i was informed by my workmates and my boss that i and Kiri shall be participating in the Calibration training on November 21-24 in BRS, Quezon City and that i shall request for a practical examination schedule for Laboratory Technicians Certification from BRS. I was thinking: "Wow i shall be going to BRS for the first time! This is going to be fun!!" However, i was also thinking i had to brace myself because additional training meant additional responsibility.

We arrived in Manila November 20, Monday. Seminar starts Tuesday so we had time that day to settle in BRS quarters and to explore Intramuros. I've been to Intramuros in 2014 before while we were taking our refresher course for the chemical engineering board exam. But Quenny and i weren't able to explore it fully. What i can't forget about our trip there was the WW II Memorial Shrine in Fort Santiago. It hit me that this famous tourist spot was actually also a prison cell, and that Kiri and i were stepping on the prisoners' grave yard. Entering the underground cell felt very eerie and i got scared. I can only imagine the worst for the prisoners. It was the first time i felt this visiting a tourist spot. But of course my feeling doesnt matter that much. I believe what's more important now is that we make sure that if this ever happens in the present, we do something about it.

 

It was also a bit saddening that the National Museum was closed on Mondays. Actually almost all museums were closed on Mondays. It was our original plan to go to National Museum. But it turned out just fine because Intramuros had so much in store for us, and yes, that included sad and traumatic memories of the past.

Tuesday. Seminar started. We met new friends. Unlike here in Davao where office hours begin at 8am and end at 5pm, in BRS office hours is from 7am to 4pm. Early to begin and early to end to avoid heavy traffic. On that first day the seminar ended real early. We had time to go to National Museum!! Yeyy! Kiri specifically wanted to see the Spoliarium. It was really something. According to Wikipedia, Juan Luna spent 8 months completing the painting which depicts "dying gladiators". I'd personally get lost looking at the entire artwork of Luna. I could stare at it for hours but i haven't got the luxury of time. I still had to train jiu-jitsu at PLM afterwards. 

In the museum, i had a cute, so to speak, experience with a guy. Hahaha! Kiri was on the 2nd floor whilst i was exploring the 3rd. I heard classical music playing from the floor above me so i followed it. From the balcony i saw people sitting on chairs but they are not moving at all. So i thought they were probably manequins. I stared at a guy for a long time to really check if he is alive or not. I think he saw me staring because he finally moved and laughed. Embarrased, i just ran back to the hall and escape that moment. Hahaha!

Anyway.... 

With the Joyride app, i travelled via motorcycle to Ortigas to train at PLM. It was super crazy because i think i arrived almost 7pm and the session ends at 7.30!! But thankfully the main instructor, sir Eggy extended the sparring session. I was the only girl that night, which is not unusual in a male-dominated sports. I was reallyyyyyyyyyyyy happy because i stopped training for a while because i got cold and was also injured but was able to train now in Luzon!! And also a first time for me!! Isn't that great???? I got beaten up by guys and that's okay. Like hey, this is what i came for!! HAHAHAHA! 

I went home to BRS and ate my dinner, contented and smiling the entire time.

Wednesday. Seminar continued. Because i spent so much the past days, i just stayed in the quarters and had a peaceful night.

Thursday. Final day for lectures. I had a crush by the way, sir Joshua. He's a bit cute and smart as well. i also like sir Albert. He's cute and huggable. Hehe. Anyway, Kiri, I, ma'am Chris and sir James had dinner at a ramen restaurant. It was so expensive there but their salmon is really tasty. I was inspired to cook salmon too in Davao.

Friday. Exam day. Seminar graduation day. This was also the day we travel back to Davao.

Copa Dumau de Jiu Jitsu Philippines | October 21-22, 2023

I had been planning to join the Copa Dumau Competition ever since my teammate, Adonis, told me about it, and that was after my Licensure Exam for Teachers. So as early as March 20, 2023, i decided once and for all, i'm gonna join it.

 << i even made this my phone wallpaper until end of comp period

I had one goal in mind, to train as often as I could starting March. However, it seemed like God had other plans. Hehehe.

I got some kind of viral infection. I cannot train for about two months. I started regular training June although I cannot train straight 6 days a week cause i had to balance family, cats, work, choir. But of course i tried to make the best of it.

As the date of the competition was slowly arriving, i kept checking on the Dumau website if there are other competitors signing up. I wanted lots of ladies to sign up so that i would at least have lots of matches even if i kept losing. But to my dismay, no one else signed up for blue belt, lightfeather adult division. Not until it was the last week of registration. I saw names like Alguidano and Zapanta. I didn't know them at all. And so as not to add to my anxiety, i didn't stalk the ladies. Hehe. I was also scared i'd get beaten up. In a competition, anything is possible. So to avoid further pressure, i only told some of my teammates about me joining the comp. I tried to keep it a secret but coach Mark gave some clues to the everyone during training so everybody eventually knew about it. Gosh.

I flew to Cebu October 20, Friday. Thanks to my cousin Joy and her boyfriend for accommodating me into their home in Lapu-Lapu City. I slept soundly that night. The day after i had to travel through tricycle then through ferry to arrive to my destination: the comp venue. It was one hot day in one hot place and i was sweating as i entered the mall. i was alone because nobody elso from Dojo.82 signed up for Copa Dumau. Yes, i was alone but i had to face this, i signed up for this and i prayed for this. i was scared but my teammates kept cheering in our group chat. 

