BOOKIVORE Adventure

Here I am again. Trying to keep this blog afloat. HAHA. I was hoping to share this post five months ago, but life happens and there were a lot of things to be done that's why I only got to write a post about a trip I had last September. A three day trip which only focused to these three things:

• BOOKS
• FOOD
• HISTORY
• ART

As early as March, my officemate and I (both bookworms) heard about the Manila International Book Fair, so we immediately booked a flight for September. A month later, another 2 officemates decided to join us. The more, the merrier. Yeheeey!!!

ARTVENTURE in 2 DAYS

Seven months have passed. Yes! Seven! Capital S-E-V-E-N! That's how long this post has been sleeping in my phone, and finally, I get to post it here!

Ever since I got back to Cebu after the pandemic, I promised myself to travel at least once a year! It doesn't have to be grand. It doesn't have to be abroad. It just has to be somewhere I have never been. In September, I found out that VAN GOGH ALIVE would open at BGC Art Center until December 2023. That pushed me to book a plane ticket, even if it meant just spending an overnight stay in Manila.

VAN GOGH ALIVE was the only plan, but as soon as I booked the ticket, I decided I might as well make the most of that weekend and turn it into an ARTventure—a time where my itinerary would include anything that involves ART. :)

November 18 came, and boy, that was indeed an awesome weekend ARTventure.

FLAVORFUL DISH

Life is like a dish. What we are as a person is a product of different ingredients mixed together to form our unique flavor. These ingredients in our lives come in various forms, through personal experiences, challenges, triumphs, and most importantly, our relationships. The people who have helped us reach who we are today – our family, friends, and, of course, our mentors. Ah, mentors. They are like the master chefs who guide us through the recipe of life, ensuring we don’t turn into a burnt soufflé.

Think of yourself as the main course at a five-star restaurant. You have your base ingredients – the core values and experiences that define you. But, let's be honest, even the finest dish needs a bit of seasoning, right? And that's where our mentors come in. They’re the salt, pepper, and occasionally, the unexpected dash of hot sauce that give us that extra zing.

In a fast-paced world and challenging times, I am fortunate enough to meet not just one but a bunch of mentors from different walks of life. And so today, let me share with you three key lessons I've learned so far as a mentee.

THIRD WHEEL

Yes, I’ve always been a Third wheel. And no, I’m not complaining! At least, not a Third Party!

Photo source

SILENCE IS MY FRIEND

SILENCE is my friend… I’m comfortable with it. It energizes me. And I enjoy it. . It calms me when I’m angry. It heals me when I’m tired. It grounds me when pray. I desperately long for it whenever I’m overwhelmed with life’s busy-ness. And whenever we meet, it never fails to amaze me. Posible ra jud diay mu-storya kas-a in a day or none at all.

 

ILOCOS SAYS: 10 Random Thoughts I had in Ilocos

As a treat for my 31st birthday, I decided to finally go for a solo trip to the North. Last Thursday, after having lunch with my brother, I then went on a journey to Luzon.

For today's entry, here are another 10 Random Thoughts of an awkward traveller after a long travel hiatus due to the pandemic.

Bitter Toast 😅

Here's a random poem I found sa kaban. 🤣

Insert Zack Tabudlo (Asan Ka Na Ba?):

Masakit kahit walang nananakit... 😅

Image from Unsplash

Ironic Tales

Whazzup! Here comes another post. I thought maybe I can post here the icebreaker speech I delivered in Toastmasters. You may also listen to it in Spotify via Sugilanon podcast.

What's in a Name?

If names have monetary value, I would have been one of those rich kids these days. I've been called so many names. Most names are related to how I look physically. While some complain about being chubby or fat, I was having that thing called "skinny" problems. People are complicated. When you're fat, you get a name. When you're skinny, you also get a name. And usually, these are not pleasing names. I guess everybody just have to live with it and just move on from it.

Living Life in Times of COVID

It's been a while since March 2020. That month when time seemed to slow down.

COVID19 entered Philippines and suddenly announcement of lockdowns were everywhere. I just came back from a week long vacation leave to visit home, process some business permits and attend a friend's wedding. Two weeks later, we were advised to move to WFH (Work-from-Home) setup.

