22 things that happened when I'm 22

22 things that happened when I'm 22


When I was in high school and even in the early years of college, 22 was my favorite number. It's so special to me back then because it's Yael Yuzon (Sponge Cola's Frontman) 's birthday. 22. They even have a song with that title. Throwback kung throwback (sakto throwback Thursday ngayon)!

And now.. taran! It's speacial because I'm 22 and and I'm about to leave this age. This post is just to document the things that happened in the 22 year-old me. I really feel that time is slipping away and I'm really not getting any younger! I want to record everything as much possible.

Okay so at 22,

1. I signed up for a mission trip in Kyrgyzstan but I was not accepted.

That's alright because I can still pray for it and send and friend. (Hi Mai!)  We can still reach the people there.

2. Got a passport and bought a suitcase with my Family

3. I rode an airplane.

4.I saw stewardess in action.

5.I went to Korea

6. I saw snow.

7. I experienced -11 / -19 C Temperature

wow. Just in my Korea trip, I can write a lot of first times! REALLY, who would have thought?!! At 22, I will see snow, I will go to another country and that's all for almost FREE! (almost, haha) ! All by His GRACE and MIGHTY POWER!!!! Kung sinabi mo sa akin ito nung high school  ako, hindi siguro ako maniniwala. At "Weh?" lang ang isasagot. Overwhelming talaga si Lord noh?

8. First family bonding/ Swimming

9. Regular VG with Winnie, Ja and Jhesie

10. Naging Prayer partners ang mga high school friends

11. SINGLES CAMP (I met Team Solar!)

12. First Time in BAGUIO!!!

13. I cooked Adobo for the first time. (lasa daw hamonado sabi ni Brother.)

14. My brother raised his hand to accept Jesus in a Planetshakers concert.

15. Bump Car (in Lotte World)

16. First Leave in the Office

17. Discipling a Single Professional (I met Marian!)

18. Bowling!! (with the Jr Kids volunteers)

19. Beach with PUP Alumni!!! Oh sea oh sea!!

20 Bought a smartphone!

21 Namaga ang paa ko dahil sa pagpapa pedicure

22  I met Sir JJ, Ms. Han, Ms. Jenny and Clara (in Korea). I really miss them.


Wee! More adventures to come at 23!! Here we go!!!

Seoul Barbecue

"It' s our first dinner in the nation of South Korea. I' m amazed and overwhelmed with all those colorful side dishes. Honestly, I was starving so I was so excited to taste them. Oh my then I met my beloved Samgyeopsal! That's the best! Being cook and cut in front of me was so cool! With the big onions and mushrooms, I fell in love with it. I loved to do the "ssambap" thing - lettuce, rice, samgyeopsal, kim chi and samjang together. :)"

Last March, I was tasked to write about  my Korean Food experience. ahh Korean Food. I miss them almost everyday!

Yesterday though, I had a glimpse again of what it's like to sit in from of  those wonderful dishes and side dishes and this time with my beloved former co-teachers. :)


We ate at Seoul Barbecue.   According to one of the comments in Zomato , Seoul Barbecue is one of the best Korean Restaurants in Quezon City. Hmm... let's see.. I mean, let's taste!

Co-worker's reunion! Taken at a bookstore before we attack SB.  

This is it!

I honestly admit that the ambiance was not that good when I entered because it's pretty hot! Well,  we went there at around 3PM so the air-conditioner was turned off .  I really thought "Oh my,  it's so hot in here!"  But then, it's all good when the air-conditioner was opened.  :)

The Menu Cover

We ordered Kalbi tang  ( a variety of guk, or Korean  soup, made primarily from beef short ribs along with stewing beef, onions, and other ingredients) because it's Ate Misha's favorite.  *Php300

 We also ordered Samgyeopsal ( popular Korean dish that is commonly served as an evening meal. It consists of thick, fatty slices of pork belly meat. The meat, usually neither marinated nor seasoned, is cooked on a grill at the diners’ table) because it's my favorite, hahaha! We ordered two since we want to experience grilling in front of us (yes, you have to order 2 to experience that)  *That's Php 600 for 2 orders

 and Ojingeo bokkeum  (one of the most popular spicy dishes in Korean cuisine. The squid is cut into bite-sized pieces and stir fried in a slightly sweet red chili sauce along with some vegetables.) just because! hahaha!   *Php 350


Kalbi tang tastes good.  They said that it's like "Nilagang Baka" for the Filipinos but it has noodles, or for us, "sotanghon".

