Kuwentong Bangtan: Dear Seokjin

Dear Seokjin,

In two weeks’ time, you have fulfilled your military duties. We can’t wait to welcome you back. A lot of things have changed in the fandom. This has been really tough for me. My ARMY daughter, along with friends in Titas of BTS try our best to become better ARMYs for BTS through the #ARMYGlowUp2025 campaign. Whew. It’s not easy. But, we soldier on. And in the difficulties, we discover new things about ourselves and the importance of sisterhood, friendship and community.

You know what, while you’re on military service, we have projects big and small.

Last May 4, our small tribe of Southietas spent a weekend of rest and recreation at Tita Mona’s farm in Cavite. We called it our AGU Weekend of Rest and Recreation. It is inspired by you and Namjoon. It was a “me” time with ARMY Friends in a place where a river flows through a deep ravine and trees grow in abundance. We had a bonfire just like what you and your brothers did in episodes of Run BTS and ITS. We wrote letters to our biases and roasted hotdogs and made smores. We shared one soju as our night cap and left the empty bottle on the shelf of used up wine bottles. Just like what Yoongi and his guest would do in Suchwita.

What’s more, we sat through a talk and mini-workshop on Tetramap with Tita Lynnette as lead facilitator. Our aim was to better  understand ourselves, our goals and where we want to take them. For some of us who have gained confidence and covered enough ground on our AGUs, making the Tetramap is a tool to check in on our AGU journey.

But really, thinking about it now, that session has healed me of a consistent sense of unease and frustration.  It made me strengthen my resolve to persist. It made me understand that each person has a nature we cannot change. And we must not. We can only accept and love them as they are. If this becomes too difficult and compromising, then letting go is an inevitable reality. What remains are the good things one can take away from loving. Live life with no regrets. Life goes on.

We left the farm more relaxed and light hearted. And yes, I speak for the group (like my bias). In time, each Southieta who was there shall speak too, in her own unique and natural way. Like water that holds the community together. Like earth that is firm and dependable. Like air that is sure and logical. Like fire that lights and ignites our passions.

We will speak ourselves the way we know how because, we are slowly but surely learning to love ourselves. Kahit mahirap 💜

Salamat, Seokjin! Hinihintay ka namin!

#ARMYGlowUp2025 #AGU_Recreation #AGU_Relations

ARMY Glow-Up Goal: AGU Recreation D-50 for Jin's Return

 

@titazeeh7 #ARMYGlowUp2025 #AGU_Skills #AGU_Recreation ♬ suara asli - 71nseokjin

My ARMY Glow-Up Journey: BTS X ARMY Inspired Pottery and Ceramic Art

Titas of BTS and ARMY Connect PH are asking for Glow-Up stories to share with Jin when he returns. Here is a progress report on the pottery journey I set out to do last September 2023 falling under #AGU_Recreation.

Together with friends from Titas of BTS, we have had three AGU Recreation activities in November 2023; December 2023 and January 2024. The first one was in Persaro's in Ortigas; the second one was in Sonoma, Sta. Rosa Laguna and the third was in Gyud Fud UP Diliman, Quezon City. Although the first AGU Recreation activity was a session on Pabalat Art, led by Prof. Anna Marie Hernandez Bautista, it inspired us to explore hobbies we share in common. The Pabalat Art session was attended by members of the TOB Book Club Sonyeondan and the TOB Southietas tribe ( a group of TOBbies living and are based in the South of Manila and Southern Luzon.

For the Sta. Rosa and UP Diliman pocket events, we had a joint session on Pabalat and Pottery, plus watercolor painting! We were joined by new members from TOB who thoroughly enjoyed the activities. These sessions have given us an opportunity to bond and express our fangirling in creative ways. Speaking for myself, I have had the honor and privilege to meet and interact with women in my age group. We come from different backgrounds but we are ARMY. The camaraderie and friendship we share are rooted in BTS.

@titazeeh7 Pottery, pabalat and watercolor fun with Tita ARMYs. Thank you @Poochie Tablan 😊💜😊 #AGURecreation #AGUSkills #AGUMindPower #ARMYGlowUp2025 #BetterARMYsforBTS ♬ Good Day - BTS

Learning pottery alongside TOBbies makes me confident. I strive to be better at my handbuilding skills. Using the handbuilding technique, I have made pinch pots and trinket dishes. Moving up one level higher, I attempted to make a pen holder using the slabbing technique with surface decorations.

At the time, I was missing Jin so much I made a half moon and seven stars to embose on my pen holder. I am thankful to potter friends in the pottery community for helping me glaze and fire my projects as I have yet to make my own kiln (when circumstances allow). Clay, pottery and ceramic art have been therapeutic for me. A hobby that has given me the space to be calm and patient. To breathe and just be.

Right now I have more than fifty ceramics! A hobby that began as a way to relieve me off anxiety is turning out to be a small enterprise I am slowly growing and developing. Visit @silver_linings_t.zee on Instagram!

What is your Glow-Up story, ARMY? Do tell. TOB is a safe space we all share.