That was 2 years ago. It's already that long but it still feels so fresh. But anyway, today's post is all about that 2 years span of updates and just getting day by day through series of lockdowns, challenges, achievements and realizations.

Photo from Unsplash

Tingog sa Kinaiyahan

The Lord's Bucket List in my Life

Ever since I’ve known God and we’ve established a relationship, naa jud ko’y constant prayer and that is “Lord, help me grow more in You”. I have no idea, no plans on how that would happen but kana lang jud. Pirmi nga pakapin sa akong mga prayers, even until now.

Vietnam Says: 10 Random Thoughts I Had in Vietnam

The Indochina throwback post never ends as I share another 10 random thoughts about my two and a half day trip at Vietnam.

Cambodia Says: 10 Random Thoughts I Had in Cambodia

Like my previous post, this is another delayed post about my Cambodia trip last year. :D I could just forget about posting this here, but well... some experiences are really meant to be shared, or else it would be just forgotten... for good.

When I grow older, I also want to look back and easily remember stuff through blog entries and pictures. I already have an awful memory now. Who knows how bad it will get when I turn 70. :'( 

Anyways, Cambodia was our second destination during our (me and my former officemate) Indochina Trip. I would love to narrate everything, but of course, this post will be just about some random thoughts and realizations I've had during that Cambodia Trip. And definitely, I'm featuring some pictures taken there.

Indochina (Vietnam-Cambodia-Thailand) Trip 2019

Yes! You've read it right! 2019! This post has been postponed for so long... like a year-long to be exact. And just so I can finally let it go, I really have to post the details of the trip. 

Here is a super late snap of my travel journal. I'm an Abbey Sy fan so that explains why I did some drawings. I haven't finished coloring the food yet. 😂

Disclaimer: I'm not much of an expert in the field of photography, so I apologize for the blurred shots.

Five Things I Learned in Painting

I've always been in love with colors and the magic they bring when they become one in an artwork. But aside from the visual beauty it brings, painting also taught me some life lessons. This article aims to share five of the lessons that I've learned in my painting journey.

PALAWAN Says: 10 Random Things I Thought of in Palawan

This is a throwback post for the Palawan Trip I had last year with my brother and his family (his wife and their two children, whose names are inspired by Game of Thrones characters but I won't tell their name. Hehe. :D )

So, anyway, here are the 10 Things Palawan Told me during that trip.

Counting Love

Months ago, I had the courage to submit to Boiling Waters one of the random poems I wrote. 

But just to document the piece here in my blog, I decided to also post the poem here. This was inspired by an old Bible, which I bought eleven (11) years ago. It was a Bible I bought using my monthly stipend during college. That was the time that I started reading the Bible and got to know Jesus Christ a bit. Three years later, I was a graduating student and I joined a Catholic Youth community, where my relationship with the Lord grew a bit more. That year, I had this silly idea of counting the word "love" in the Bible. Yeah! If there are 365 "Do not be afraid" in the bible, then maybe, love can be counted as well. When I left my hometown and moved to Cebu, I left the Bible at home and even forgot about the "counting" I did back then.

Fast forward, 7 years later, I went home and found the old Bible. It brought so much memories except for the numbers written on the pages. It actually took me days before I realize that the numbers written are the number of "love" I counted.

So, read on...

KAPE: A Bisaya Spoken Poetry

Ganahan ko ug kape...
Siguro nakadungog na ka ani...
Pero ganahan jud ko ug kape...

kanang maKAPEling siya...
or sa kinabuhi, maKAPEkas siya...
haha... bitaw... atik ra...
pero ganahan jud ko ug Kape
kanang sakto lang sa timpla
dili tantong isog
to the point di na ka kabarog...
pero kanang sakto lang jud
kanang ig sigop nimu,
 kaingon ka'g "very good".

GREAT QUALITIES DEMAND GREAT COST

May it be a big and sturdy house of your own
or a nice and high quality pair of shoes,
that's going to cost you big. Not just
financially but, we're talking here about efforts.

What are you going to do to achieve it?

You're going to have to work hard for it.
Now, that's not only applicable in material
things like houses, cars or pair of shoes.