-
Mt. Makiling And The Rare Rafflesias Most People Will Never See
The graveyard of dreams isn’t filled with people who failed. It’s filled with people who didn’t show up. They are the people who waited for the right time, the right energy, and the right mood. I almost joined them on a Sunday when my body was wrecked from a book signing and an unexpected pitch meeting. Netflix was loaded and the cozy hotel bed was ready. But I dragged myself to Mt. Makiling anyway. So, I hiked for over 20 kilometers on dead legs, running on sleepless nights after a 40-hour work week. And guess what? I saw rafflesias, one of the rarest flowers on earth, blooming for the stubborn…
-
Buko Buko Sa Anay, Bohol: The Truth About Chasing Success
The most dangerous lie I ever believed was that I’d be happy when I got “there”. The problem is, “there” doesn’t exist. It keeps moving. I kept chasing goals, milestones, mountains, and books. Always the next thing. And the whole time, Buko Buko Sa Anay, one of the most beautiful hikes I’ve ever done, was sitting on the island right next to mine. I found out about it the way I find out about most things these days. A random post on Facebook. Someone shared photos of a hike in Duero, Bohol, and I thought, where the hell is that? So I joined the group hike with no research and…
-
Bauko 7 Peaks: The Truth About Illusions And Limits
How many times can you question your life choices in a single morning? I counted seven in the first hour of my Bauko 7 Peaks hike. Question one came when I realized I hadn’t slept well in two weeks and my body was demanding payment. Question seven came when my left calf suddenly tightened and screamed hijo de puta in Tagalog. Yet even with the hiccups and the voices screaming to turn back, quitting wasn’t an option. Throughout my life, I’ve learned how to bend reality and shift stubbornness into fuel. Seven peaks meant seven chances to be wrong about my limits. The mountain was real. The pain was real.…
-
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…
For anyone who’s felt a little lost or tired.
101 Letters to Juliet
I wrote this book for you.
101 Letters to Juliet is a philosophy book disguised as a love story — shaped by places, distance, and slow days on the road.