This story is episode 06 of a blog series.
Everything has an ending and this first LRT ride of mine was not spared. After all the encounters it has allowed me to experience—both gave me grin and frown, I had to wrap things up and call it done. Nothing is permanent, much less infinite.
The jam-packed train from Doroteo Jose LRT Station brought me to my final quest—of career, future, and adulting. This train journey, as I mentioned in the previous episodes, was both a literal and a metaphorical journey. It's about reaching a certain destination in Manila and reaching my aspirations in the middle of uncertainty.
The train ran with chaos inside—under the vividly calm blue sky. The train apparently accommodated a multitude more than it could handle. The space inside shrank. Everything became a shared space in a sea of strangers, including the air we breathed.
The rush hour, on the contrary, reminded us not to rush. We had to take it slowly or else we would lose our focus and vigilance. This was it.
► Changing my Principles
Mommy Lourdes guided us on our way to Aguinaldo agency, a legitimate recruiter of nurses wanting to work in the United Sates. The moment I left the LRT station, I had mixed emotions because I ate my own vomit. I swallowed my own words. You know, I've always told my friends I don't want to work in the United States but now I'm here losing my words of honor.
Money-wise, I'm ok. I mean, I'm easy to please. I was trained by my father to be contented of what I have. My standard of living is low. I can live without the expensive extra convenience as long as I can do the things that I love. Doing the things I am passionate about are my driving forces to live my life to the fullest. As long as I have resources that could sustain my simple passions, I'm fine with it. These are the reasons why I said I don't want to work in the United States (aside from their toxic society full of extreme ideas that create unnecessary ways to be offended: e.g. manspreading, feminism, sexism, breastfeeding in public, etc).
However, I realized I was too selfish. Everything I did was for myself. I earned just enough to satisfy myself so I didn't need to have more because I was already happy for myself. I was blinded by the wrong concept of Y.O.L.O that taught me to become irresponsible of myself and my future.
About two (2) years ago, my father turned 60 years old and he is now a senior citizen. I was caught off guard all of these years that I was frigid, selfish, and insensitive of the realities of life. My parents are ageing and I felt like I have never done anything yet to give back.
Again, one of the worst 'Western ideals' that influenced me was to believe that children are not required to give back to their parents because it is the responsibility of the parents to raise their kids well. While it's somehow true, this principle was way too extreme now that I'm already an adult seeing my parents getting older. I found out that my Asian culture prevailed and it was more enriching than following the Western culture of leaving their parents at home care facilities while they focus for their individual work or businesses.
I was there, riding on that LRT from Cubao, to execute my baby steps as I also regain my consciousness back to reality after I was hypnotized by unrealistic social media posts I saw—like quitting your job to enjoy life to the fullest because of the You Only Live Once (Y.O.L.O) concept of giving it all now and not thinking of the future! It's a crazy idea to quit your job now and come what may! So beware of the lies of social media. As a travel blogger, my exposure to these ideals is plenty. While it isn't bad to travel non-stop, the question is could you sustain it without compromising your future?
Now that I'm getting older, my responsibilities also sank in all of a sudden. I'm the eldest child in the family and I found myself riding the bus-of-life without money to pay for my fare. I was sure I was heading somewhere but everything was unplanned with no direction at all. I didn't know what's waiting ahead of me in the future and I have not made any effort yet to at least become future-proof.
My parents are ageing. I'm getting older, planning to settle down, and wanting to build my own family. My younger brothers see me as their savior. My little cousins regard me as their role model. What the...! I felt like I was so un-ready and nasty at the same time. The pressure on me is high!
I took a sigh as we crossed the busy streets of Manila on our way to the recruitment office along General Luna Street in Ermita because this moment was indeed a big decision on my part.
► A Change of Heart + Ending Notes
While me and Alex used our millennial skills to look for the location of the agency using our gadgets, Lourdes, on her 50s, used her instinct to find the right direction. We, millennials, failed to see it from our digital maps while Lourdes was able to locate the office by seeing the position of the sun and the elevation of the birds.
The agency was located inside a fenced compound. Inside the compound was a group of Indian students in white uniform. They probably are here in the Philippines to study. I was curious why they were inside the compound. I approached the store where they were staying and found out that it was a restaurant offering Indian dishes. Ah, ok. It made sense.
After a while, we entered the office and found myself still hesitant to file my application because my previous YOLO self was telling me many "what if-s". Applying for a job in the United States seemed so easy for nurses now because the demand is really high as long as you survive the most difficult part—passing the NCLEX examination which I already did.
