(Very) Late bloomer

I have been terribly busy at work lately. Today is a little bit different though. Because of that, I finally had the chance to visit my blog. Yeah, I've been reduced to a visitor of my own blog.  When I lost my job in August, the first thing I dreaded was coming to terms with the fact that I would have no means of a regular income. Finding a job nowadays is quite hard; not to mention, finding a job that you actually like is harder. My next big fear after the I-would-be-jobless-by-September episode was . . . Christmas. Unlike most other countries, the Filipino Christmas season unofficially starts as soon as the clock strikes 12 midnight on the 1st of September, it being the 1st -ber -ending month. Christmas carols are played on the radio, Christmas trees are set up, and last but not least, TV shows start their daily countdown. I would immediately switch channels with a frown on my face. I could not feel any excitement for the coming holidays. Imagine Ebenezer Scrooge. I was being

For the very first time yesterday, I experienced an honest-to-goodness massage. It was courtesy of a massage clinic that employs the blind. I've been feeling stiff on my neck and shoulders over the past few weeks, and I thought a few hand strokes would bail me out of such a terrible discomfort. Being on a tight budget, I knew right away where to go. It is a humble massage clinic, so bare with just a few plastic chairs and a couple of tiny wall-partitioned rooms with a bed in each of them. A small reception area of sorts can be found near the entrance. People who visit can choose among the following rates and services: ·   Php100 for Upper Body (Back, Head, and Arms for thirty minutes, sitting position) ·   Php100 for Lower Body (Waist, Hips, and Legs for thirty minutes, sitting position) ·   Php160 for Whole Body (For one hour, sitting position) ·   Php250 Rejuvenating Whole Body (For one hour and twenty minutes, lying position) I chose the first in the lis

No pun intended. I'm just stating a matter of fact. Back in the days of Topia Philippines, the expression Everything is a farce was born. It was quite easy to nod in agreement as people were expected to do something out of nothing through lulls at work. A lot of times I had been unreceptive, but I had no choice but to join all the hullabaloo. With all due respect to everyone, all the farce had fun, bittersweet moments in it too. Suffice it to say that I have moved on. I am now in a place where farce is an alien. Farce does not live here. If one has no more work to do, there is no need to feel guilty. Until when? I cannot tell. For now, I have to unlearn being farcical. This post shows just that.

My Favorite Things In random order:  1. Writing , which is why this blog was born; which is why I took up journalism in college; which is why nearly all my professional experience had something to do with either writing or rewriting; and which is why I loved it when Jyego would write me little notes (just to say thank you or sorry ) when he was growing up. Kuya Jyego with cousin Stephanie Claire 2. Escapolar , my mother's maiden name, because it sounds like scapular, a religious item that Catholics usually wear around their necks for protection. Jyego wears one. 3. Aguila , my paternal name, because it is associated with the eagle, a symbol of power and nobility. 4. Leo , my zodiac sign, my birthday being July 23. Cheers!!! I am a true-blooded Leo so I had the symbol tattooed just below the back of my neck. Many references say Leos are the most dominant of all the zodiacs. I cannot agree more! Depending on the person I am dealing with, this trait can be my ally or my

The next morning, we woke up early and excited for our ultimate destination, Pagudpud. We met for the second time our tour guy, Heinrich. He told us we would be riding the shuttle first and then get off where our service trike would be waiting for us. After a quick breakfast and some time of waiting for passengers, we finally hit the road. We were seated in front, so we had a good view of everything, which was mostly highways and roadsides with a lot of greens. Somewhere along the way we caught glimpses of the Bangui windmills and the Cape Bojeador lighthouse, which would be part of our tour later on that day. After about two hours, our best travel adventure in such a breathtaking part of our archipelago began. Here are the highlights of Pagudpud, Day 1: We paid P1000 for this package tour. Not bad! Patapat viaduct, the boundary between Ilocos and Cagayan Valley Wooohhhoooo!! Pagudpud, here we are! Richie in our 'wheels' Strike a