• Ngipon sa Ilaga and the Quest for Perfection
    Travel

    Ngipon sa Ilaga and the Quest for Perfection

    I’m a train wreck perched precariously in Ngipon sa Ilaga. Full of flaws and limitations, every inch of me is a mess and chaotic. I’m a short-tempered, careless, immature, clumsy, stubborn, and disorganized nonconformist. And I embrace every flaw and mistake I have made.  That’s why society hates me.  The modern world thinks I’m an outcast and a nutcase.  Yet, as I stand at the top of Ngipon sa Ilaga, I feel fabulous and free.  I don’t feel the pressure of being imperfect.  I don’t feel inadequate, exhausted, and frustrated with my messed-up life.  And I’m enjoying every second of this imperfect, unplanned, and spontaneous nature trip.  As I soak…

  • A Hike With The Devil
    Fiction

    A Hike With The Devil

    Important note: A hike with the Devil is a rather uncomfortable read. If you have conservative opinions on religion and the world, please don’t read this piece.  An encounter with Lilith: the Devil There was something comforting and mesmerizing about her gorgeous face. For the past several weeks, I’d been an emotional wreck drowning in the sea of doubts and confusion. But, every time I gaze at her blue eyes, I feel at home and relaxed.  I was fascinated with her words.  Her words are a thing of beauty, each like a potion or a magical ingredient that can be blended to create a powerful spell.  She was a hiker…

  • Travel

    Crimson Resort Mactan: Mastering Dolce Far Niente

    Important note: My Crimson Resort Mactan experience took place before Odette ravaged Cebu. After weeks of renovation and restoration, Crimson Resort and Spa Mactan reopened its doors to serve guests seeking a slice of paradise and a ray of light in our gloomy world. So, the current version of Crimson Resort Mactan may look different from the one I saw earlier in 2021.  We live in a busy society full of go-getters, planners, and achievers.  Today, our culture constantly pushes us to show up and work restlessly to become the best versions of ourselves.  We praise people who work over 60 hours a week, and we feel guilty whenever we’re…

  • 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…