I’ve been thinking about something that happened recently, and honestly, I feel like I need to let it out. Not to start an argument or make anyone feel bad—I just think sometimes you need to say something when something has really hurt you.
I know that from the outside, our hobby can be difficult for some people to understand.
We spend hours putting together tiny pieces, making tiny food, decorating tiny rooms, and creating little worlds that, quite honestly, we don’t need. We spend money on kits that some people might consider expensive, unnecessary, or simply wonder why anyone would spend that much on something so small.
And I understand that. Not everyone is going to see the joy in what we do.
Recently, a friend told me about something one of her relatives had said while looking at an expensive miniature piece displayed in a store in Hong Kong.
Apparently, the relative asked her: “Sino ang tanga na bibili niyan?” (translated: “Who would be stupid enough to buy that?”).
My friend immediately told him that this was actually something I do as a hobby. And after that, he didn’t say anything more.
Now, I know some people might read this and think, “Well, if she’s your friend, why would she even tell you?” And honestly, I wondered about that too for a moment.
But I also know my friend. We have the kind of friendship where we sometimes make side comments to each other without overthinking them. That’s just how we talk. 
And I’m sure she wasn’t trying to hurt me or make a judgment about my hobby.
In fact, the moment she realized the comment could be connected to someone she knew and cared about, she spoke up. And I appreciate that.
But still… hearing that word hurt me.
Maybe it shouldn’t have affected me as much as it did, but I think it hit a sensitive spot because, deep down, I know that there are people who see this hobby as silly, frivolous, unnecessary—or even foolish. So, hearing it said so bluntly made me feel quite small.
And hearing someone actually use the word “tanga” (stupid) made it feel very personal.
It wasn’t really about the kit or even the money.
It was about something that brings me so much happiness being dismissed as something stupid.
And that’s why I feel the need to write this—not to criticize that person, but simply because I needed to let it out.
And then I thought about this community.
Here, I don’t have to explain why I enjoy spending hours making something tiny.
You understand the excitement of opening a new kit.
You understand why one tiny detail can take an hour.
You understand the satisfaction of finally finishing a build.
You understand why we take approximately 847 photos of something that’s only a few inches tall.
And most importantly, we encourage each other instead of making each other feel silly for enjoying something.
So, I wanted to say:
THANK YOU! 
Thank you to everyone who has encouraged my builds, followed Café Chronicles, laughed at my miniature food experiments, shared your own creations, answered questions, offered suggestions, or simply left a kind comment.
Your encouragement has meant more to me than you probably realize.
Maybe not everyone understands this hobby.
But we do.
And I’m really grateful to have found my little corner of people who understand why making tiny things can make us ridiculously happy.
I suppose I just needed to say that out loud.
Now… I feel a little better.
And yes, I’m still going to keep making unnecessarily tiny things that make me ridiculously happy. 
…
