June Drift: Between Stillness and New Beginnings

June was a quiet month—idle, jobless, and cash-strapped. I never imagined that just one month of waiting could feel so long. I spent my days sending out CVs, chasing leads, and hoping something would click. Strangely enough, I wasn’t worried. I had peace in the pause.

My initial plan was to head home to Surigao and immerse myself in writing. I dreamed of finishing my personal biography and polishing a few incomplete pieces—anything under the sun, really. I longed for solitude, somewhere remote and serene. Maybe a farm resort or a beachside retreat in Dinagat or Siargao, close to my roots. I even envisioned starting a fiction novel about Popo Takyu, my grandfather, whose “superpowers” I hoped to uncover through interviews with my aunties, uncles, and older cousins.

But as always, God had other plans.

Before July arrived, I was offered a spot in the next phase of the Strengthening of the Financial Management System in the Department of Education Project. It was a continuation of Phase 2, which had just wrapped up. Since I hadn’t heard back after submitting my CV, I also applied to Development Alternatives, Inc. (DAI), which was implementing the Facilitating Public Investment Project. I aimed for a role as a Business Process Re-engineering Expert. It was for a Change Management position under the USAID Project. I wasn’t entirely confident about the role, as it was outside my comfort zone.

Just in the nick of time—right before DAI was about to extend an offer—I received a draft contract from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) of Australia. The role felt familiar and aligned with my previous experience, which gave me the confidence to negotiate for a higher rate. I figured it would help me assess both opportunities more objectively. To my surprise, they accepted my proposed rate.

And just like that, my writing plans were shelved once again. But I’m not discouraged. I know the “right timing” will come—when the world quiets down and the words find their way back to me.


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