• The Little Prince: Timeless Lessons From A Kid's Book
    Books

    The Little Prince: Timeless Lessons From A Kid’s Book

    They say you should never judge a book by its cover. But, every time I see the colorful and whimsical cover of “The Little Prince”, I always say it’s just a children’s book. Naive and unsophisticated, I didn’t think the book would ever appease my insatiable thirst for wisdom and knowledge.  How on earth can a child-friendly story help me unlock the infinite mysteries of the universe? Why do some find it a life-changing and inspiring book like the Alchemist by Paulo Coelho?  I was, like most adults, analytical, playing on the safe side and thinking if a children’s book can teach me a handful of valuable lessons.  And, truthfully,…

  • The Enigmatic And Fascinating Stranger On The Bus To Cebu
    Philosophy,  Travel

    The Enigmatic And Fascinating Stranger On The Bus

    They say a different version of you exists in the minds of everyone who knows you. And with the world getting smaller by the day, there are likely a thousand or even a million versions of you today. The annoying workmate, the supportive friend and the stranger you met on a foreign land – everyone you cross paths with sees and paints a different image of you. You can be a cut-throat villain in someone’s world, a harmless sheep in the eyes of your parents, or a symbol of hope to the friends who adore you. Heck, even the woman selling cigarettes on the streets creates a version of you…

  • 201 Tuesdays with Mellon Collie
    Philosophy

    201 Tuesdays with Mellon Collie

    What happens to us after we die? Are we going to see the light that leads to paradise? Or, are we going to wake up in a different world and realize that we’re living in a simulated universe? Teary-eyed and heartbroken, I asked these questions to Mellon Collie at my uncle and aunt’s funeral in July 2021.  How do I live in the wake of such sadness? Why do we have to suffer in this reality? Mellon Collie – the mistress of my life in 2021 – stared blankly at me, and made no effort to respond to my barrage of questions.  And, it wasn’t just the death of a…

  • The Secret Life of A Social Misfit
    Philosophy,  Travel

    The Secret Life of A Social Misfit

    Every new acquaintance starts with the question “what do you do for a living”. And, in an era with a high regard for successful and extraordinary lives, we always try to give a spectacular answer to impress the person asking that question. Let’s face it, we all want to be adored and become a subject of someone’s interest. Of course, nobody wants to be tagged as a social misfit.  Although the question seems like a harmless ice breaker, it’s actually one of the reasons why depression is through the roof these days.  The truth is, we’re living in a society where the level of respect you get from people depends…