Back to Blogging

This week, I uninstalled the Instagram app on my smartphone and deactivated my Facebook account. I have done this several times in the past, but I was always back after a few days or weeks. (The longest I lasted was when I was reviewing for my board exams)
Now, I want to make it different. It's not easy but am determined to let this decision stick.

#Adulting 101: Tips on How to Adult

I don't know exactly when the people of my generation decided to make "adult" a verb (and call it "adulting"), but the term is here and has been put into mainstream consciousness.
According to the Oxford Dictionary, adulting refers to  the practice of "behaving in a way characteristic of a responsible adult, especially the accomplishment of mundane but necessary tasks." Millennials, us damn complainers (complaints magnified moreso by social media), traipse around aimlessly like big babies because we're going through life stages that other generations have gone through much later in life. We look up to other [older] adults at awe and ask how they manage to get their shit together, and realize that now, we're adults ourselves! We struggle to reconcile that fact the same way we struggle with the management of our day-to-day mundanity. Anyway, I've legally been an adult for almost a decade now, and while I'm also continually learning, I feel like I've been well-versed on dealing with a lot of adult stuff to be able to dish out some helpful advice on how to make adulting a little bit easier.

2017 in Review

Today marks the exact day since I came back home from Manila a year ago. So many things have changed, and some have stayed the same. I want to make sense of how I did and what I feel about it, so I'll break it down right here.

The Ultimate Traveling Guide to Seoul, South Korea that Every Filipino Needs

Before anything else, allow me to say that although South Korea was on my bucket list of places to go, it wasn't at the top most. As in, I don't follow KPop groups and I seldom watch KDramas. I am more Western-inclined, and Europe is still my numero uno travel goal destination. I did not expect that I will get to visit South Korea as soon as 5 months after passing the board exam. To think I don't have work yet! It all started when my best friend Ayessa, who started getting hooked on KDramas, booked us tickets to Seoul on a Cebu Pacific sale. She's been bugging me to travel together since we reconnected 5 years ago, and since she would be getting married in July, I knew that this time, I couldn't say no. We stayed for 9 days in the second week of April, which was in time for cherry blossom season. Let me tell you, it was glorious! But before the fun part (which is landing in Korea and getting our fill of whatever we want out of it), let us start with the nitty gritty basics.

#Adulting 101: Decisions, decisions, decisions

A few days ago, I realized that it has been 5 months since I found out that I passed the Chemical Engineering Licensure Exam and became a bonafide engineer. I am working as a freelance content writer and I also tutor on the side. I took on these jobs temporarily to pay for my trip to South Korea (coming up in a blog post soon!), but I find that I enjoy freelancing. I enjoy working from home: pants are optional, I do not have to commute, I can leave or wake up whenever I want, and I love what I'm doing: writing, learning, and imparting knowledge and appreciation for the sciences to younger minds.
However, I know that something's amiss.

My One Big Theme for 2017 + My Goals

Hey guys! So the last time we were here on this blog to discuss goals and goal setting was last year's Midyear Review, where I also shared with you my Theme or Word for 2016, which was to DO. So far, I did cross a few things off my list but I haven't gotten around to writing about them. As for the other items, well, I started acting on them and they are well in motion for this year.

25 Lessons to take with you in 2017

Hi all! It's been a long time coming for this post. I was supposed to publish it for my 25th birthday last year but because I chose to focus more on my board exam and not my blog, this list (and my other blog entries) had to wait. I thought starting off my backlogs with this one in the new year would be perfect--maybe you could learn a bit from the lessons I've learned from my own mistakes and change your mindset or correct yourself before it's too late. These are a few lessons I've learned which often recur at different stages in my life this past quarter century. I mean, if life has been trying to teach me a specific lesson over and over, maybe it just means that I should learn it and never forget it.

The 5 Things I Learned by NOT Going to #InTheMix

Last night, 6 foreign acts came together in one amazing show called In The Mix. When it was announced in May, my sisters and I were so excited. We planned on going because it would be held the day before Felicia's birthday (so it'd be like a birthday salubong of sorts as well), which was in time for Kadayawan (so Feebee wouldn't have classes and could come here) and because The 1975 would be playing. I think The 1975 is one of the few bands we could ALL (including my brother) agree on. LOL. But I really did wanna see them, with pa-bonus pa na Third Eye Blind & Panic! at the Disco (throwback for me and Felicia), as well as James Bay for me. =)) (I first heard one of his songs when it was used in an episode of The Vampire Diaries--I swear that show has one of the best soundtracks, if ever you're into indie/pop/rock, I don't know how to describe it actually. Basta, I get songs there from artists I don't normally hear on the radio)

How to Spend Your Birthday Alone

Rustic Kitchen

Sometimes, living in a huge family can be hard. But most of the time, it's a lot of fun. I have 4 siblings, and I always thought that if any 2 are MIA from home at any given point, it seems like the house is 10x quieter, not even kidding. At any given time in our household, there's always someone talking, playing, watching TV series, exercising, fighting, cooking, etc. (There are 2 of us here in Manila right now; I wonder what the house must be like) I think the best thing about having lots of siblings though is that you always have default friends. Don't have anyone to watch a movie with? I call my sister/brother. I don't wanna eat or work at a coffee shop alone? I call my sister/brother. I guess that's why I never had to look elsewhere for company like go out to party or such, cause I have all the company I need at home.

#Do2016: Learn a new skill with Philippine Baking Institute

Another item on my bucket list this year is to learn a new skill. I didn't specify because I want to learn a lot of things but I know my 6-month review for the board exams in November will eat up most, if not all, of my time (it's my #1 priority of the moment as well). So, I felt really #blessed when I got invited to a one-day workshop at the Philippine Baking Institute in Ecoland, Davao City.

#Do2016: Climbing up Mt. Puting Bato

When I decided to pursue my bucket list, I knew that the first thing I had to do was climb that damn mountain. Haha! I knew that once I'd be able to accomplish it, it would surely give me that confidence boost and drive to pursue my other goals.

Midyear Review: How you can still achieve your goals this year

In my hard drive, I have folders of TV series and movies I've planned on watching, but almost never have the time to. Same goes for my Kindle. I have a library full of books I haven't read yet but always mean to.

And in my diary/planner, I have had a list of things I'd always meant to do: my bucket list.

To New Beginnings

In a couple of my last few blog posts back on my other blog, I talked about feeling like I've outgrown my blog (which I have) and even asked on one post whether or not I should start a new one (to which no one answered). I think I always knew I had to do this--break away from The Style Reactor and into my own personal brand--but I was so scared to leave everything behind. About five years of my life were contained in that blog--the five years I've spent in Davao since moving from UP, I realize now. It was my saving grace during those times I felt bored/depressed/worthless/angry. It served as an outlet for all my energy, a mental and creative passion project which gave me a lot more than I bargained for: a job I loved and enjoyed, opportunities to speak for groups of people, a couple of features on TV, invites, freebies, and chances to monetize my blog. More importantly, I got to meet like-minded people, a lot of whom became friends I love and cherish to this very day.