Finally the match was about to begin. Unfortunately, i got an information that my first opponent, Zapanta is so good she can actually already be promoted to purple belt. And that was what... about a couple minutes before the match is to begin. Gosh. I was panicking inside and my nervousness was rising. I stepped onto the mats really scared but when the match begun, i had no choice but to be a warrior and apply everything i have learned back at Dojo. Zapanta: 7, Me: 0. Zapanta won via points.

Match 2 for me was against Alguidano. I won via armbar submission.

Match 3 was once again against Zapanta. Fighting for gold but i lost via collar choke submission.

So for gi category, blue belt, lightfeather adult division: i was awarded the silver medal. 

But i still had other matches coming up since i also signed up open weight blue belt adult. I felt a really burning sensation inside. I am quite tired but i know i still have some energy left for my matches.

Match 4 against Sandoval and i won via armbar.

Match 5 against Baclayon and i lost via points.

So for open weight division, i also landed on silver.

After the matches, i rode a motorbike (habal-habal) and went home to my cousin. A few minutes after arriving and narrating to my cousin the events of the day, i suddenly felt blood flowing from my nose. Gosh, i am nosebleeding. I took a shower and hoped it would go away. At that time i also was spitting blood.

In the morning, the nosebleed has subsided a little but i still was splitting blood. I was quite worried because i still had no-gi matches that day but i already felt like i was gonna die. Nonetheless, i still took Dachstzu, their pet dog, for a walk and decided to go on with the comp. Took a less stressful route to the comp venue and arrived there not sweating.

Match 1 for that day was against Zapanta. I lost via armbar and it was a really cool submission. Zapanta is really good. I felt really honored to fight against her and be submitted by her. For no-gi, blue, lightfeather, adult, only the two of us registered to i automatically got the silver medal.

Open weight, blue, adult category

My match 2 for that day was against Baclayon. I lost via rear naked choke. But i still had another match for silver against Sandoval and i won via points. So i still had to fight again against Baclayon for gold. And once again i lost via kimura submission. I won silver for open weight. For my last 3 matches Adonis already arrived and he coached me.

By the end of my matches, i got really sad with my performance. I know that the energy i showed now was nothing compared to my energy last year. But i know for myself that this experience will not discourage me but instead push me to train smarter and harder. Of course, because jiu-jitsu is love.

The next day, i availed the free training session at Studio 32. Prof Norman Go taught us the head and arm choke in no-gi. I remember Fffion Davies doing the technique to so i was really so into the lesson. It was a new bunch of people and i really had fun training with them. My left elbow popped because of armbar during sparring session but that's okay. It was part of the training and it was worth it anyway. Too bad i had to leave for Davao the following day. 

this last photo courtesy of Donna. Medals are nothing compared to the experience i got. However, i love all these medals because they are my souvenirs of my bravery - to choose to show up and compete knowing that i may get beaten up and be injured in the worst way possible. For all these experiences and for jiu-jitsu itself, to God i am forever thankful.

August 26 2023

My 1st jiu-jitsu competition in Davao.

My 1st competition for this year.

My 1st competition as a blue belt.

I lost but still there's a lot to be thankful for!!!!

Thank you, Pa, Ma, K and K.

Thanks Balolen sa rashguard. I forgot my Dojo.82 rashguard at home apparently. Thanks for braiding my hair.

Salamat to all my relatives and frieeeeeeends. 

Thank you, my workmates in QAHD and bosses for the support. Thanks Dea and Pat for dropping by. 🤣❤

Shoutout to my opponent, Atchi. She's sooo good, not to mention she's still a white belt.

Of course, thank you supeeeeerrrrrr, to my beloved and super generous coaches and teammates at Dojo 82 at F. Torres. Thank you for your time juuud. You've taught me a lot and I know there are a lot to correct in my game. Bawi lang ko next comp. Thank you organizers of #DavaoJiuJitsuCrawl2023 Kyle and Kyle including all volunteers!!! Thank you so muuuch  madam JAI YU our super amazing lady coach!!!!!! We love youuuu. 

Thank you so much for the sponsors of this event. Im so blessed to be able to participate.

Thank you to all jiu-jitsu teams in and out of Davao for making this event possible. Next year uliiit.

Thank you sa support and prayers, Saint Blaise Chorale and JCI Duwaling. 💜💜

Thank you to our mimings at home and in heaven. We love you. #AdoptDontShop po tayo. 😺😽😻

Thank you, Ffion Eira Davies and Taylor Swift. #August #SaltAir

THANK YOU LORD FOR MAKING MY DREAMS COME TRUE!!!!!! 

AMDG! 💕

P.S. Congrats to my fellow competitors. So proud and happy for you Sanchiaaaaa on your first jiu-jitsu competition eveerrrrr!!!

Now for the quiet part, Reflections:

Honestly, i got really sad about having lost my one and only match, and my first in my hometown. What's worse, i, a blue belt, got defeated by a white belt. No offense to Atchi but i really questioned my skills: am i even worthy of my belt? Did i get promoted by mistake? :( But then again, if i question my belt rank i would be questioning the decision of our professor, a black belt, for promoting me. So i, at that point, felt like i disappointed my coaches and professors. Feeling like i didn't meet their expectations.

It was quite hard going back to Dojo to train again because i also felt like i let my teammates down real bad. But then again, i had no choice but to go back training jiu-jitsu, i love it so much i just can't say no to it.

P.S. Photos courtesy of The Black Mountain Manifest