Between Bukidnon and Ozamiz City

For weeks, I kept telling myself I would update this blog. But it always stayed inside my head, never quite reaching the page. Life has been moving so fast that I sometimes lose track of what day it is. The transition I’ve been through feels sudden, almost surreal. Even when I’m exhausted at the end of the day, my thoughts still race ahead—planning tomorrow, the next week, and the weeks beyond.

I haven’t fully settled since leaving Bukidnon. For the past ten years, it had been my comfort zone—my quiet place, my anchor, the home I looked forward to returning to. Life there was steady, simple, predictable. I once thought I would remain that way: just a researcher after graduate school, no lofty ambitions, no pursuit of higher positions. In my mind, those things seemed impossible anyway.

But God had other plans.

One unexpected turn led me here, to Ozamiz City—a place I never imagined I would live in. I left Bukidnon almost abruptly, stepping out of my safe space in search of growth. I ran not only after who I wanted to become, but also after a future that, in some small way, could bring me closer to my person—si Wey. That chance, however slim, was worth the risk.

Yet in the middle of all these changes, I realized this season is not only about me. It’s about rediscovering what I want, finding my true purpose, and learning how my life can also help others grow.

Still, the adjustments weigh heavily. My dissertation hangs over me, delayed by this sudden shift. It has only been a month since I left Bukidnon, and life here sometimes feels like starting over again—like I did ten years ago: no friends, no family close by, only work and myself. The difference this time is that weekends can bring a little comfort, as Wey can visit whenever our schedules allow. Even then, unannounced meetings and weekend work trips remind me that life rarely follows our plans.

But life, after all, is full of surprises. What felt uncomfortable at first has slowly become bearable once I accepted that everything happening now is simply part of what lies ahead. These changes are not punishments; they are preparations. And so, I continue to pray—asking God for strength and clarity, trusting that even in the twists and turns, He is leading me toward the story He has written for me.

Someday, this season will be a memory—a chapter in my life’s book. For now, I choose to live it fully, to embrace the discomfort, and to keep moving forward with faith.