As I had second thoughts, I was reminded of my ageing parents and also my actual age. I guess I made the right decision although this would sacrifice all the things I have already planned for my future here in the Philippines. After all, when you become an older adult, your mindset also changes. I'm now in a critical period in my life where I need to take responsibility for my parents, build my own stable career, and prepare for a future family of my own at the same time. It's hard, but challenge accepted. So I took my first LRT ride to build my future and here I am, starting this journey. It's no longer just for myself. It's for everyone I could possibly help and inspire. Goodbye YOLO! Hello reality! I just had a change of heart. | end of Blogserye 006 |
UPDATE HISTORY FOR THIS BLOG POST
► 11-March-2019: This post was published.
LATEST STORIES COVERING #MANILA | SEE ALL IN A SEPARATE WINDOW
MORE STORIES COVERING METRO MANILA | SEE OLDER STORIES
LATEST STORIES COVERING THESE CATEGORIES | SEE OLDER STORIES
MORE TOWNS YOU MIGHT LIKE TO EXPLORE:
While it isn't bad to travel non-stop, the question is could you sustain it without compromising your future?
► Now that I'm getting older, my responsibilities also sank in all of a sudden.
► I'm the eldest child in the family and I found myself riding the bus-of-life without money to pay for my fare.
[Manila, National Capital Region, Luzon Island, Philippines]
|
| | 1 | [MANILA] ► NONE IN OUR PAST IS A MISTAKE. IT HAPPENED BECAUSE WE NEED TO LEARN AND GROW. |
The jam-packed train from Doroteo Jose LRT Station brought me to my final quest—of career, future, and adulting. This train journey, as I mentioned in the previous episodes, was both a literal and a metaphorical journey. It's about reaching a certain destination in Manila and reaching my aspirations in the middle of uncertainty.
 |
| | 2 | [MANILA] ► OUR LAST STOP WAS THE UNITED NATIONS AVENUE STATION. |
The rush hour, on the contrary, reminded us not to rush. We had to take it slowly or else we would lose our focus and vigilance. This was it.
► Changing my Principles
Mommy Lourdes guided us on our way to Aguinaldo agency, a legitimate recruiter of nurses wanting to work in the United Sates. The moment I left the LRT station, I had mixed emotions because I ate my own vomit. I swallowed my own words. You know, I've always told my friends I don't want to work in the United States but now I'm here losing my words of honor.
Money-wise, I'm ok. I mean, I'm easy to please. I was trained by my father to be contented of what I have. My standard of living is low. I can live without the expensive extra convenience as long as I can do the things that I love. Doing the things I am passionate about are my driving forces to live my life to the fullest. As long as I have resources that could sustain my simple passions, I'm fine with it. These are the reasons why I said I don't want to work in the United States (aside from their toxic society full of extreme ideas that create unnecessary ways to be offended: e.g. manspreading, feminism, sexism, breastfeeding in public, etc).
However, I realized I was too selfish. Everything I did was for myself. I earned just enough to satisfy myself so I didn't need to have more because I was already happy for myself. I was blinded by the wrong concept of Y.O.L.O that taught me to become irresponsible of myself and my future.
About two (2) years ago, my father turned 60 years old and he is now a senior citizen. I was caught off guard all of these years that I was frigid, selfish, and insensitive of the realities of life. My parents are ageing and I felt like I have never done anything yet to give back.
Again, one of the worst 'Western ideals' that influenced me was to believe that children are not required to give back to their parents because it is the responsibility of the parents to raise their kids well. While it's somehow true, this principle was way too extreme now that I'm already an adult seeing my parents getting older. I found out that my Asian culture prevailed and it was more enriching than following the Western culture of leaving their parents at home care facilities while they focus for their individual work or businesses.
I was there, riding on that LRT from Cubao, to execute my baby steps as I also regain my consciousness back to reality after I was hypnotized by unrealistic social media posts I saw—like quitting your job to enjoy life to the fullest because of the You Only Live Once (Y.O.L.O) concept of giving it all now and not thinking of the future! It's a crazy idea to quit your job now and come what may! So beware of the lies of social media. As a travel blogger, my exposure to these ideals is plenty. While it isn't bad to travel non-stop, the question is could you sustain it without compromising your future?
Now that I'm getting older, my responsibilities also sank in all of a sudden. I'm the eldest child in the family and I found myself riding the bus-of-life without money to pay for my fare. I was sure I was heading somewhere but everything was unplanned with no direction at all. I didn't know what's waiting ahead of me in the future and I have not made any effort yet to at least become future-proof.
My parents are ageing. I'm getting older, planning to settle down, and wanting to build my own family. My younger brothers see me as their savior. My little cousins regard me as their role model. What the...! I felt like I was so un-ready and nasty at the same time. The pressure on me is high!
I took a sigh as we crossed the busy streets of Manila on our way to the recruitment office along General Luna Street in Ermita because this moment was indeed a big decision on my part.
