“The expert at anything was once a beginner. -Helen Hayes
Writing has always been my safest escape, my best therapy, and my ultimate memory keeper.
At age nine, I started writing a diary and two decades later, it is still the same old me-a passionate writer that has written a lot yet a novice that still needs to learn more.
Hello! I am Nenet, 29 years old, from one of the towns in Northern Cebu. I have been a secondary public school teacher for almost seven years now. I am a firm believer in the popular saying “Everything happens for a reason” and I guess I have lived it up until this very moment because knowing 
I am elated to share with you the few things I love doing and how I started doing the things I love. Here they are;
Writing. When I was younger, I tend to be aloof. I always had the “me time”. I preferred inking my thoughts than sharing them verbally with others. I grew up to be an introvert which led me into writing more. Fortunately, in my late teenage years, I began to loosen up and started socializing but I have deeply fallen in love with writing that even if I have learned to mingle with others, I just couldn’t leave writing behind. True love it is. (chuckles) With so much fire in my heart, I continued writing. I wrote poems, news, and featured articles in school. I went on writing diaries every single day until I created my own Facebook Page, Pieces of Me, a self-expression page only, not monetized. I do not see it as something I have to earn from. It was solely published for the love of writing. Indeed, it is true that if it is something you love, you really put your heart into it without expecting anything in return. (And Hive knows how to maximize our love for writing, wink).
Before the birth of Pieces of Me, I shared my articles with one of the established Facebook pages run by a fellow Bisaya writer. That sharing was for free. As readers conversed in the comment section, I was shocked by their positive feedback. A lot of them said that they were moved, and inspired and found the correct words that best explain how they feel at the moment as if their emotions were made valid. But for some reason, the page suddenly became inactive. From there, I decided to have my own Facebook page because I felt the need to help people, with the least I can do, through my articles. I may not know them personally, but I’m glad I was able to reach out to them and somehow provided ease and comfort with what they had been going through. With my writing, I got to connect with people, across seas and
skies, and even miles apart.
Pieces of Me is running for over a year now. It doesn’t have a wide audience like the other pages and that’s okay. My write-ups involve dealing with worries and pressures in life, the season of waiting for the perfect
time for things to happen, dealing with cheating and the struggles it brings, managing trust issues, moving on, acceptance, motivation, loving oneself, and many more.
If you have ample time, maybe you could visit my page.
Hosting. Teaching is synonymous with hosting. Speaking in front of a crowd has become every teacher’s forte. Whatever occasion there is, a teacher, with a microphone and a script is what completes the whole picture. From being a high school student emceeing school-based activities and graduating into being a teacher, hosting school-based programs and municipal events. I have come far with hosting but I am eyeing to learn more.
Travelling. Aside from writing, for me, traveling is also therapeutic. When senses have to be revived, you just have to travel to get back to life.
I have traveled to some of the famous places in and out of Cebu. I have explored the beautiful beaches of Daanbantayan in the North and Badian in the South, got mesmerized by the blue waters of Gibitngil Island in Medellin, and traversed to Dumaguete City, San Carlos City, Bacolod City, and more!
The last trip I had was in Talisay City, Negros Occidental where the famous The Ruins is located. It is said to be the remains of the mansion owned by the wealthy family Lacsons. It was built in the 1900s having Italian architecture as its inspiration. It is one of the tourist destinations in the area where visitors keep flocking especially during holidays. The area is well-maintained and the view is superb- perfect for Instagram shots because every angle is picturesque, leaving you in great awe. Your trip to Negros Occidental isn’t complete without witnessing the grandeur and beauty of The Ruins.
I am keeping my fingers crossed to still have the time and budget to travel more, explore new places, and learn about other people’s cultures.
Cooking. They say that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach but my mother sounded like a broken record for her different version of that line. She always says, “If you do not know how to cook, then find a man who doesn’t like to eat.” Made sense, right?😂 So, I started cooking for the people I love so that when the right man comes, I am all set and ready. Lol!
I am ecstatic to be part of this amazing and growing community of talented people. I am looking forward to reading other blogs and getting some insights from them. Thank you so much Hive for opening the doors for people who love writing. And now, count me in!
