A Little About Me
You can call me Dii.
At the time I wrote my first blog post, I was 26 years old, a fitness enthusiast, the eldest of three sisters, our little family of Tres Marias, as we sometimes called ourselves, and the daughter of two loving parents.
We lived in Manila, where my sisters and I grew up. My mother is from Quezon, while my father is from Ilocos Norte. Technically, I am Ilocano, but unfortunately, I never learned to speak the language because I grew up and studied in Manila.
I graduated with a degree in Nursing from a university in Quezon City in 2013. A year after graduating, I made the decision to leave the Philippines and work abroad.
By the time I wrote my original post in 2019, I had already been working in the Middle East for five years as an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW).
Five years… can you believe it?
Why Did I Start Blogging?
During those five years in the Middle East, I learned so many things.
I experienced challenges and difficulties at work, in friendships, in my lifestyle, and especially in my personal life. There were moments when things didn’t go as planned, but those experiences taught me valuable lessons.
Looking back, I realized that every challenge had something to teach me.
Those experiences made me stronger, and I wanted to share some of the lessons I had learned with other people… whether they were working abroad or simply going through their own challenges in life.
And that’s when I thought:
Why not start a blog?
Why not share my experiences with others and perhaps encourage someone who might be going through something similar?
And so, here we are.
This became my very first blog post.
Three Reasons I Started Blogging
There were three main reasons why I decided to start writing.
1. To Share the Lessons I Learned Abroad
Working overseas taught me many things… not only about work but also about people, relationships, friendships, independence, and life itself.
I wanted to share those experiences because perhaps someone else could learn something from them too.
Sometimes, we learn our greatest lessons through difficult experiences.
2. To Share My Everyday Life
I also wanted to write about the ordinary things that happened in my daily life.
Life isn’t always perfect. There are happy days, difficult days, exciting moments, disappointments, and unexpected challenges.
I wanted to document how I learned to accept life as it came, both the good and the bad, and how I tried to overcome whatever difficulties came my way.
Writing became a way for me to express my thoughts, preserve my memories, and hopefully connect with people who could relate to my experiences.
3. To Earn a Little Extra Income
Let’s be honest, working abroad doesn’t automatically mean becoming rich.
Even as an OFW, I still had financial responsibilities, and sometimes it felt like there wasn’t much left to save.
So I thought, why not try to earn a little extra using something I enjoyed.. which is writing?
I wasn’t dreaming of making a fortune from blogging. I simply hoped that my writing could provide a little additional income while allowing me to do something I enjoyed.
More than anything, though, I wanted this blog to become a place where I could share my experiences and hopefully help or inspire others.
A New Chapter: Why I Took a Break From Blogging
And now, here I am again.
Back to blogging in 2026.
If you are a longtime reader, you might be wondering:
“Where have you been?” 😅
Well, life happened.
After starting this blog, many things changed. Eventually, I stopped blogging and took a long break (2023 – 2026). Three years it was.
It wasn’t because I stopped enjoying writing. Life simply became busy, and I had many other priorities to deal with.
And one of the biggest changes in my life was something I never imagined when I wrote that first blog post:
I migrated to Finland.
From Dubai to Finland: Our Adventure in Migration
From the Middle East to Finland
When I wrote my original post in December 2019, I was still living and working in the Middle East.
Today, my life looks very different.
In April 2024, my family and I arrived in Finland, beginning another major chapter of our lives.
Migration wasn’t easy.
We had to adjust to a completely new environment, a different climate, a new language, a different culture, and a completely different way of life.
And while adjusting to Finland, I was also working and studying toward becoming a Registered Nurse in Finland.
Needless to say, life became very busy.
There were days when I barely had enough time to rest, let alone sit down and write a blog post.
Leaving Dubai: A Bittersweet Goodbye
Three Years Later, I’m Back
After stepping away from blogging for several years, I eventually found myself thinking about this blog again.
I started remembering why I created it in the first place.
I wanted a place where I could tell my stories.
I wanted to document the things I was experiencing.
I wanted to share the lessons I was learning.
And now, I have an entirely new chapter to share.
My story is no longer just about being an OFW in the Middle East.
It is now also about being an immigrant in Finland, working while studying, learning a new language, raising a family, experiencing Finnish culture, traveling, cooking, and navigating everyday life in a new country.
There have been beautiful moments, difficult moments, funny moments, and plenty of unexpected ones.
And I realized that I have so many stories to tell.
Why I’m Blogging Again
So, after a long break, I’m giving blogging another try.
This time, I want Pinoy Up North to become a place where I can document our family’s journey and share what I’ve learned along the way.
I’ll be writing about:
- Life in Finland
- Travel and adventures
- Family life and experiences
- Recipes and Filipino food cravings
- Life lessons and inspirations
- Working and studying
- Personal growth and everyday experiences
Some posts will be informative. Some will simply be stories from my life.
And some might just be me sharing something that made me smile… or something that made me say, “What an experience!” 😂
But that’s what makes this blog personal.
It’s not about having a perfect life.
It’s about documenting a real one.
Looking Back, Moving Forward
When I look back at my first blog post from December 19, 2023, I realize how much my life has changed since then.
Back then, I was an OFW in the Middle East, dreaming of sharing my experiences through writing.
Today, I’m living in Finland and beginning another chapter of that same journey.
It’s funny how life works.
Sometimes, we start something without knowing where it will take us.
My first blog post was simply an attempt to share my thoughts and experiences.
I never imagined that a few years later, I would have an entirely different story to tell.
And perhaps that’s the beauty of life.
The story continues even when we stop writing.
Now, I’m ready to start writing again.
A Message to My Readers
If you’ve been here since the beginning, thank you.
And if you’re a new reader discovering Pinoy Up North for the first time, welcome!
This introduction is only a small page in the much bigger book of my life.
I know it can sometimes be boring to listen to someone else’s life story. 😂 But perhaps somewhere along the way, you might find something you can relate to, a lesson, an experience, a recipe, a travel story, or simply a reason to smile.
So, let’s continue this journey together.
There are still many stories to tell.
And this time, I’m bringing you along for the journey… from the Philippines and the Middle East to Finland and beyond.
A Quote to Remember
“Every story has a purpose, and every journey carries a lesson.”
Our lives may not always unfold the way we planned, but every chapter… whether joyful or difficult… can teach us something valuable.
Sometimes, we only understand the purpose of a particular season when we look back.
“Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.”
— Psalm 34:3
Final Thoughts
As I return to blogging after several years, I realize that life itself has been writing a much bigger story than anything I could have written on this blog.
There were seasons when I was working abroad, seasons when I was struggling, seasons when I had to start over, and now, a new season of building a life in Finland.
Through every chapter, God has been faithful.
My life is far from perfect, but I have learned that we don’t need a perfect life to inspire others. Sometimes, simply being honest about our experiences, sharing what we’ve learned, and acknowledging God’s goodness through every season can be enough.
May God continue to use our stories… not because they are perfect, but because they are real.
And perhaps, somewhere out there, someone who is going through a difficult season will read our story and realize:
“I’m not alone. There is still hope. My story isn’t over yet.”
Originally published on December 23, 2019. Updated and republished in August 2026 as part of my return to blogging after a three-year break.
Welcome back to Pinoy Up North. ❤️
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