This month’s reminds me that the heaviest burdens are often carried in our minds, not on our backs. Joyce joined her year-end school trip solo, without a chaperone, which gave her a chance to grow in independence and confidence. The trip to Tagaytay Paradizoo and JCastles offered both learning and fun, with farm animals, gardens, and playful activities.
Property tax season arrived, but both Pasig and Parañaque kept rates unchanged, a welcome relief for the budget. Christmas shopping was busy as usual, with spending on gifts, clothes, shoes, and car accessories pushing the balance sheet negative. To avoid heavy traffic, big malls were skipped in favor of smaller ones, with most dining done around SM malls and Shopwise. Church services added a spiritual touch to the season, while an attempted visit to the Christmas park in Taguig failed due to traffic and parking issues. Instead, Vista Mall became the fallback destination, still offering a festive atmosphere.
Pre-Christmas celebrations were held in Santolan, where Kat also checked on renovations. On December 25, the main celebration took place with Kat’s family, filled with food, laughter, and gift exchanges. The mix of early and family-centered celebrations made the holiday season warm, balanced, and memorable.
This Month's Quote
The heaviest burden is what we carry in our minds, and not on our backs...
Joyce Field Trip
End year field trip for Joyce...
oyce is going solo on her school trip this year. At first, she wanted to have a chaperone, but after weighing the costs and the hassle, we decided not to join or ask anyone else to accompany her. It felt more practical to let her experience the trip independently, and honestly, it’s a good chance for her to build confidence. The school organized a visit to Tagaytay Paradizoo and JCastles, which made for a fun and educational outing. Paradizoo gave the students a chance to see farm animals, gardens, and nature up close, while JCastles added a playful and adventurous vibe to the day. Joyce was excited about the mix of learning and leisure, and we’re glad she got to enjoy it with her classmates. It’s a big step for her, going without us this time, but we see it as part of her growth. Trips like these aren’t just about sightseeing—they’re about independence, responsibility, and making memories with friends.
Paranaque land taxes
Local taxeses...
It’s that time of the year again—property tax season. Luckily, both Pasig and Parañaque kept things steady this year with no increases or changes in rates. That’s a relief, since any adjustment would’ve meant reshuffling the budget. At least for now, it’s just the usual routine payment without extra surprises.
Christmas shopping
Time of spending and negative in the balance sheet...
Christmas shopping season always feels like a time of spending—and yes, the balance sheet definitely goes negative. We picked up gifts, new clothes, new shoes, car accessories, and a bunch of other little things. To avoid the crazy traffic, we skipped the big malls and stuck to smaller ones instead. Most of our outside dining happened around SM malls and near Shopwise, which made the trips feel more relaxed compared to the usual holiday rush. We also attended Christmas church services, which added that festive and spiritual touch to the season. At one point, we tried to visit the Christmas park in Taguig, but traffic and the lack of parking space made it impossible. In the end, we just headed to Vista Mall instead—less hassle, and at least we still got to enjoy the holiday vibe.
Christmas celebrations
Family celebrations...
We had a little pre-Christmas celebration in Santolan a few days before the 25th. It was nice to soak in the holiday vibe early, and Kat also took the chance to check out the renovations during that time. On Christmas Day itself, we spent it with Kat’s family. The atmosphere was warm and festive—food, laughter, and the usual exchange of gifts. It felt good to balance the early celebration in Santolan with the big day spent together with family.