End of the Year Round Up: Looking Back at 2014

My Beloved Wife Lei planned on preparing our favorite Graham cake and then going to my parents to welcome the new year. But these plans were foiled by the coming of our bundle of joy: Little Ahab.

(Sosurce: princesskaoru)

Lei had a hard time during labor. She struggled for more than 24 hours before our Ob/Gyne decided to do a Caesarean operation. Lei and our baby are fine. Our God kept them safe and healthy.

I couldn’t explain the happiness when I saw my child for the first time. My heart jumped when I heard his first cry. I will surely treasure that moment for the rest of my life.



2014 was an exceptional year for me and Lei because it is the year when we opened a new chapter of our life as husband and wife. We didn’t had a hard time adjusting but there were moments when my personality clashed with hers. Thank God that we overcame our differences and made everything work in our first months of marriage.

The change in my personal life affected my blogs negatively. 2014 is the year when I contracted the much dreaded Writer’s Block. I had to take a month off blogging just to recuperate and regain my “voice”.

I managed to publish plenty of posts despite all the changes that’s happening to me during 2014. I posted about our wedding preparations. I’m glad that many people found those posts helpful, especially the posts about the bridal gowns in Divisoria, wedding souvenirs at the shops along Tabora and Ylaya Streets, The Venue in SM Mall of Asia, wedding rings from Binondo Chinatown, and wedding celebrations at Max’s Restaurant.

I continued my yearly tradition of virtual Visita Iglesia. For this year’s Semana Santa; I posted about the Shrine of Our Lady of Grace in Caloocan, the chapel of Marines Barracks, Malate Church, Our Lady of the Airways Church in Pasay, St. Dominic Savio Church in Mandaluyong, Don Bosco Church in Makati, and Quiapo Church.

Finally, I posted about our honeymoon trip to Puerto Princesa. We truly enjoyed our first trip as husband and wife because of the pristine beach and clean seas of Palawan. That island is truly the last frontier of the Philippines. Aside from the beaches of Honda Bay, we also experienced a breathtaking trip to the world-famous Puerto Princesa Underground River.

We also didn’t miss the chance for a DIY city tour. We went to the Puerto Princesa Cathedral and the infamous Plaza Cuartel.

It is quite obvious that my blog posts are very few this year. Only three blog series peppered with other blog posts. I have plenty of delayed posts. I’m yet to finish posting about my trip around Thailand. I also have pending posts for my trip to Guimaras, Northern Samar, Cebu, Subic, and Davao. My latest trip to Kuala Lumpur was also added to the queue.

My New Year’s resolution for my blog is to finish all of my pending posts. I also hope to post more on my other blogs. I also wish that I will be able to balance my daily life and blogging. And of course, I hope (and pray) that my income from blogging increase and more opportunity will come to me.

So, expect more travel posts on this blog. I will take you to interesting places around the Philippines and beyond.

To all of the readers of BTES, especially my suki, I greet all of you a very merry Christmas and a happy new year. May the Lord shower you and your family with great blessings.
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