C
cityplanningcoordinator
Guest
- Thread Author
- #1
I am super exhausted and dead tired this 2025. But I am also super thankful, blessed, and happy.
Again, this is my personal journal entry, my personal time capsule, my personal monitoring and evaluation (M&E) assessment, an entry I could read back in the future.
There were so many milestone events in my life this 2025.
My Work is a Blessing
I work as a City Planner in my City.
See work of a City Planner
During one of the Smart City conferences I attended in Yokohama in 2023, I came upon the Voluntary Local Review (VLR) session of UN ESCAP. When I went back, our Mayor immediately requested for possible technical assistance from UN ESCAP which was approved by the later in the 1st quarter of 2024. VLR is a plan and monitoring tool on the contribution of our city in the global (SDGs) Sustainable Development Goals. The planning process was participatory and was conducted in 2024.
2025 is a busy year for us, specifically with the completion of our City’s VLR. Our Mayor was invited (I accompanied her and the team as technical support) to present in UN Bangkok in February in the 12th Asia Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development. I represented our City Mayor in New York City in July in the UN High Level Political Forum. Then I accompanied her with the team in Moscow (Transportation Expo) in August, Geneva (United Nations Forum of Mayors) in September and Yokohama (Smart City Conference) in November. This is aside from the short trips within the country to present our VLR. We must be doing the right programs because we are invited to present these programs in the international stage.
I’m exhausted but fulfilled in all the said work trips. Para sa bayan. All of these are for my City and Country.
Law Study Culmination
I started the year with my last semester in law school. It was gruesome. All subjects were supposedly review subjects but since the topics are numerous and combined (3 or more 1st to 3rd year subjects in one review subject), they were overwhelming. I barely passed all my subjects. I graduated and earned my Juris Doctor’s degree in June 2025.
Then, it was time to take the bar exam. The Bar exam was scheduled on September 7, 10, then 14. Imagine, barely making it through (surviving) the last semester to graduate and immediately afterwards (in 2-3 months thereafter) it was time to take the Bar exam.
Some of my classmates took 3 months study leave or more to focus for the exam. I cannot. I have work. Though my boss, our Mayor is supportive of me studying law while working for the past 4 years (she even paid for my bar review class), I cannot just take a study leave knowing that there were so much work to be done (work trips and sometime as an officer in charge of some departments – aside from my regular work). So, I maximize my time, I watched lectures and read reviewers during work travels and did not join dinner to have more study time.
I cannot and should not complain. My work is my livelihood. This pays for my family’s living expenses. This is how I provide for them. My work is tiring but fulfilling. Many people (specially young planners) are dreaming to be in my shoes, planning and helping my City. I am blessed. I am thankful.
Another challenge was my health. Probably due to poor diet, lack of physical activities, stress, anxiety or all of them, my blood pressure was uncontrolled in September, before, during, and after the Bar exam. I am lightheaded during the test days. I also got respiratory flu like symptoms and exacerbated asthma during those days. I remember during the first day of the exam, I am contemplating to go to the hospital after the exam but I decided not to because I might get confined and may not be able to take the 2nd day exam.
Through tough will and determination, I finished the 3-day exam. I am happy. I am proud that I finished the exam.
Now is the hardest part. The result will be announced in the 1st week of January 2026. I pray that I pass the exam and become a full pledged lawyer next year. I do not want to go through the overwhelming bar review again. But, whatever the result, I am thankful. Not everybody finishes Juris Doctor and qualifies to take the Bar. I am blessed. Lord let your will be done.
Family Time
Because of my work and studies this year, I admit, the time I spent with my wife and kids were significantly reduced. Even when they are around, I missed them. We only talked for short periods because I need to work or study. I told them that what I am doing is all for them. They do not complain. But I miss being with them physically even if they are focused on their gadgets (kids!).
I plan this 2026 to spend more time with them. Talk to them more. Eat outside, accompany them to the barbershop or gym, toy window shop, go to the mall, laugh together, just be with them physically. Quality time is more time with them. This I promise to do this 2026.
New Year’s Resolution?
Not much this time.
More time with family.
Good health – lose weight.
Manage finances and hoping to earn more.
I was tired. I was overwhelmed. I was blessed.
I am fulfilled. I am happy. I am blessed.
