Let me take you on a journey through my life here on Earth. But before anything else, I ask for your respect as you take the time to read this story of my life. Now, get yourself ready because what you're about to read comes from the heart.
Hi! I’m Mariel, and I come from a beautiful place known all around the world the Chocolate Hills of Bohol, Philippines.
Yes, that’s right! Can you imagine living near a natural wonder with more than 1,260 hills? They’re all covered with green grass, but when the dry season comes, they turn into beautiful chocolate brown mounds truly a sight to behold!
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But wait, there's more! Our place isn’t just known for the hills. Tourists also come to see our unique local relatives the tarsiers.
Philippine tarsier, one of the smallest primates in the world.
Honestly though, I’m prettier than a tarsier, there are plenty of them in our place.Funny thing people say it's our relatives (haha!). But yes, our town is full of these cute little creatures, and they’ve become part of our local identity.
A Beautiful World, A Grateful Heart
I feel so proud to say that God created such a wonderful world, and we are all witnesses to His greatness. I often reflect on this how everything we see around us is a masterpiece by His hand. And despite life’s struggles, I never forget to be grateful.
At my current age, I have achieved many things I once only dreamed of. But I still continue to dream even bigger because after all, dreaming is free. I place all my hopes and desires in God's hands, trusting that in His perfect time, He will answer the prayers I’ve kept in my heart.
I was born in 2001, right at home. Back then, it was common for mothers to give birth at home rather than in hospitals or birthing centers. My mother tells me I was born healthy, with soft, fair skin that turned pinkish. She said I looked like my Chinese "grand grand grandmother" ( I can’t help but laugh at my parents the way they say things to me is just so exaggerated 🤭) perhaps that’s where I got my fair skin from!
But of course, growing up under the tropical sun and constantly being outdoors, I got a little tanned a small price to pay for a childhood full of fun and adventure.
One of the most precious gifts I received from God even without asking is my family. We were seven siblings, but sadly, one of my brothers passed away. Now, we’re six: three boys and three girls, perfectly balanced. I’m the fifth child, with one younger sister.
Our family has faced many difficulties, but we always manage to stay joyful. Even when life gets tough, we smile through it. That’s what makes our home strong foundation because of love and understanding.
This was our family pictorial during my older brother’s graduation. We weren’t complete at that time.
My father is a man of many roles: sometimes a farmer, sometimes a carpenter, sometimes a public transport driver. Whatever job he can find, he does, just to support our needs. My mother, a housewife, runs a small mini-store at home. It’s not a big income, but it helps. Sometimes neighbors buy on credit and take months to pay, but we remain patient because our neighbors are also the ones we run to when we need help. That’s what community means to us.
By God's grace, I am now a licensed professional teacher. All my siblings are also pursuing or have completed their own careers, and we’re just waiting for our youngest to graduate.
I will always be proud of my parents. They worked so hard to give us a good life even though they had limited means. Seeing their sacrifices, I told myself when I was a child: "magtarung gyud ko ug skwela" it means "I have to do well in school" in English, because I want my parents to be proud of me.
From elementary to high school, I was an honor student. I joined many clubs, sports, and extra-curricular activities. I was always active and rarely absent from school.
Even though I was so busy with school projects here, exams there, never-ending tasks from Monday to Friday I still made time for what truly matters: my ministry. I remained active in church. Every Saturday, I would help clean the church with fellow youth members. It was tiring, but spiritually refreshing.
Every Saturday night, we’d have choir practice for our Sunday worship. I sing (even I don't have the best voice 😂), and sometimes musician. I also play piano and drums, it’s something I truly enjoy.
Drumming helps me release my stress, like I'm pounding away my problems with every beat.
Sometimes, we pressure ourselves too much because we have big dreams. But that’s okay we fight not because life is not easy, but because our goals are worth it.
I also have a love for art. I enjoy painting, drawing, and poster making. My teachers used to send me to various art competitions school wide or even district-level. This helped me improve and develop my skills.
I’m very particular when it comes to projects. I never want to submit something that doesn’t look good. I always put my heart into it, even if it means sleepless nights. During the pandemic, things got harder with online classes and expensive mobile data. But thankfully, we had monthly load subsidies to help.
I also love crafting and decorating. I make wall designs especially flowers. I often use artificial ones since they’re easier to make, though still tiring.During birthdays or events, people call me to help decorate. I work with whatever materials are available and make sure everything looks good and organized.
Here are my top five reasons for joining Hive:
1. To share my life experiences and inspire others, 2. To create a record of my journey, so I can look back on where I came from,3. To express my thoughts and feelings, 4. To refresh my knowledge and improve my skills like writing and creative thinking ,5. To connect with people from other countries, cultures, and beliefs.
Just wanted to share some love for the one who read this. Seriously, if you're looking to boost your imagination or writing skills, this is a fantastic place to do it. This platform is super friendly, and patient, and it really makes learning enjoyable.
We are truly blessed to have met Ninong @jedum and Ninang @crownrich, who are kind, hardworking, and always willing to help. They were the ones who introduced us to this wonderful Hive community.
I’m now happily married, and God has opened new doors for me to guide and inspire others. I’m so thankful that He gave me a husband who is kind, supportive, caring and yes, handsome! 😍 But what I love most is that he is God-fearing, faithful, and now a Pastor.
We are both degree holders (Teacher). He majored in English, while I majored in Filipino.
To be honest, I really wanted to study Architecture. But the school near us didn’t offer it. I couldn’t transfer because I would lose my scholarship. Also, it was the nearest and most practical choice for our family’s financial situation. Sending three kids to college at the same time wasn’t easy for my parents, even with occasional help from my older siblings who had their own families.
Still, I have no regrets. Being a teacher turned out to be more fun than I expected. Yes, it’s tiring I often lose my voice from teaching but I’ve learned to love the profession. It requires patience, humility, flexibility, and creativity. Every child is different, and teachers must be able to understand and adapt to their needs.
Right now, I’m focused on supporting my husband’s calling in the ministry. I gave up many opportunities to follow him but I don’t regret it one bit. Serving God brings a deeper kind of joy.
Who knows? Maybe God will still bless me with a job close to where we now live. I leave everything in His hands.“Just do your best, and God will do the rest.”
Thank you, Kahive, for reading. I truly appreciate your time. Please continue supporting and uplifting more aspiring Kahivers like me.
See you in my next blog.God bless and more power! 😇