@morenatravels
Lost but now found. Saved by grace. Traveler, actor wannabe, avid coffee drinker, an avid fan of Rihanna, into the law of attraction, manifestation and having an attitude of gratitude.
Hello Hivers, my name is Joyce and I go by the name of Morena Travels here. I love to wander and travel! I want to cross the seven continents, swim the deepest ocean and eat my favorite Asian cuisine. I have a passion for writing. I am a journalist by heart. I crave justice, basic human rights, and I want to speak up for my rights as a citizen in this country. I want to spread good vibes to every wanderer. I live for fairness and equality. I am a traveler and a beach lover. I prefer the beach over the mountains since I am not fond of hiking. I love the sound of the waves from the sea as it gives me tranquility.
I love Asian food. My favorite Asian cuisines are Thai and Japanese. This is also the reason why I love to travel so that I can taste authentic cuisine. When I was young my dream is to become a writer because I love to write anything. When I was 12, I wrote about my teenage life under our campus tree however I stopped because I have to make a living at a very young age. I forgot everything because I needed to survive. I felt that at that moment in my life, passion seemed like a crime. Passion is for rich people only. Some people work for passion but for me, I work for money. Poor people need to work hard. During my teenage years, I never experienced the things at my age had, because what is important to me was to survive the bare minimum. That is why I was so driven when I started to work and earn.
I have my Bachelor's Degree in Mass Communication. However, I never ended in a media industry. My dream is to be in a limelight to showcase my talent however our wants don’t cooperate with our needs in life. I am the 2nd child among 8 siblings, as my mother told me once that your ambition cannot sustain our needs and finances so I have to choose to be practical. It was the year 2012 when I was 27 years old that I finished college and got my diploma. After my graduation, I landed a job in the corporate world and what I have in mind is to work hard, earn money and save up for the future. I worked so hard and I did side hustle by selling beauty products at that time. A year after that, I shifted my career and stayed there for nearly 5 years. I worked in one of the highest-paid BPO companies. This was the time that I was able to travel internationally.
My childhood dream of going to Disneyland was finally fulfilled. I GOT TO TRAVEL ABROAD! It was also because I met the man that is destined for me. He supported me all the way-- my life-long goals, my career, my family. I am too blessed to have him in my life. Year after year, we make sure to spend our anniversary outside the country. We travelled together to Macau, Malaysia, Thailand and Singapore. Because I love to travel, I also work harder than anyone else. "Work like there is no tomorrow." Working an 8-hour shift with graveyard shifts to sustain my lifestyle. I also do baking and hosting. I enjoy life, I travel, I go shopping and eat like a queen. I deserve everything since I work so hard for it! I quit the good paying job when I was 32 in my mid-life crisis.
I got tired of everything and I wanted to find peace and happiness. I was feeling lost and don’t know what to do. At 32, I was confident enough to apply as a cabin crew/ flight attendant. The pay is really good and aside from it, you can travel the world for free. I applied several times and was rejected every time. It was heartbreaking. That was when I decided to apply for a different job. I applied as a sales specialist in one of the leading car companies in Cebu. As luck would have it, I got the job knowing I don’t know how to drive with no sales background. The owner put his trust in me that I can do the job well. It was truly rewarding!
Fast forward 4 years, I resigned and decided to shift my career. This time, I wanted to be in the medical field. At 36, I worked as a medical sales representative and my coverage was in Cebu city area. I truly enjoyed my work, it was fun running after doctors during coverage from one hospital to another. However, this pandemic came and I have to choose between my career and my health. My world turned upside down because I was jobless at 36. I was a bit devastated. But God is so good to me. He gave me a man who will be there and support me with my goals in life. Last year 2020, together with my boyfriend, we opened a milk tea shop right in front of our house. For now, this is where I am spending my day as a barista and a cashier at the same time.
Now at 37, I am happy and contented, currently engaged and soon to marry the man that God has prepared for me. I am beyond excited to open another chapter of my life. I will soon be blogging about my wedding preparations and my expanding business as well.
I am grateful to the Cebu Hive Team for this opportunity. I hope that this community will touch and enrich the lives of other wanderers. A special thank you to my sisters @sassycebuana @jongcl @eeventuree @swaycanete who encouraged me to join this beautiful community.
Stay tuned for my travel blog posts coming very soon! Have a blessed day, hivers!