Thank you 2025. Looking forward to more blessing this 2026.
Again, this is my personal journal entry, my personal time capsule, my personal monitoring and evaluation (M&E) assessment, an entry I could read back in the future.
There were so many milestone events in my life this 2025.
My Work is a Blessing
I work as a City Planner in my City.
See work of a City Planner
During one of the Smart City conferences I attended in Yokohama in 2023, I came upon the Voluntary Local Review (VLR) session of UN ESCAP. When I went back, our Mayor immediately requested for possible technical assistance from UN ESCAP which was approved by the later in the 1st quarter of 2024. VLR is a plan and monitoring tool on the contribution of our city in the global (SDGs) Sustainable Development Goals. The planning process was participatory and was conducted in 2024.
2025 is a busy year for us, specifically with the completion of our City’s VLR. Our Mayor was invited (I accompanied her and the team as technical support) to present in UN Bangkok in February in the 12th Asia Pacific Forum on Sustainable Development. I represented our City Mayor in New York City in July in the UN High Level Political Forum. Then I accompanied her with the team in Moscow (Transportation Expo) in August, Geneva (United Nations Forum of Mayors) in September and Yokohama (Smart City Conference) in November. This is aside from the short trips within the country to present our VLR. We must be doing the right programs because we are invited to present these programs in the international stage.
I’m exhausted but fulfilled in all the said work trips. Para sa bayan. All of these are for my City and Country.
Law Study Culmination
I started the year with my last semester in law school. It was gruesome. All subjects were supposedly review subjects but since the topics are numerous and combined (3 or more 1st to 3rd year subjects in one review subject), they were overwhelming. I barely passed all my subjects. I graduated and earned my Juris Doctor’s degree in June 2025.
Then, it was time to take the bar exam. The Bar exam was scheduled on September 7, 10, then 14. Imagine, barely making it through (surviving) the last semester to graduate and immediately afterwards (in 2-3 months thereafter) it was time to take the Bar exam.
Some of my classmates took 3 months study leave or more to focus for the exam. I cannot. I have work. Though my boss, our Mayor is supportive of me studying law while working for the past 4 years (she even paid for my bar review class), I cannot just take a study leave knowing that there were so much work to be done (work trips and sometime as an officer in charge of some departments – aside from my regular work). So, I maximize my time, I watched lectures and read reviewers during work travels and did not join dinner to have more study time.
I cannot and should not complain. My work is my livelihood. This pays for my family’s living expenses. This is how I provide for them. My work is tiring but fulfilling. Many people (specially young planners) are dreaming to be in my shoes, planning and helping my City. I am blessed. I am thankful.
Another challenge was my health. Probably due to poor diet, lack of physical activities, stress, anxiety or all of them, my blood pressure was uncontrolled in September, before, during, and after the Bar exam. I am lightheaded during the test days. I also got respiratory flu like symptoms and exacerbated asthma during those days. I remember during the first day of the exam, I am contemplating to go to the hospital after the exam but I decided not to because I might get confined and may not be able to take the 2nd day exam.
Through tough will and determination, I finished the 3-day exam. I am happy. I am proud that I finished the exam.
Now is the hardest part. The result will be announced in the 1st week of January 2026. I pray that I pass the exam and become a full pledged lawyer next year. I do not want to go through the overwhelming bar review again. But, whatever the result, I am thankful. Not everybody finishes Juris Doctor and qualifies to take the Bar. I am blessed. Lord let your will be done.
Family Time
Because of my work and studies this year, I admit, the time I spent with my wife and kids were significantly reduced. Even when they are around, I missed them. We only talked for short periods because I need to work or study. I told them that what I am doing is all for them. They do not complain. But I miss being with them physically even if they are focused on their gadgets (kids!).
I plan this 2026 to spend more time with them. Talk to them more. Eat outside, accompany them to the barbershop or gym, toy window shop, go to the mall, laugh together, just be with them physically. Quality time is more time with them. This I promise to do this 2026.
New Year’s Resolution?
Not much this time.
More time with family.
Good health – lose weight.
Manage finances and hoping to earn more.
I was tired. I was overwhelmed. I was blessed.
I am fulfilled. I am happy. I am blessed.
Thank you 2025. Looking forward to more blessing this 2026.
Last edited: