When I was in 5th or 6th grade, I started to keep a journal where I wrote down all my thoughts and secrets. From my frustrations with the exam results, to my friend’s story that she’s being molested by her lolo, to my own version of chicken soup for the soul, except mine’s tuknene and isaw. It would’ve been nice if I can read again what I wrote then and maybe tap into my old self. Unfortunately, however, I’m an idiot who buried that journal in our backyard (in a “time capsule”) and we have since built a new house over the it.

Much thanks to the internet, I can now keep a journal and read it anytime, anywhere. And so, I’ve decided to write a letter, addressed to my self ten years from now. By then, I’d be 33, and maybe, just maybe… I’d still be very happy.

Dear 33 y/o Kring,

How are you? I honestly hope and pray that you’re doing well and that things have turned out the way you planned them to. Have you seen the world yet? I know you have always wanted to do that, to get out of this place, not to run away from it all but to experience the world as it was made to be. By now, I’d assume you’ve been to Japan, Australia and The Holy Land already. Okay, the last one may be a stretch but I at least wish you’re well-traveled.

Okay, this is really what I want to know- are you on your way to being the first female to ever create an empire in the country/region? Please, I beg of you, do not tell me you’re still doing segments and small shows like the ones I’m doing now because you know you can do much better. EMPIRE. Don’t you dare forget. EMPIRE. And how many films have you done already? Have you won awards yet? Please tell me you’ve also met and your heroes Gwak Jae Young, Wong Kar Wai and Iwai Shunji or have at least done something that would make them proud. EMPIRE.

And I don’t know if you’re still a ball of cheese (as I am now) but have you met the person you want to spend the rest of your life with? Was he worth the wait? Are his kisses alone enough to make you remember that despite all the bad things in life, it’s still worth living? Is it really… overrated (you know what I’m talking about)? Dear, I hope that you’re not yet jaded with love, with true love. You once strongly believed in its power to transform lives and make people aspire to be better. And if ever you’ve lost that sparkle in your eyes, allow me to smack you on the head, grab you by the shoulders and shake you violently. If you got hurt, both emotionally and physically, have been in bad relationships, had your heart broken many times over, do know that things happen for a reason. And as your friend once said, “there’s plently of booze, tissue and friends”. You are beautiful and you are worth a lot (hence, you waited that long). Do not let anyone make you believe otherwise.

And yes, you have an awesome family who’ve raised you well and will be there for you no matter what. I sure hope you haven’t done anything that would disappoint them or make them cry. May you be there to take care of them as they’ve taken care of you. Also, don’t hesitate to punch your brother in the face and if he does drugs or beats his girlfriend or other stupid things like that. I can do it for you.

And friends. They go in and out of our lives. Do you still get to see the friends you grew up with? I have a feeling they’re in different parts of the world already but do keep in touch. They’ll never fail you as they’ve known you since you were playing chinese garter. Oh, by the way, are they married already? Has some of them come out of the closet yet?

Lastly, and I wish you didn’t fail me on this one, I hope you still regularly pray and continue to believe in Him. Let me remind you that you’ve been blessed with the three things that you need to survive in  this world: faith, family and friends. Be grateful and treasure them. And just in case you might have forgotten, maybe out of stress and the craziness of the real world, HAPPINESS IS A CHOICE. I hope you’ve chosen right.

In love, beauty and happiness,
Kring, 23

ps: And I hope you’ve taken care of your body, too. We hate flabs and bad skin so excercise and quit smoking already.