Lifestyle Check 101

The Joy of Collecting: Natural Quartz Crystal

2021-09-16T23:41:00.004+08:00

I started collecting quartz crystals when I was in college. That was more than 30 years ago. Can you believe it? Let me share my collection with you.

A quartz crystal is a semi-precious gem that is composed of silica or silicon dioxide (SiO2) and comes in various kinds. The variations are differentiated by the colour they possess. There's the colourless type which is referred to just quartz. Then there are those that are violet in colour which are called Amethyst; pink which is called Rose Quartz; and yellow that is Citrine.

There are also those that have inclusions. Inclusions are minerals such as titanium dioxide or other gemstones such as tourmaline that are in needle-like formations within the quartz crystal structure. These are called "rutiles".

QUARTZ CRYSTAL.

Naturally quartz are formed in a structure with a termination of 6 sides, i.e., hexagonal. A specimen with the natural hexagonal points and an elongated body is referred to as a wand such as specimens from the picture above. These wands are usually used as an interior decor or for crystal metaphysical practice as they are believed to possess powers for healing and protection. The crystals in the above picture are arranged in what is called a crystal matrix. In neoclassical feng shui and crystal practice, crystal matrix are created in order to protect the household from negative energy and misfortune. You do not have to believe this. Displaying them for their beauty is enough I suppose.

Quartz crystals are also sculpted for jewellery. Take a look at these pendants that I bought before the turn of the new millennium in Hong Kong. I frequently use these pendants. An image of the dragon has been incised in the crystal in one pendant; and the phoenix in the other. Lovely aren't they?

ROSE QUARTZ.

The pink variety is rose quartz. Some regard this as the gemstone of love. These are usually sculpted into hearts, peonies or mandarin ducks, symbols of love and blissful relationships. I have spheres, a wand and a pendant of the Rose Quartz. Their price is a bit higher than regular quartz crystal.

I bought the wand from a local merchandizer in 2019. The spheres and pendant are from Hong Kong. They are about 25 years now.

AMETHYST.

I love the violet variety of the quartz crystal. At one point in history, the amethyst is highly valued especially in Europe. But because several mines across the globe are being discovered the value of Amethyst sharply declined. Best quality specimen that are used in high jewellery of high-end fashion brands however, cost an arm and a leg. I have geodes and pendants of the Amethyst. Can't seem to find a wand.

All of these pendants are from local merchandizers except for the double terminated wand pendant that I bought in Hong Kong several years ago.

CITRINE.

This yellow variety is my favorite. Nowadays this is the most expensive kind of quartz. Probably because of its popularity in crystal and neoclassical feng shui practice as we are currently in the Period 8 cycle, 2004 to 2024, an Earth period where the merchant stone, the Citrine, is its elemental gemstone. On my part I love it because of the color.

The pendants are bought from jewellery stores except for the one below that is bought in Hong Kong. Just like the other pieces in the collection, they were bought in different years in a span of 30 years!

RUTILATED QUARTZ.

Availability of good quality rutilated quartz is a bit scarce. And when you find some they are a bit pricey. I am fond of the golden rutilated quartz. Here's my haul over the years:

The pendant with something like "green moss" in it is not a rutilated quartz obviously. But the inclusion makes it rare and pricey. I do not know what mineral was included in the quartz but it sure is captivating. All of these pendants were bought in Hong Kong in different times.

Oh, I wish to inform you that you should not expose your coloured quartz in sunlight. The colour would surely fade.

Lifestylecheck101: there is no prescribed time in collecting. It can even span to decades. Imagine the joy and happiness over the years! Precious!

Budol is Real

2021-09-15T23:18:00.005+08:00

Getting scammed is the worst! You feel stupid for being taken advantage of. I was scammed online! Let me tell you my experience.

THE BUDOL ART IS ALIVE.

Budol is the Filipino word for "con", "trickery" or "scam". It's real and alive. Moreover, it has gone digital and migrated in the Internet.