It's was fun to cook Samgyeopsal and it's so easy too. The meat was so thin and tender. I wish they serve it with mushroom though but we only got garlic and onions.

 That's the difference between my Samgyeopsal experience in SSK (Seoul, South Korea)  and  the Samgyeopsal in SB (Seoul Barbecue). In SSK, they served it with mushrooms, garlic, salt and white onions. It's  thicker too!  While in SB, we got garlic and red onions and again  it's really thin. Maybe it really varies. :)

Ojingeo bokkeum  is my new favorite! I so so loved it! Not so spicy (because we're asked if we want the spicy one or the not-so-spicy one), it's a little sweet. I'm craving for it until now and I just can't stop talking about it with my students! :) 'til we meet again Ojingeo bokkeum! I hope I could cook that too!

Haha. Hindi na talaga namin na picturan ang pagkain since we're so thrilled and hungry . This is the aftermath!

We were so full and ended up craving for more Korean food! Wow I can't believe  that I  have a post now about a restaurant. I hope this won't be the last!


For the Seoul Barbecue's  phone number, location, menu, opening hours etc. Please click here.

Aica in Korea

Boarding Pass. :) 

Airplane selfie. Ang taba ko dito no?:)

and we're Flying!!!

Samgyeopsal!!! Our First dinner!

Starbucks in Korea. :) First Breakfast. :)

Chocolate from Ms. Jenny. :) 

Selfie with Ms. Hann. :) 

YBM Main Office :) 

Let it snow..let it snow.let it snow.. not fashionable at all. hehe

with Clara #anakngboss

Gyeongbuk Goong!!!!Lamiggg!!!

Evergreen!!! Just like our God na hindi nagbabago kahit ano pang season!

seafood Jjampong for Lunch! 

The morning of the Wedding. hahaha

Uyyy Hi there Woo Bin!!! -11 and temp nyan ah!

Oppa! hahaha!

The locks at Namsan Tower!

Clara trying to copy the airplane. This was at Incheon airport. Really sad moment. 

I'm going home..awwwwww...

Answered prayer! Window seat!!! Annyeong Korea. 'til we meet again! :) 

How did Aica go to Korea?

The desire to visit Korea started the moment I realized that my company used to have the program that would send teachers there . I just thought “Whoa. It’ll be wonderful if they’ll have it again” Little did I know that that desire will turn into faith and then to reality.

Yes, it’s suddenly back and I prayed to go. When you talk about this country with it’s people everyday, I think you would just fall in love with it . Hmm..wouldn’t it be awesome to see it yourself? I got kilig with the thought.

The desire was really there. Thus, I asked my Kuya MJ to pray for me, and he did right away! Now there’s someone agreeing with me! Followed by being a one of my Faith Goals last 2014. “to fly to South Korea” I wrote and pray.

3 weeks after the Prayer and Fasting (where I wrote and believed for my Faith Goals), I was announced as the Best Teacher for my section thus became a candidate to go to Korea. It was such an amazing moment to realize that God could answer our prayers in the sweetest way possible. That night, I wrote in my note “South Korea, here I come!” :)

After two months, I became the Best Teacher again. Take note that everything that happened, was all by His grace. I was so surprised because I know I didn’t do that well since I started my part time that month (meaning, I don’t have much sleep!) I was so in Awe with my Dad in heaven! That’s Him, that’s Him alone!!!!!

Months passed, I had a lot of opportunities to pray to go. Every time I would see a luggage I would pray “Daddy, let’s go to Korea please? (with puppy) eyes,hahaha)” . Every time I would see an airplane up in the sky or just in Tumblr, I would pray “Daddy, Daddy, please, please, let me, let me go to Korea, go to Korea!…:)) Sounds like a little kid yeah. I learned this from Pastor Ryan and his daughter Chesca (they also went to Korea by Grace, this was their prayer). Their testimony inspired me a lot.

