Back in 2023, I was one of the speakers at a blogging and grammar workshop, and one of my topics was the use of dashes in the English language. Dash, en dash, and em dash each have specific functions. And I remember sharing that the em dash is my favorite. Not just among the dashes, but o…

I've been buying Christmas presents.  I know, it's only the middle of November. But hear me out. For the first time, we finally have a 7-foot Christmas tree! I’ve always wanted a big tree, but buying one from the malls was never an option. A tree that size costs around Php 10k. Th…

I’ve been digging through my old drafts in a desperate attempt to find something to post that isn’t about running (again). 😅  This was written back in 2013. I decided against publishing it at that time because the story was still raw. But it has been 12 years and I thought I'd share …

When I was still a student nurse, about twenty years ago, we were taught that a very low heart rate could be a cause for concern because it might mean the heart isn’t pumping enough oxygen-rich blood to the body. A normal resting heart rate for adults ranges from 60-100 beats per minute (…

When I was young (and by young, I mean in my 30s), I used to join fun runs just for... fun.  Even without proper training, I’d just show up whenever there's a race, run the distance, get the free banana, and go home. I wasn't running regularly.  But in 2019,  I was sponsored a 50k…

I remember back when I was at a fastfood resto with friends when, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed someone asking another person for a photo outside. I recognized the content creator right away. He doesn't come across my feed (thank heavens!) but the media pages I follow feature…

Boracay has always held a special place in our hearts. For Jan and me, it’s already our third time visiting this little slice of paradise. But this time it's different. We brought the family along.  We flew in early July, right as the habagat season was starting. True enough, it start…

This blog post is long overdue. And by long, I mean five months late. We actually went on this trip last February, and I’ve been meaning to write about it ever since. But you know how it goes, life happens and before you know it, months have passed. What finally pushed me to sit down and …

I wasn’t planning to post a progress update this soon because it’s only been three months since I started running again. But I just wanted to share because I'm pretty proud of how things are going. When I first hit the road after years of being inactive, I could barely manage 3k witho…

I just submitted an 18-page essay for my Palanca entry. Yep, eighteen pages. Exactly 4,986 words I agonized over, paragraphs I rewrote a hundred times, and countless moments of dread in front of a blinking cursor when the thoughts in my head refused to make it to the screen. Now it’s done…

Our most recent trip to Japan  wasn’t the usual Tokyo-Kyoto-Osaka cities that most tourist visit. This time, we flew to Nagoya. And from there, we hopped on a bus for about 4 hours to Toyama City, a place framed by the dramatic backdrop of the Northern Japan Alps. We could have opted for …

There’s something about historical sites that get me. Old castles, ruins, ancient temples, abandoned villages. These are the places where time seems to pause and let you slip between the past and present. I’m the person who reads every plaque, runs my hand along weathered stone walls, and…

I must have been out of my mind leaving this in my drafts because this is the kind of content that should’ve been out here ages ago. This was meant for Jan, for our 7th year together. I know, nakakasuka na but I can't help it. Haha Anyway, reading this back made me chuckle. A lot has…

The summer heat is unforgiving. In Davao City alone, the heat index ranges from 38-42°C. Grabe ka init! If you’re like me, working from home with kids running around, you know how tough it gets when the house feels like a giant oven.  Good thing, Home Credit’s Swakto Summer Deals are he…

In a few days, I’ll be flying out of the country again. And for the first time, I didn’t buy new outfits for my travel OOTDs. Don't get me wrong. I don't splurge. My travel outfits are mostly just Shein and ukay-ukay finds. But in all 7 countries I’ve been to, I’ve never repeated …

Summer is the perfect time for fun and adventure, whether it is a trip to the beach, a road trip with friends, or simply spending time outdoors. For moments like these, a reliable smartphone can make all the difference. It allows you to capture stunning photos, stay connected, and enjoy e…

Staying cool and comfortable at home has become more important than ever for Filipino families this summer as temperatures continue to rise across the country. According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration ( PAGASA ), many areas are experie…

Yesterday marked our 6th wedding anniversary. Unlike the dreamy Facebook posts of candlelit dinners and flower petals on hotel beds, ours was...well, let’s just say it was very " us " . Jan and I started the day doing the most romantic activity known to mankind: dragonboat rowin…

After an extended, shall we say, hiatus from anything resembling physical activity (unless running errands counts), I've decided it's time to get moving again. Well, here’s the thing. It’s not some deep, life-changing epiphany. It’s also not for health reasons (though, probably it…

As someone whose ultimate goal in life is financial freedom, I was excited to attend the Sun Life Coffee and Play event. The event centered around the board game, Play for Life, where your financial choices influenced your success or failure. Think Monopoly, but instead of fictional prope…