I was a fool for falling into one. I bought a BOSE bluetooth earphones from an advertisement in Facebook. The ad says that due to the pandemic their store closed and had gone bankrupt. They are selling their inventory for almost 80% off. There were no apprehensions on my part. The sponsored ad has a well-thought message. When I clicked the link in the ad, I went into their web site which I should say is totally professional looking. The site is clean and smart looking. There were no misspelled words nor any grammatical error that would flag you that there might be something wrong with the item being offered.

The order form that I filled-out looked okay. The bluetooth earphones cost 2,000 PHP. I thought to myself that this was a great deal. A few months back I bought a BOSE in-ear bluetooth sports headset for 12,999 PHP from the BOSE boutique in SM Aura Premiere mall in BGC (Bonifacio Global City) in Taguig City. The model offered in the site is quite the steal because I remembered that it cost around 10,000 PHP in the store.

In short, I fell for the trap!

A few days past and the item was delivered. It was on COD. After I paid for the delivery I was so excited to open the parcel. To my horror, the item looked like a toy! It was a FAKE BOSE product. It could not cost more that a couple of hundred of Pesos. My money gone with the wind!!!

THE ANATOMY OF A BUDOL.

Let's examine. If it was too good to be true, then it's a glittering BUDOL. For sure!

Have you come across sponsored posts in Facebook selling branded bags, shoes, watches, gadgets, t-shirts, etc. with sob stories like their warehouse was hit by the floods due to the recent typhoon; or they have gone bankrupt because of the closing of their store due to the pandemic; or their clients who have ordered in bulk was not able to pay up because the clients too had gone bankrupt? So, now they are offering the items in their inventory for an unbelievable discounted price.

Don't fall for it!

If indeed a company had gone bankrupt, all of their assets are consolidated and are most probably sold in its entirety. Definitely not in retail!

Do not believe the comments.

The Facebook sponsored ad had a lot of comments. Like there are satisfied customers who bought the items. They are made-up comments. Do not believe a word. If you are curious, got to the web site but do not buy anything. Save the URL of the store's web site. Check after a week if it's there. In my experience after I received the package and found out that the item was fake, I went back to the web site so I can call and make a complaint. You know what? The site isn't there anymore. Classic, right?

LEGIT ON-LINE STORES.

As most of us, we buy things on-line. Buy from legit on-line stores. How do we know if they were legitimate? Call the store. There should be contact information in the site. Even scrupulous web sites have those information posted. Call them or email them for their business registration number so you can check against the records of the DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) or the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This is to protect you and your hard-earned money.

If you do not want to do this checking, you can order at least something that's cheap and have it delivered to see if it was the real deal. Something like a trial-and-error for the store. If they were able to deliver the real thing then you can continue to purchase other things or those that would cost a lot of money. All I am saying is we should be vigilant in screening off those who are just conning us.

I already learned my lesson! How about you? Do you have any similar experience? Comment them here. I would love to talk about them so we can warn others in falling into these crazy and dirty traps!

Lifestylecheck101: do not give your trust so easily. Remember that trust should be earned!

Rinse Your Worries Off

2021-09-14T23:56:00.007+08:00

More than ever, with COVID lurking in our doorsteps, it is essential that we practice the minimum safety protocols recommended by the government. Unfortunately, one of the measures we must undertake is to restrict our movement outside of our dwelling spaces. If you think about it, these measures are truly for our safety. They however, add unnecessary stress to our already stressful lives. So, what can we do to cope from this situation?

STRESS RELIEVER.

Juggling office work at home, if there was any, and managing the household are no easy tasks. When these things are combined with the thought of friends and relatives battling the dreadful disease, this kind of extraordinary circumstance which seems to be the norm in the past couple of years weighs our mental health down. More so for people who have lost their jobs and have little or no savings in the bank. Utterly bleak! Our coping mechanisms are then geared to full drive now. Stress relievers wanted!

TAKE A BATH OR SHOWER.

My go-to stress reliever is taking a long shower. Simple you say? Won't work you added? Yes, it's simple. Simple as it may seem but as the action appeals to the senses, the body and mind respond favourably.

This is how I cope with a stressful day. When stressed out, I just close my eyes and think of the fresh feeling I would get from a long and warm shower later that night. I immediately snap back to good mood. Imagining it may not do the trick for others. I believe however, that the real thing would at least calm the tired muscles down, and ease the haggard mind out.

