What do you usually do when you had a free day all to yourself?

I had a batch of plans in my mind—grocery shopping, going out for a jog, visiting a photography exhibit, and recording a ukulele cover. And looking after a stray cat is nowhere in that list.

Seven years ago, when I was one week into my first job and fresh out of college, I had the privilege to join a team building in Zambales, Philippines. We were thirteen fresh graduates and all newly hired. Almost everyone joined, because who would not if it's an all-expense paid trip, right? Imagine, at that time, I still had no idea how the corporate world works and my mind was still having post-college blues. Then just when I was just warming up at the company, we drove 5 hours away from Manila to have fun, and relax. (At that time, my cousins are still not used to me saying "I'm at the office" instead of me saying, "I'm at school." They would tease me for it telling me, "Wow. May pa-office office ka na ngayon ah.")

I am feeling so overly productive these past few days. Three months have passed since this trip, and I finally edited a few videos we took during our trip. Whenever I'm with these two, it always feels like home. (Halata naman siguro sa mga tawa namin. Lol) Watch 'til the end on how Batangueñas really talk, even in foreign land. :)

A few of our travel diaries below!

A Day in Ubud

Seminyak & Bali Eats

Nusa Penida Island Experience

For years, I have been a fan of The Script. Partly because I have a big crush on Danny O'Donoghue (what's with musicians, really), but of course, mainly because of their music, which, like Coldplay, really speaks from the heart. Who doesn't get emo with Breakeven, and pushed back from moving on because of the The Man Who Can't Be Moved. I personally have an emotional attachment with If You Could See Me Now, as it reminds me of a special loved one. Their latest album, I noticed, is more about the current world we're living in, how we have to be united, and be there for each other.

From Camp Sawi in Cebu last year, to Broken Beach in Bali this year. Now, where to next?

It took me a while to write about our experience in Nusa Penida Island. I was hesitant, because part of me wanted to agree with all the positive reviews on the internet. But who am I kidding? This isn't gonna be a review or a where-to-go kind of travel post. You can find a lot of travel tips, itineraries and suggestions on the world wide web (Does anyone still call it like that?) or on Facebook groups where I actually got ours. Rather, this is a travel diary where I'm just gonna share our firsthand experience at the island. But for the benefit of my future self, I will (I think) publish a post about our actual itinerary, expenses and some first hand experienced tips.

Six months ago, I went to Malaysia with the sole purpose of unwinding. Not knowingly, it was during that trip that I was introduced to the world of sending postcards. I was not fully aware that postcards is still a "thing" nowadays, especially with all the technology that we have. So I was a really surprise to learn that there are still people who loves and spends time writing and sending postcards.

Keeping up with the sequel of our Cebu trip last year, we went to Bali for 4 days last March. Pam and Alvie flew from Manila, whilst I flew from Singapore. Our first day/night was spent in Ubud. Then we stayed in Seminyak for the remaining days.

Apparently, we didn't get to to try surfing, which I would blame to our lazy asses. Lol So here's what went down on our second and last day in Bali.

Pro Tip : If you're a party goer, then stay in Kuta (although there are also decent bars around Seminyak too). But if you prefer exploring cafes and restaurants, then stay in Seminyak.

Finally, here's the sequel to our epic, adventure-filled (or lack thereof) tri-island North Cebu trip last year! (Intrigue? Find more about it here, and here, and here. )

We are three long-distance friends who basically met more than ten years ago when our only world was our precious little town of Ibaan, Batangas, Philippines; friends who now have a bit of luxury to travel and have expanded that little world over the time. We are friends who used to be inseparable, but then life threw us oceans across from each other. And that, made this trip more specifically special and exciting. Our yearly ganap, as I want to call it.

You cannot imagine how happy we were when the sun decided to finally show up. This trip won't be complete without at least peeking into the island life, even for just a day. So after two days being stuck in the city, we went straight to Lakawon Island, a banana-shaped island located at the northern most part of Negros Occidental.

What do you do when it is Mother Nature who gets in the way of your travel plans? When weather won't just let you follow the itinerary you did weeks of planning? When you already set your mind to a sunny beach escape, but then the sky just kept on pouring? I say, you go on. You continue, and still find ways to enjoy.

This is the sunset right outside our home.

I am so good on doing nothing, wasting my time.

By the start of the year, I tried to tell myself that I will blog more often, create more ukulele covers to see how much I have improved, start a "real" journal, work out more, write more creatively. But I did not. I was afraid on committing myself into these things. Because part of me knows that I will just disappoint myself. Part of me knows that I would somehow fail. And I think, I did.

Now, we're on the third month of the year, my birth month, and nothing have really changed. I am still the best procrastinator that I am. Maybe writing this post would force me into actually achieving these goals, and put myself away from all the negative thinking. Maybe, or maybe not.

