A Weekend to Remember: Axel's First Gold and a Family Getaway

Hi Hiveans,

It’s been a while since I last posted here. Life has kept me busy—with work, daily routines, and most importantly, with slowly redeeming and gaining myself back. There hasn’t been any major life update either, so I guess that kept me from writing. But today, I just want to share a moment that made me really happy.

Last week, our son participated in a regional competition for Pencak Silat, a martial arts sport. We didn’t initially plan for him to join this activity, but his school adviser—who also happens to be one of the coaches—encouraged the students to give it a try. I asked my husband if we could let our son practice just once and see if he liked it. Surprisingly, he did and he wanted to continue.

We saw it as a good opportunity—not only for self-defense, but also as a way to reduce his phone screen time and get some physical activity. So every day at 4 PM, my husband would take him to practice, and I would pick him up at 6 PM after work. That became our routine for nearly two months.

Then came their performance at SM City, where our son also joined. It was a bit overwhelming, seeing him on stage—but he looked so happy and excited.

Last month the regional competition was held in Tubungan. Other Schools also participated, and we were told that our group would be sleeping in classrooms provided by the host school. But since I’m not comfortable staying with large groups of people, I looked for a hotel nearby and booked us a room instead.

To my son, this was the most exciting part—it was his first time staying at a hotel! We brought snacks, packed clothes for two days, and treated it like a mini family getaway. It was just the three of us, and it felt really special since we rarely travel.

It was very hot, so we mostly stayed indoors. Around 4 PM, our son joined the parade as part of the barangay fiesta, and we tagged along. In the evening, we had dinner at a kiosk. I noticed the food there tasted different—more natural. One thing that really stood out was how clean their comfort rooms were. Even the school had a large bathroom with cubicles, and it was very clean.

The next morning, we woke up early for his 8 AM competition. He was part of a Regu team, which means he performed in a group of three. He’s not quite ready for sparring yet, but that’s okay—he's getting there.

When it was their turn, I was more nervous than he was, lol! But to our surprise and pride, their team won first place and took home the gold! Our son was beyond happy—and so proud.

After the event, we explored the area a bit and the small resort with a pool and a slide. It wasn’t fancy—just one pool and a few cottages—but it was clean and peaceful My husband and son swam while I relaxed, snacked on some chips, and streamed videos. I’m not much of a swimmer—I’m more of a mountain and trees kind of person.

We stayed one more night at the hotel, and the next morning we headed home. I laughed silently when my brother-in-law asked our son if he won anything—he just proudly showed off his gold medal, which he wore again.

These are the moments that matter. I think this trip will be one of Axel’s core memories—his first hotel stay, evening strolls, dinners out, and the joy of winning something he worked hard for.

Even if we went home broke and I think we’ll have to eat dried fish for a while since we spent too much, I don’t regret it at all.

I’m looking forward to more travels as a family. It's definitely on my bucket list. I thank God for helping me through the struggles and for guiding me back to myself again. I'm deeply grateful for all the blessings—both big and small.

Until next time, Hive. 💛