SENSORY OVERLOAD.

Hear me out. Here is a list of the products I use in my long and warm showers: lavender scented shampoo, raspberry vinegar rinse, vanilla bourbon body wash and an ultra-fresh facial cleansing gel.

Now imagine starting off with water pouring down like rain enveloping your body. The warm water touching your skin. The warm temperature raises your blood pressure just a little and your nerves dilating just a little, too, that brings a fantastic sensation all over your body. Nice!

You then lather your hair with a shampoo that has a sweet and calming scent. It automatically signals your brain to put the body in a calm state bringing down your blood pressure and nerves back to their normal state. So you, see shampooing is not just about cleaning your hair and scalp! You rinse the shampoo off with warm water again and the same sensation you felt before is brought back. The feeling may be subtle but it is all there!

You now use a rinsing vinegar to your hair to make it shiny and remove any scale build up if there was any. The scent of raspberry is so amazing that it puts you in a good mood.

A vanilla bourbon body wash not only transform your skin fresh and glowing but it also puts you in a romantic mood. Following this off with a facial gel that has a fresh scent washes not only dirt and dead skin off from your face but also your worries away. Down the drain.

Finally, after rinsing off with warm water, I slowly turn off the heater so that the water would become cold. This closes the pores and tops off the oh!-so refreshing shower.

Mind and body rebooted! That's how I feel after the shower. It feels like I am ready again to face whatever challenge the rest of the day or the next day would bring.

WHAT WORKS FOR YOU.

I use YVES ROCHER products. This blog post is not a paid advertisement. I wish! I used to "experiment" with products, you know, '"trial and error". Until I found the French brand Yves Rocher in 2018. I stopped experimenting after finding Yves Rocher. Their products are the result of years of research. Not only that but they use organic ingredients. They also stay clear off of harmful substances such as paraben preservatives and sulfates. I know I am getting the best value out of my hard earned money. You do not have to take my word for these products. Why not try them out for yourself? Or if you have found the right bath products for you then stay using them.

Lifestylecheck101: the simplest things sometimes are the best solutions.

The Joy of Collecting: Model Cars

2021-09-13T23:37:00.005+08:00

Things that give us pleasure. We do tend to collect them. We are talking about material objects here, okay? For me at least, on the things I collect, they give me immense pleasure just by looking at them. Something like a visual therapy. My stress relieved. My worries gone for a bit. It recharges me. It revitalizes me.

THE JOY OF COLLECTING: THE SERIES.

This is the first of a series that would run in the blog. I have collected several objects and I wanted to feature them here. The thought is that there is joy in collecting! It really does not matter if the objects being collected are cheap or expensive. What's important is how these things affect our well being. There is nothing wrong in amassing a number of material possessions; and there is totally nothing wrong if you do not have anything you would call a collection. I believe however, that human nature is wired to acquire possessions, be it material or inanimate like patents to ideas, concepts and other things in abstract form. The thing is, we do collect!

MODEL CARS.

I just happen to be in Toy Kingdom wandering around and looking for a gift for a nephew in 2017. It was a vivid memory because I chance upon some toy cars that are oh!-too pricey and at 50% off. There were model cars that are impressively similar to the real ones. They were scaled to 1:18. This was the first time I was scrutinizing model cars and I was really impressed on the construction. I suppose that was the reason why these model cars are so expensive ranging from 2,000 to 5,000 Pesos. But since they were being offered at a 50% discount, I had to buy one. I chose the one I really like!

The first model car I owned is this Red Beetle. I am quite fond of the Beetle manufactured by Volkswagen because of its unique shape. Below are some more pictures of the Red Beetle:

The details of the model car are awesome. The doors can be opened. The hood, too. The wheels move accordingly when the stirring wheel is turned. The side mirrors move. Isn't it amazing? It really looks looks like the real one!

COLLECTING IS A PASSION.

