Year 29.

January 1, 2025

Wednesday

HAPPY 2025!

As I was writing this on the last night of 2024, I couldn't help but reflect on the year I've had turning 30 this year and the things I did in my 20s.

And you know what, I actually had the best time of my life throughout these past 10 years. I have learned so much about life, love, friendship, family, career, and most importantly, as cliché as it sounds, myself.

Anybody who knows me is very aware that I have always put my career first above everything else. Which, is the hard truth. I left my hometown at 16 years old to pursue my dreams of going to Culinary School. Which then turned to leaving the country to pursue even bigger dreams of becoming a chef.

As difficult as it was to leave home at such a young age, I persevered to do so for the sake of my career and the dream I've been holding on to since I was 8. And I'm glad I did cause I wouldn't be who I am now if I had not made that decision, or rather convinced my family to let me go.

I'm forever grateful for that ma and pa.

Fast forward to 2024, in the last year of my 20s. I wanted to celebrate it and celebrate myself, so I told myself at the beginning of the new year to be braver for new opportunities and just try.

And safe to say year 29 has been one of the best years so far.

FEBRUARY:
- Started working out and joined Pilates. Probably the most un-laziest year I've ever been in all my life to say the least.
- Took my Red Seal test, and failed

APRIL:
- Finally got promoted to Jr. Sous Chef and got my first ever uniform with my name on it in my career!
  It's been a long time coming so I'm pretty sentimental about this.

MAY:
- Applied for a Canadian cooking competition for the first time; wasn't able to get it but it was a lot of work and I feel very proud trying anyway
JULY:
- Took the Red Seal test again, and finally Passed this time. This process only took nearly a year in total!!! Jeeeez, all I can say? It was exhausting. LOL
AUGUST:
- Applied for the San Pellegrino's 30 under 30 competition, after a very long and intricate application, very proud to say I tried and got in!
- I still couldn't even believe that I was one of the Top 10 chosen ones out of 400 plus chefs all over Canada to compete!!!
Canada | S.Pellegrino Young Chef Academy (sanpellegrinoyoungchefacademy.com )

SEPTEMBER:
- Very busy at work + busy prepping for the competition.
- Stress eating and mood swings all around

OCTOBER:
- SAN PELLEGRINO YOUNG CHEF ACADEMY COMPETITION!
- Crazy how the last 2 months preparing for this competition were some of the most stressful times I ever had in my career.
- Won the Fine Dining Lovers' Food for Thought Award, made it to TOP 4
- Wrote all about it in a separate post:
  ❤️ My San Pellegrino Young Chef Adventure ❤️
NOVEMBER:
- Officially 30! ❤️
- Brother came to visit and had a mini photoshoot to celebrate me. yay!
- Rented a Jeep Wrangler, aka my dream car as a birthday present to myself and had such a blast driving it.
- Spent the entire day on a food trip from brunch to dinner with my brother.
- Got interviewed by OMNI TV: Filipino Edition