Every time I would be asked of a prayer request, “to go to Korea” was always next to Family Salvation I think.

God would always encouraged me to believe with all that I am.. I was often reminded of this phrase “Preparation is the highest kind of faith”. With that, I applied for my passport, bought a winter coat (not knowing it’ll be the one I would wear when I see the snow) asked my Mom to buy me my luggage in the future and bought a smartphone (one Teacher said Koreans might laugh at me when they see my phone - Nokia C5. hehe). I honestly miss those days of praying and preparing. :)

Hearing my mentors and siblings in Christ declaring that I will go gave me strength to believe as well. (oh how thankful I am for my prayer partners!)

Last November, I became a third-time Best Teacher. This made me literally speechless and awestruck. I was in PUP Youth service, worshiping God when I heard the news from one of my dear friends. That’s the time that He reminded me that He is 3Ms for me (Mighty, Mindful and Merciful). I honestly prayed to be a best teacher again but that was like for seconds while riding a jeepney! I was like “WHAAAA LORD? YOU HEARD ME? YOU HEARD THAT?” Hands up. I think I should, and you too should never doubt if He hears you. Because He is indeed a listener and a lover of your Soul. :)

December 19 (the day that they would pick those who will go) came. I remember listening to this song this while crying:

Oh, my God, He will not delay
My refuge and strength always
I will not fear, His promise is true
My God will come through always, always

I lift my eyes up, my help comes from the Lord
I lift my eyes up, my help comes from the Lord .

- Always, Kristian Stanfill

"I’m not the kind of girl who would be picked in a raffle, I’m just new here, I’m young, there are a lot of names, maybe He doesn’t want be to be frozen in Korea? " Yes, I had doubts too. But HE NEVER FAILED to encouraged me to believe that HE IS MIGHTY for me. That HE IS GOD. If it’s His will;, NOTHING and NO ONE could ever stop me from going.

They announced the winners and I’m not included. Yes peeps, I was not picked in the raffle. I left the training room. Have you ever felt that pain? The feeling of as if even the wind is painful? I was trying really really hard to be okay..already praying ” Lord, I know You have your reason..maybe I will not stand the winter weather, You’re just keeping me safe right? Daddy, I know..there’s a reason..Your reason… that is way way better than my will.”

Suddenly Kuya Liam was calling “Aica, bumalik ka don! Pupunta ka din daw ng Korea!” and I was like “Kuyaaaaa!!!! Wag mo ko niloloko!!” hehe. I really thought it’s a joke. hahaha. (peace Kuya!)

I hastily went back and everything was magical already..I don’t know what’s happening but the people we’re just waiting and looking at me. They asked me for a speech but all I could say was.. :Thank You Lord!!!!!!” Clueless and just holding on with the thought that I would really go now! Dad, You nailed it! You finished it! Waaah! I was lost in space…or better yet, caught in His love. What a privilege to see His hands in everything that’s happening. His glory shines so bright at that moment. HE REALLY KNOWS WHEN IT IS SWEET. He knows how to surprise. HE KNOWS.

In a sec, He made my sorrow into joy. (I’m trying hard not to cry again now while writing this). I even got my VISA two days before the flight even if I only had few thousands in my account! His mercy never ends.

Today, it’s been a week since I saw the white snow In South Korea. The one He made as white as snow because of His grace, finally saw how white it really is. I was in tears seeing His creation. Even more when I read in Luke 10: 23 after I saw it ,

"Then when they were alone, He turned to the disciples and said,

"Blessed are the eyes that see what you have seen."


Father, I never deserve any of this. Who would’ve thought that you would choose a girl like me to see great and marvelous things? You always make me in awe! Kamsahamnida Appa!!! Sarangheyo! In Jesus’ sweet and mighty Name I pray, amen!

Friends, Believe. Have Faith.

For nothing is impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37)

Annyeong!!!