When I first bought the Red Beetle I did not have the thought of collecting model cars. No such thought. It just happened. A year later after buying the Red Beetle, I chanced upon another sale of model cars but this time it's at Toys 'R' Us. So, I bought a Yellow Ferrari. There was a great feeling inside. I just could not describe it. But there it was. There was happiness that I cannot explain. So, I thought I was hooked because I was looking forward to getting the next one.

Take a look at my Yellow Ferrari:

Similar to the Red Beetle, the Yellow Ferrari has moving doors, hood, stirring wheel, side mirrors and wheels. The body is made of cast iron. Some parts are made of plastic such as the seats inside, the stirring wheel and some details. The wheels are made of rubber. Truly fascinating!

LIFE-LONG PLEASURE.

Collecting isn't a one time thing. It is not like buying a lot, call it a collection and then that's it. You collect for the pleasure it brings. That is why you are always on the hunt. Looking for that thing that you will add to your growing collection. There's discernment. Not because you can afford things you will just buy anything. No. You acquire something that you really like. Something that makes your heart skip a beat. At least that is how it is for me.

As you can see I have two model cars in a span of 2 years. The latest addition to my collection was in 2019 and I bought it in full price. It is a Black Porsche. I don't have pictures of it now because it's on my desk in the office. I will make an update blog post once I have the pictures. Oh, boy! The Black Porsche is magnificent.

Collecting is addicting, and... better than chocolate! Gets?

Lifestylecheck101: feel the joy of collecting. Euphoric!

Do It Slowly, Baby!

2021-09-12T23:08:00.003+08:00

In this hurried times, we sometimes complain that 24 hours is not enough for all the things we needed to accomplish for the day. We tend to sacrifice a lot of things for the more "important" activities. Most young adults nowadays skip breakfast and would rather "drink" their morning meals. There's instant oat drinks and fiber-rich instant breakfast alternatives. Some would of course opt for healthier drinks. Thank goodness juicers were invented. Not all juicers however, are created equal.

FAST JUICERS.

These type of juicers hit the market with a bang. Literally because these juicers are very loud. A motor spins a blade so fast that the fruits or vegetables put in it are ground to a pulp. Juice is then extracted.

I joined the bandwagon and owned two of these in the past. My first one was a budget-friendly juicer, Kyowa. It has however, a small capacity. I was just trying to start juicing and see if this would be good for me. I do not want to spend so much money for a kitchen appliance that I may not be using after one or two times using it. I was surprised and amazed! It turned out that juicing with apples and carrots, my favourite combination actually with ginger, is a great breakfast! I don't easily get hungry even with just one full glass of the juice. So, several months later I upgraded to a big one that's robust but a bit pricier, Breville.

There is a lot of fascination with this product but there were also negative feedback. Aside from being noisy when being operated, the juice is somehow frothy. Also, with the way the juice has been extracted some say that a lot of the vitamins or supposed beneficial antioxidants are lost in the process. There must be a better way!

SLOW JUICERS.

Less that two years after I bought my Breville fast juicer, I bought a Hurom slow juicer. I again joined the bandwagon. How can I resist? The slow juicer was offered for a 30% discount at a TV shopping network. I did not buy it there though because I could not wait for the long shipment. I am so impatient. I wanted to try the appliance out right away. So, I bought mine from the True Value store in Shangri-la Plaza with the same discount. Awesome!

What caught my eye actually was not the price but the technology behind slow juicing. It all makes sense. Slow juicing resolved all of the unwanted things in fast juicing. First, there isn't much noise. There's this some type of a ball that squeezes the juice out from the fruits and vegetables. No blades. The crushing action of the rotating ball for me is actually kind of an ASMR. Second, the juice extracted is somewhat pure. There's no froth. Just simple pure juice which most likely has not lost any of its vitamins, minerals or antioxidant properties.

THE COMPARISON.

So, I tried my favourite combo of apples, carrots and ginger. The slow juicer wins!

The color of the juice from the fast juicer is rather weak while the one in the slow juicer is quite vivid. The texture of the juice from the fast juicer is grainy because of the froth and some of the pulp getting into the drink while the one from the slow juicer is smooth with no froth or pulp. The taste from the fast juicer is okay but the one from the slow juicer is much, much tastier! For sure!