► A Change of Heart + Ending Notes
While me and Alex used our millennial skills to look for the location of the agency using our gadgets, Lourdes, on her 50s, used her instinct to find the right direction. We, millennials, failed to see it from our digital maps while Lourdes was able to locate the office by seeing the position of the sun and the elevation of the birds.
 |
| | 3 | [MANILA] ► THIS IS AN ALLEY LEADING TO THE EMILIO AGUINALDO COLLEGE CAMPUS WHICH IS VERY NEAR THE AGUINALDO AGENCY. |
After a while, we entered the office and found myself still hesitant to file my application because my previous YOLO self was telling me many "what if-s". Applying for a job in the United States seemed so easy for nurses now because the demand is really high as long as you survive the most difficult part—passing the NCLEX examination which I already did.
 |
| | 4 | [MANILA] ► THIS IS OUR 'DREAM CIRCLE" COMPOSED OF LOURDES, ALEX, AND ME. OUR CIRCLE SHOWS THAT AGE IS IMMATERIAL IN DREAMING FOR A FUTURE YOUR ARE ABOUT TO BUILD. MOMMY LOURDES, IN HER 50S, IS EVEN MORE ENTHUSIASTIC THAN US, MILLENNIALS. |
▼ BLOGSERYE 006
► BLOGSERYE 006: MY FIRST LRT RIDE | You're on the Episode 06 of this series.
[METRO MANILA] ► My First LRT Ride: Thoughts And Reflections | Imagine that good feeling when I experienced the Metro Manila LRT for the first time and it exceeded my expectations!
[QUEZON CITY] ► Cubao LRT Station: My First LRT Station in PH | I was with fellow nurses. We were going somewhere, a place where we could do the first step of maximizing the potential of our nursing career and this LRT station was part of that journey.
[METRO MANILA] ► Cubao To Recto Via LRT: Symbolic Ride For The Nurse In Me | You cannot be your old self all the time. You need to transform for the better and powerful new you.
[MANILA] ► Recto LRT Station: Why I Felt So Rich? | The pathway we took revealed to me a reality that's facing Manila's urbanity now. Manila is the capital city of my beloved country but she is facing challenges right now.
[MANILA] ► Doroteo Jose LRT Station: Grabbing an Opportunity | ...listening to the words of the experts are fascinating but hearing the stories of normal individuals are more heartfelt and genuine because they share stories based on what they feel and what they have experienced.[MANILA] ► Why My Principles Changed from Y.O.L.O to REALITY? | You're currently on this page.
[METRO MANILA] ► My First LRT Ride: Thoughts And Reflections | Imagine that good feeling when I experienced the Metro Manila LRT for the first time and it exceeded my expectations![QUEZON CITY] ► Cubao LRT Station: My First LRT Station in PH | I was with fellow nurses. We were going somewhere, a place where we could do the first step of maximizing the potential of our nursing career and this LRT station was part of that journey.[METRO MANILA] ► Cubao To Recto Via LRT: Symbolic Ride For The Nurse In Me | You cannot be your old self all the time. You need to transform for the better and powerful new you.[MANILA] ► Recto LRT Station: Why I Felt So Rich? | The pathway we took revealed to me a reality that's facing Manila's urbanity now. Manila is the capital city of my beloved country but she is facing challenges right now.[MANILA] ► Doroteo Jose LRT Station: Grabbing an Opportunity | ...listening to the words of the experts are fascinating but hearing the stories of normal individuals are more heartfelt and genuine because they share stories based on what they feel and what they have experienced.[MANILA] ► Why My Principles Changed from Y.O.L.O to REALITY? | You're currently on this page.Maps Showing the Location of #MANILA
► FOOTNOTES, DISCLAIMERS, ACKNOWLEDGMENT, ETC
✈ This post was filed under the category "Travel Diaries". See more posts related to this below.
✈ The maps I used on this post are from maps.google.com.ph.
✈ All photos are mine.
✈ The insights, condition, and name of places or properties I mentioned here are based on the facts and situation on the day of my visit. Take note that you may have a different experience when you try the activities or see the properties/places mentioned here. Names of places and properties may also change by time.
UPDATE HISTORY FOR THIS BLOG POST
► 11-March-2019: This post was published.
LATEST STORIES COVERING #MANILA | SEE ALL IN A SEPARATE WINDOW
MORE STORIES COVERING METRO MANILA | SEE OLDER STORIES
LATEST STORIES COVERING THESE CATEGORIES | SEE OLDER STORIES
QCVSDBPBP P KLSV
Post A Comment:
0 comments:
Huwag mahiyang mag-comment at magtanong. Magrereply ako once mabasa ko ang comment mo. 💚
Puwede mo rin akong i-follow or mag-message sa:
• Facebook: @edmaration
• Twitter: @edmaration
• YouTube: @edmaration
• Instagram: @edmaration
• TikTok: @edmaration
• Email: admin@edmaration.com