Mari Felices

" We met as strangers chasing dreams, became sisters through shared Sundays and street food, and stayed friends across oceans, because true friendship doesn’t fade, it simply finds new ways to stay." Celebrating 12 years of friendship with Annie How It All Began I still remember the day I met Annie. We were both at the agency, we are together in our training, going for medical tests, and we live together in the boarding house provided by the agency. We stay there while preparing to leave the Philippines for work in Hong Kong. We were just two hopeful women chasing opportunity—but something clicked. Strangers at first both excitement in our eyes, or the way we both tried to hide our fears with laughter. From that moment on, we became close. Whatever it was, that moment sparked a friendship that would last more than a decade.      training center in the Philippines  Day-Off Rituals and City Adventures Once we arrived in Hong Kong, life got ...

I'm sharing a piece of my heart today.   For over nine years, I thrived in Hong Kong, and now I’m embracing new experiences in Finland. Meanwhile, my son, Louie, along with his older sister, Yssah, and younger sister, Lyssah, has been in the Philippines. Despite missing birthdays, hugs, and quiet moments, my love for them has never wavered. Having Louie with me in Finland now is a remarkable blessing, and I am proud to witness his journey as he evolves into the artist he was always destined to be. This poem is dedicated to him—for Totoy, my shy yet sweet boy, who once dreamt of robots and now passionately paints portraits. I wrote this to celebrate his journey, our bond, and the joy of supporting him as he pursues his dreams. I look forward to the day when we’ll all be together again—   You, me, your ate, and your little sister.   A complete family, sharing laughter, love, and life. Today, as he turns 19, I proudly dedicate this poem to him.   To ...

Dreaming in Color: My Journey into Art They say pictures can tell more than words can say. L I did not dream to be an artist nor to be a poet.   But now, can I dream to be one? The Beginning of Something Beautiful I love painting, but I don't know how to sketch or paint. I try to draw—October last year (2019)—using oil pastel as a start. Maybe because I was challenged to do so, and I was in a group with lots of great artists. Ate Karla, Madam Suzette, and the PH fam inspire me to paint. And then I start watching a YouTube tutorial about painting.   And I found out, I can paint. Isn't it great, right? That moment was more than just trying something new—it was the start of discovering a hidden part of myself. The encouragement from others and the joy of learning gave me a sense of purpose I hadn’t felt before.   A Leap into the Unknown After six years of working closely with my employer and her family, they relocated to London, prompting me to seek new opportuniti...