My other favourite combos are apples and oranges, and apples and beets. Why not try them out for yourself?

Lifestylecheck101: there will always be alternatives.

DISCLAIMER.

This blog post is not a paid advertisement. The picture above is not mine. CTTO. To the owner, just notify me if you want to have the picture taken down.

To Sleep Or Not To Sleep

2021-09-11T23:54:00.009+08:00

Are you getting enough sleep lately? I know. Almost every aspect in our lives has been disturbed or disrupted by this COVID-19 pandemic. Our sleeping habit is no exception.

WASH. RINSE. REPEAT.

There are those who work from home (WFH). Suddenly there's free time here and there. With the proximity of the bed to the designated WFH work station you find yourself slipping into "power naps". When done repeatedly, the body clock is disturbed. Before you know it you are sleeping late and consequently waking up late. A habit is then formed that leaves you groggy in the morning and irritable or lethargic in the afternoon. The days go by and voila! Wash. Rinse. Repeat!

THE EARLY BIRD.

I was born in the 1970's. There isn't a lot of distraction for kids back then. No mobile games, no cellular phones, no computers, no Internet, no Netflix. We sleep around 8 o'clock in the evening. 9 o'clock would be the latest. We wake up fresh at 5 o'clock in the morning. Actually even earlier. We get exactly 8 hours of sleep. This is our family's daily routine. This is my normal. It all changed however, when I got into college.

THE START OF SOMETHING NEW?!

College is a different ball game. I took up computer engineering and boy, oh boy! There were truckloads of laboratory reports to write. By hand mind you. There were tons of plates to finish. Tons of topics to research and machine problems to solve. And most daunting of all there was a great deal of applications to code and document. In order for me to accomplish most of these things, I had to sacrifice my sleeping hours whenever needed. This was the start of something new for me, I should say.

I believe that school is our training ground for the real world. Sure there's the academic part of it but there is also skill and behavioural development. We get to develop and index our response to certain situations. In retrospect, if I would be given a chance to change anything in the past, it would be better time management. I would have not sacrificed my sleeping hours. I could have managed my tasks better.

IN PROVING ONESELF.

When I got a job after graduation, I was so eager to prove myself. I set goals. I wanted to establish a solid foundation for my career. I took on projects with tight schedules. Did "overnights" in order to finish modules. I sacrificed my rest days. I managed to put systems into production successfully.

I made it! I reached my goals! From a programmer/analyst to Vice President for Systems Engineering and Applications Development and Support and now a Consultant, I think I have proven my worth. But it came with a heavy price. Such a heavy price...

What's the price you asked? That would be a whole separate blog. But part of that is "hypertension" and "diabetes". Gory. Gruesome diseases.

SLEEP DEPRIVATION.

Fast forward to 2021. Global pandemic still. Since I am an individual obviously with comorbidity, it is imperative that I stay at home as much as possible. Being confined in the four corners of my house for a long period of time is indeed a challenge. My sleeping pattern has been immensely affected. There were times that I have been sleep deprived. So, I am doing everything I can to get myself to sleep for at least 8 hours, and rather importantly at the right time.

Exercise, engage in a good hobby that is enjoyable, read books, avoid sleeping in the afternoon as much as possible, lessen the time spent in front of the computer, and lessen watching series in Netflix and videos in YouTube. These are reminders to myself.

To sleep or not to sleep in the afternoon? I hope not to take afternoon naps. To sleep or not to sleep early at night? I hope to early every night.

Lifestylecheck101: the choices we make now shape our future.

Drink Your Water

2021-09-10T23:47:00.009+08:00

Have you chance upon a vlogger on YouTube who would always say "Drink you water, bitch!" Well, I would say this, "drink your coconut water, sis!"

We have to drink at least 8 glasses of water everyday. We all know this. I cannot speak for everyone, to me at least, I don't think that I have been fulfilling this health requirement. The reminder to drink water hence is timely and important I guess.

When I was little, my Lolo used to tell me to always drink coconut water. He said that it is full of electrolytes and other minerals that are beneficial to the body especially in boosting one's energy. Coconut water is like an energy drink, he said. I believed in him completely as he always look strong for his age. My Lolo was from the Quezon province and had a plantation of coconuts mainly for copra production. He is quite knowledgeable, I should say, as far as the use of coconuts is concerned.