The first two months of 2018 were unquestionably eventful. I went back home for the New Year festivities for a week. After that, it was an immense load of work (even on weekends which left my mind on a haywire and so much stress). I told my friends, I need a big change in my life. I needed some diversion. I needed something new. Whilst transferring to a new house was not an option that time, I did something that I have been wanting to do for a long time: I cut my own hair into a full bangs. Yes. I have always been hesitant because I have a wavy hair. For me, as little as cutting my own hair was already a big change. It was like a metaphor of, you'll never know unless you try. And up until now, I have no regrets on doing it. I loved it. Although, maintaining it is a commitment itself. At least, I had something I committed myself into and succeeding, so far.

Bringing back my childhood hair do.

Early February, my Kuya went back home after being away  from family for two years. So I also went home for almost two weeks to spend time with them. (Although, I squeezed in a 3-day trip to Bacolod in between which I will write about soon, hopefully.) That vacation made me realised how lucky I am to be working in Singapore; to be working only 5-hours away from home; to be working in a place where/when I don't need to wait two years to be on a vacation. No, that's not right. Let me correct that. I am blessed. I am so blessed that I can go home at least twice a year.

But leaving home each time has never gotten any easier, it was at every turn, unfailingly heavy. In my mind, I have this idea of what if this is the last time I'm ever gonna see them; what if this is really good bye and not see you later. So I always prolong the time I have with them. And as much as possible, I see to it that I said good bye to them and ending it on a pleasant note. But, you see, that's the hardest part there is–saying good bye. I am always on the verge of crying, and I don't want them to see me like that. I don't want them to worry about me. I don't want them to see me in my vulnerability. So I cry alone, be brave, pray and look forward to the next time I'm seeing them.

We always say, "back to reality" after being away from a vacation. But isn't being on a vacation also a reality? Isn't being home the true reality? After months of hard work, for a time being, you got to ignore all your responsibilities and relax a bit. That overwhelming, satisfying feeling you get. I miss that.

But probably, I just miss home, very much so.



I like cities; I like discovering and exploring new places. But my heart, conceivably, would always belong to the province, to my little hometown to which not many people knows of; to that place where I grew up wanting to leave and grow old wanting to get back.

PS : I should really write more often.

2017 was quick. It swept off faster than I have imagined it to be. This post might come a little bit late. I have tried, as much as I could, to produce a writing that I can call "2017 in retrospect", summarizing all those important happenings for the past year. There were a lot, of course. Meeting new people, losing a few, and knowing who to keep. Travelling solo, thrice. Watching two of my favorite musicians live, and feeling so surreal and awestruck by their musicality and talent. Starting a new hobby, and falling in love with it. But despite all these, my mind could not comprehend what my heart is lacking.

Here I am, three weeks into 2018 with my digital ink, tickling my brain and waiting for the right words to spill. I no longer believe in New Year's resolutions anymore (I guess I didn't believe on it in the first place). One does not need a new year to change. We don't need a strike in the clock to realize the need to do something for the better. So rather, I will look for the year that was and what it taught me. And hopefully so, years from now, I can be reminded on the journey that led me to these learnings.

• Stop delaying the things you want to be/learn. Because truth is, the only person stopping you from achieving it is, surprise, yourself. I was my own biggest enemy, detractor. But I learnt, that more importantly, I should also be my own biggest supporter. As what the saying goes, you are far too smart to be the only person standing in your way.

• Guard your heart, always. The bible tells us, "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." (Proverbs 4:23)  I learnt this the hard way. Someone I thought I knew personally was not actually someone they perceive to be. I am the kind of person who gets attach and trusts too easily towards someone with the same interests of mine. And I am beyond thankful to find these kind of people. However, it is also because of this that I forgot that there should be a foundation, and a boundary in some sort.

• Our life is like a toolbox, and you have to keep on adding to that toolbox. I think, no one really wants to be stagnant, so learning something new is a way from it. It may not be on an everyday basis, but perhaps within a period of time. To keep on improving ourselves. Master a new skill, pick up a new hobby, or learn something different as little as cutting an onion without tearing up or perfecting a sunny side up egg. We have to keep on adding to our own toolbox because we'll never know when it'll come handy.

• Breath. I tend to get suffocated in the midst of my everyday life. Work and stress can sometimes get a hold of me. Whenever I feel like this, I remember to breath. Pause and rest, but don't quit. Although, admittedly, there were a lot of times that I really wanted to give up, so I can just stop feeling everything. But I don't. I try to look at my surroundings through a different perspective, and try to realize how much am I missing by dwelling with all the negativity.

• Those people who really asks "How are you" and frees their time to catch up with you, keep them. 

• No matter how many times I drown my own demons, they will always be there, following me, relapsing and learning how to swim. But what important is I get up, continue to fight and live, to survive and thrive and seek God's desire.

You see, we are made of million moments—from shallow, ordinary moments to life-changing important ones. But truth is, we'll only get to remember a few and within those few significant moments or circumstances, I hope and pray that we get to learn something out of it. Or perhaps, enough to make us realize how we all got here.

Congratulations, we made it to 2018. Another year to hoping that better days are coming, in God's grace, will and perfect timing. Meanwhile, let's enjoy life and choose to be better.


Always for love, all ways,

 Raine xx