2026: sweeping the gallery

Today, I spent some time browsing through my phone gallery, deleting photos that had quietly accumulated over the past months. It felt like a simple task at first, but as I scrolled through the images, each photo brought back a memory of a particular day, a moment shared, or an experience that had already passed.

There were several food photos taken during birthday celebrations at work. I remembered the pizzas that were freshly served and the cakes that everyone enjoyed together. Looking at those photos reminded me how fortunate I have been to share meals and celebrations with my colleagues.

Birthdays at the workplace have always been small occasions that bring people together, and I am grateful for every meal and every moment of fellowship shared around the table.

Among the photos was one I took after attending Mass early one morning. It was a serving of puto cassava that I enjoyed outside a Seven Eleven store.

The delicacy was sold at the cooperative store beside the Our Lady of Sacred Heart Church. Their small shop displayed many kinds of kakanin, native delicacies, sweets, and local treats. Looking at the photo brought back memories of that peaceful morning after Mass, enjoying a simple snack while watching the day begin.

Further down the gallery, I found pictures from an unexpected food trip at Foodcamp. It was one of those unplanned evenings after work when we decided to eat Korean samgyupsal. There was nothing special planned about that night, yet it became a memorable gathering filled with good food and good company. Sometimes the best moments happen without preparation.

Another photo showed a grilled duck prepared during a beach picnic. It was a bright and sunny Sunday filled with laughter, conversations, and shared meals by the sea. The image reminded me of the warmth of friendship and the simple joy of spending time outdoors with people who matter.

The most recent photos were from our maja blanca cooking session at Marilyn's house. It was Rex who first thought about making it. We bought the ingredients together and started the preparation, fully aware that it would require time and effort. Throughout the process, there was plenty of laughter because none of us were entirely sure how the measurements would turn out. Rex worked hard, from preparing the gata to continuously stirring the mixture without stopping. By the end, he was completely exhausted, but the finished maja blanca was worth the effort.

As I deleted these photos today, I realized that letting go of the images does not mean losing the memories. The moments remain in my heart even when the files disappear from my phone. The food has long been eaten, the celebrations have passed, and the gatherings have ended, but the gratitude, laughter, and friendships remain. Sometimes making space in a gallery is also a reminder to appreciate the many blessings that have already become part of our story.

See you tomorrow 😊

^{Photos are mine | Captured with Vivo 1901.}