I am not saying that coconut water should replace water. Everything should be in moderation. Drinking too much coconut water can also bring harm. Anything in excess is not good. Drinking coconut water for certain days of the week to be counted as part of the daily water intake may be good. Augmenting the daily water intake with coconut water I suppose is a good idea, don't you think?

Whenever I go do grocery shopping or dine in a restaurant, I always make sure to get or order coconut water. If one has the resources, why not? But if one does not have the capacity to take advantage of the benefits of coconut water, it is best I guess to ensure the intake of at least 8 glasses of water.

Know those things that can make other things better.

My Daily Dose of Happiness

2021-09-09T23:42:00.001+08:00

We all know that fruits are good for the body. It is no secret that fruits are packed with antioxidants that prevent or delay cellular damage in our bodies.

A Legit Cactito

2021-09-08T22:49:00.002+08:00

Hear ye, hear ye! Let it be known by all people walking on the face of this planet: I coined the term CACTITO.

The lockdowns enforced by governments because of this pandemic has brought all sorts of things. There was a change on how we do our daily office work. There was a change on how we communicate with one another. There was a change on how we plan our groceries and prepare our meals. There was basically a change in almost every aspect of our daily living. To some, mental health has been affected in varying degrees depending on how big the change was on their lives. One way of coping is engaging in a hobby that can take away the stress of this confinement from the four corners of the house.

One hobby that is currently enjoyed by many is growing different kinds of exotic plants at home. The growers are what we call "plantitos" and "plantitas". I am one of these plantitos you see, but I am a special kind of plantito. I specilize in cactus. I therefore, is what you call a CACTITO. Gets?A SPECIAL KIND OF PLANT.

Cactus are special kinds of plants. Those fleshy and prickly plants need a different kind of TLC. The amount of sunlight and water they get directly affects their growth and lifespan. Humidity and the type of soil are also important factors for their reproductivity and health. But once these are perfected, a cactus can become a great source of enjoyment and fulfilment. To some, even a source of livelihood. With the right know-how and tools, cacti are easily propagated.

TRADE FAIRS, NURSERIES AND FB MARKETPLACE.

I started collecting and taking care of cacti in December of 2018 when an officemate gifted me with a mamillaria in a clay pot. A mamillaria is a kind of cactus that is usually small with a globulous to elongated shape. I was very fond of that one but sadly it died. So I started buying some in trade fairs in 2019. These trade fairs happen in malls, in Parks and Wildlife, and in Quezon Memorial CIrcle (QMC).

I found later on that there are nurseries one can visit to buy them. I happen to be in Baguio one time in 2019 and went to the the Living Gifts Nursery in La Trinidad. That was a memorable trip actually. I have never seen so many cactus in my entire life. I was very fortunate to be able to purchase those species I like at very reasonable prices.

When the pandemic hit and lockdowns imposed in 2020, I can only buy cactus on-line. The FB Marketplace is a good source. Cactus growers in Benguet in the Cordillera Region have stores in the marketplace. Even distributors from QMC and the flower section near Farmers Cubao have FB marketplace stores. It is quite easy to buy them. There really isn't any shortage of where you can buy the prickly beauties.

THEY COME AND GO.

As I said, these cacti require a special kind of attention. I have not perfected the combination of the factors that affect their growth, reproductivity and lifespan since each species require a unique combination of the factors. In all of the almost 3 years so far that I have been growing cacti, I seem to be successful with the Agua Dulce kind of Gymnocalycium and the Astrophytum myriostigma.

The one pictured above is a multicustatum Astrophytum myriostigma that has been with me since May of 2019. I have 50 more live cacti in my window sill garden and probably had 100 or so that have died. I did learn some things from those that did not make it, and up to now I am still learning.

Lifestylecheck101: a hobby is indeed a journey.

Here is a link to beautiful pictures of some of the cacti I had. Enjoy!

