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Calle Crisologo & The Quiet Art of Letting Go
Every great story starts with a bad idea and a backpack that’s seen better days. On a random Tuesday in October, I impulsively booked a trip to Ilocos, with no clear plans or even goals. I just wanted to walk along the cobblestone streets of Calle Crisologo and stare at the massive windmills of Ilocos Norte. And for someone who’s usually bombarded with meetings and responsibilities, that tiny act of recklessness felt like reclaiming a little piece of myself. As I strolled along Calle Crisologo at night, I realized why this small act felt so satisfying. Lately, I’d started feeling like I traded my carefree and messy side for deadlines,…
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Bangui Windmills And The Strange Absurdity Of Taking Life Too Seriously
What if none of this really matters? What if everything we stress about doesn’t mean as much as we think it does? And what if that’s the best news you’ve heard all week? As I stood before the massive Bangui Windmills, I couldn’t help but laugh a little. Here I was, surrounded by giants that survived everything nature threw at them, while I’ve spent the past week battling storms that only existed in my head. All week long, I thought about canceling my trip to Bangui Windmills and Ilocos Norte. I kept thinking about the recent earthquakes and aftershocks. I kept thinking about my recent performance at work. And I…
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Kibungan Cross Country: Hard Truths That Only Mountains Can Teach You
It was noon, but the sky was gray, and the trail was lined with dead bodies. Rain poured without mercy, making the mountains weep and swallowing the trail ahead. Drenched in rain and sweat, I blinked hard, rubbed my eyes, and looked again. Wooden coffins. Three or maybe even more. Some even had name tags. And for some bizarre reason, I knew, in that particular moment, the Kibungan Cross Country hike wasn’t just another climb. It was messy, brutal and relentless. And it was about to test me in ways I didn’t expect. As I passed the coffins and the storm raged on, I began to see the truth. I…
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Mount Purgatory And The 6 Strangers We Meet In The Mountains
The first lie I ever believed was that I had time. Unfortunately, we all fall into this trap until the truth finally catches up to us. Somewhere between birth and death, we forget that the clock never stops ticking. That’s why I stopped waiting for the perfect moment and started chasing the things I thought were impossible, like hiking Mount Purgatory in Benguet. They told me the Mt. Purgatory traverse was long and unforgiving, with six peaks, endless ridges, and mystical mossy forests. What I didn’t expect was to meet 6 strangers who seemed to know me better than I knew myself. So, who were those strangers? Is Mt. Purgatory…
