In a lifetime, we meet countless individuals—some were just meant to pass by and others were meant to stay in our lives. It's interesting how we can find bits of ourselves in other people, be it similar interests, passions, and hobbies. And maybe, you can find it in me too. After all, human connection is what makes the world smaller and a little less scary.

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Hi, it's me — Jo Marie Formentera or you can call me, Jo. I am twenty and one years old. I hail from the province of Cebu, Philippines. I'm the second child of all three girls. Currently, I'm in my senior year in college taking up Bachelor of Secondary Education major in English.

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I'm a feline lover — I have quite a number of cats and they definitely added some rainbows and spice to my life, I must say. There is something about this fluffy-tailed ball of sunshine that I can't resist and probably all the cat parents here will agree. They are a great companion, a moody one to be specific.

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I'm one of those people who prefer sunrise over sunset, not that I don't find the setting of the sun breathtaking but watching it gradually casting its light over the horizon gives me a sense of relief. A new day to try and learn; that there's always a brimming hope that everything will fall in the right place. Just like everyone else, I love watching movies. I'm interested particularly in action and adventure genres. If you ask me years ago about these Korean dramas, I probably can't give you an answer. However, I was meant to be influenced and it's something I don't regret. Right now, I'm loving rom-com K-dramas settled in the countryside because they offer a refreshing sight to the eyes. The simplicity of life and the wondrous beauty of nature remind me how beautiful it is to live. To breathe in the moment. And this perhaps translated to my love of capturing moments. I am not photogenic, a camera-shy even when I was still a child. But, I love capturing moments of my friends and family, of looking at the streets through my lens. Photography has been my way of showing how I see the world— be it in its calmest or bustling days. So, how did I end up here? A good friend of mine, @lizhavesomefun, opened up about a blogging website. It was a random afternoon and we were having our lunch when she introduced us to Hive where our capital is our skill for writing. It was a great opportunity and as an introvert myself, I felt like it was a great platform to share my thoughts with others. I have been writing - poems, short stories, and even letters. I have kept journals with me throughout the years but I always find them in the bottom part of my things— hidden, untouched, and full of dust. I guess writing was the hobby I ghosted, the one I keep on leaving when I can't seem to hold my pen and my thoughts scattered all over. But, I wanted to try again, to get lost in the middle of words and to know myself better through my work. And so here I am!

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Last Saturday, I had the opportunity to attend the orientation spearheaded by @jeannmazing and from there, I learned and understood deeper what Hive is all about. One thing that stuck in my mind was how Hive upholds the originality of Content. It's something to applaud because for me it means that in some way they believe in everyone's capability to write. This promotes creativity and empowerment in the sense that you write what comes into your mind no matter how out in the world it may be. I believe that everyone can write. We see the world differently. We have our perspectives about things. Our experiences vary. And all these are something worth sharing. Another thing is how it encourages productivity. At some point, writing can be exhausting. It can be too overwhelming. On days, you'll experience writer's block. However, being surrounded by a community of writers is somehow inspiring. To read their works allow us to immerse ourselves in their worlds and I think it creates a ripple effect. It motivates someone to also share and let others get a glimpse of their life. It reverberates and uplifts. And I think that's just wonderful. What can I contribute to the comunity? We are unique individuals, our DNA says so. We may have similar hobbies and interests but our experiences differ. That difference is what I will gladly serve to the table. Travel My fascination to explore places can probably entertain you while you are lounging on a lazy day over a cup of coffee or while you are on a break from work or study. I am excited to share to everybody here the places I have been to and give you a visual tour of what it can offer. Who knows we might have the same favorite destinations! Photography I believe in the thought of "living in the moment" that there's no greater way to savor the moment but to witness it with our naked eyes. However, there's nothing wrong with storing some pictures for remembrance. To have some photos saved so you have something to look back on and relive those memories. With this platform, I can't wait to share snaps of my world with all of you here. Slice of life blogs Writing doesn't have to be all about big events. We can find inspiration even in the simplest and littlest happenings in our daily lives, be it bad or good ones. I hope this kind of blog will make you appreciate life even during the gloomy days. Sometimes, we just wanted to be comforted with words, to feel reassured that everyday will not always be a good day and that's totally okay. This is Jo. Looking forward to being in this community with all of you. Here's to sharing the world through words written and photos captured. Hope to see you in my next blog!