PVYSTERSAVCE

Since i was a little girl, I've always been into fairy tales and mythical creatures both sweet and dark. I always thought I was one until I was five.

The Mermaid

I was taught as a kid that i can be anything i wanted. If i wanted it bad enough and if i worked hard enough. And so i did, i always get what i wanted. Not all at once, but i make sure i do get it.

But hey, it's not always rainbows, there are still butterflies that gets stuck in your stomach. The ones that attacks your whole being that makes you want to vomit and kill yourself. You can't live out of the water,  you can't swim in the sand. It's never easy, but it's worth it.

The Unicorn 

And then i met the unicorn. You are the most beautiful thing I've ever laid eyes on. I knew at once you're all I've ever wanted and more. You may not always believe it when i say it but know that it's true. You are wonderful, and you are more than enough. You are my sunshine. You brought color back to my dark world.

And strong as you are wicked, there are days when you feel off and low, and I'll let you wander off to blow off some steam but know that I'll always be waiting for you to come home.

The Clash of Worlds

When the mermaid met the unicorn, she was at first blown away and somewhat in doubt. Hey, they are two different majestic creatures living in the opposite of the spectrum. But when they got together and the universe finally let them win for the first time, it was the most wonderful fucking thing you could ever laid your eyes on.

I know being together hasn't been all easy, but it's worth every minute. It's you I'm excited to build a life with. It's you that has turned my life around. It's you im excited to see and hold at the end of every waking day, it's you I'm excited to tell everything to. I've been uncertain for so long, and with you i found certainty.

I've been lost for so long, and now I've finally found home. And no matter how long, no matter the circumstance, I will be here waiting, ready to open the door.

Happy 15th, my unicorn! Cheers to more years of adventure. And if, by any chance i meet my inevitable, my greatest memory would be that once upon a time, happy endings do come true because i was loved by you.

Always yours.

No bawian.

So, after a successful conduct of the Regional Search for Modelong Ama ng Pantawid Pamilya the other day, my peoples decided it was better to package the documentation straight from the ground.

I traveled for eight hours to get to Paracelis via a UV Express, it was already fast considering we had to pass through three different provinces and countless mountains (8 PM to 4 AM). I got there at dawn and slept a little in the van while waiting for my sundo (Toneyoung) to wake up.

We met at 6 AM and had breakfast at their place. At 8 AM, we moved out. It took us an hour and a half to get to the house of Tatay Erwin (plus fifteen minute tricycle ride from town proper to the entrance of their sitio). It was literally on top of a mountain, pass several creeks, and unpaved roads.


It was a tiring hike for a smoker like me but it was very fulfilling once you've reached the top. Their sitio Poblacion has a only a little population and the houses were literally separated by little hills. On the way up we've also passed by creeks and bantays which were their main water source.

The view was beautiful from the top. We arrived at around 10 AM and was welcomed warmly by the smell of a burning cow being cooked. We had the interview shoot for thirty minutes and after that, it was time for lunch... my favorite part of the day.


Tatay Erwin had nine children and two grand children. He, being an Igorot has always been proud of having a large family. Prouder because despite the fact that they don't have much, they still manage to send them all to school and as you can see in the photos above, they (the kids) also deliver and are honor students. See full story here: An Igorot's Tale.

Lunch was like a mini feast for they made parti a cow for salu salo. And if you were thirsty, they'll get you a fresh coconut right from the tree!!! It was a very exciting thing to watch (my lowkey evil self was waiting for the kid to fall ngay but thank god he didn't hehehe).

On January 27, 2017, the Department of Social Welfare and Development CAR - Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program conducted the first ever "Search for Modelong Ama ng Pantawid Pamilya". This event was done in recognition to all model fathers who went beyond what is expected of them not only in their homes but also in the community where they reside in.


All provinces in the Cordillera was represented, and of all seven contenders, one stood out and was named the first "Modelong Ama ng Pantawid Pamilya".

Erwin Casiw hails from the town of Paracelis in Mountain Province. This beautiful town was 13 hours away from the city and before you know it, the very next day I was on the road to go visit him for an interview shoot (story of which is in the next post) which was part of the package to be submitted to the Central Office as part requirement for the National Search which will be on the last week of March.

You can also check out my complete write up about him here: An Igorot's Tale

After n years of contemplation and procrastination, I think it's high time that I publish some of the shit that's been going on in and around me (as part of my efforts to remember shit in lieu of being a forgetful lucy).

These will include mainly travel stories from my field works to adventures with the love of my life. You will also be reading a lot of hanash from life (but hey, it ain't all bad, I promise).

So here it goes. The Pilot Post ft. Pag Asa, my fifth tattoo.