Caught a Fish and Ate It

2021-09-07T23:14:00.000+08:00

Saw a video in YouTube about a group of British high schoolers trying out Korean lunches served in Korean schools. Since it was their first time eating those kind of food, I find their reactions quite normal. For any kind of food I suppose that’s “exotic” to your palette it’s either you completely like it or you don’t. What caught my attention though is the dessert. It’s an ice ream sandwich shaped like a fish. Yeah! I’d like to catch some of those!

THE KOREAN WAVE.

The Korean Wave is real. From TV dramas, movies, music, fashion to food, the Korean wave has swept the world over. I know this is hardly news. But more noticeable nowadays are the Korean marts springing up like wild mushrooms in different parts of the country. Heck, even in the condominium complex in Pasig City where I live isn’t spared.

Late last year, a Korean convenience store opened in our club house despite the presence of a Korean store a few hundred meters away from our location. I won’t complain though as I am into some Korean food stuff myself. I like their rice tea, and the orange peel juice concentrate. The nearer, the better. And now, I want the fish!

ICE CREAM SANDWICH.

Who would not enjoy an ice cream sandwich shaped into a cool looking fish? Fortunately, that Korean convenient store I am talking about has this ice cream sandwich. So, I bought one. It’s affordable for 60 Pesos. What makes the one I bought so special is that the ice cream is “matcha”. Green tea. My favorite! And of course you have that red bean paste inside. All of these wrapped in a good tasting waffle and molded into the shale of a fish. I am telling you. It’s delicious!

We all deserve a bit of indulgence, don’t you think?

One Bad Habit Leading to a Chronic Disease

2021-09-06T23:37:00.007+08:00

I have to put my act together. With all of the lockdowns imposed, and all of those new and exciting series and shows on Netflix, I have turned myself into a couch potato. Worse is that while watching the shows I have been taking my meals in bed. Do you know what comes after that? A bit of nap, of course. Then boom! ACID REFLUX. I don't want this!

TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM.

August 1, 2021 was a bit memorable. Right after dinner I felt queasy because there was a weird chest pain. I felt it at the right side of the chest. Weird because it felt like more of a piercing pain like someone's pinching you. It was not similar to the kind of pain I felt several years back when I was diagnosed with hypertension. The hypertension chest pain felt heavy and right at the middle of the chest. I can only describe it as like a stack of heavy books weighing my chest down. This time around it's just weird. But the mild pinching chest pain slowly became stronger. Naturally I got scared. So, there's nothing to do but hurry to the emergency room (ER).

I booked Grab and went to the ER of St. Luke's Hospital in Bonifacio Global City (BGC), Taguig. The ER however, was dedicated for COVID-19 patients. The nurses and doctors in the triage were nice and explained to me that there is a separate ER for non-COVID patients. Since I have been having chest pains, they asked if I would be okay to be serviced at that ER. The nurse wanted for me to get an electrocardiogram (ECG) as soon as possible because of the chest pains. I said yes, since they assured me that I will be placed in a separate cubicle inside the ER. I thought that I'll be completely safe.

ALL IS OKAY!

It was GERD. The results of the tests and x-ray that the doctor ordered for me came out all good. My numbers and vitals are all within normal range. I have no signs of infections. The electrolytes and enzymes in the blood tests together with the x-ray proved that there were no problems or anomalies with the heart, lungs or the cardiovascular system that would cause the chest pains I felt. The attending doctor ruled that what I have experienced is the result of GERD - Gastroesphageal Reflux Disease or Chronic Acid Reflux. And oh, when I was at the ER, a few minutes after the ECG was taken, the chest pains subsided and completely stopped. It was just an episode I suppose.

DEFINITE NO-NO AFTER EATING.

So, the culprit all along was Netflix. Kidding. It is lying down after eating. I have been doing it for quite some time now and it has brought with it a chronic disease. The doctor advised to wait for at least 3 hours before lying down if I needed to.

I have learned my lesson. This somewhat sedentary lifestyle is no joke. The body should be active and moving. I need to exercise. I should exercise!

A month after that incident, I am doing fine. I am now avoiding Netflix. Joke. I am just trying my best to stay at my feet and eat my meals on the table. Small steps that would lead to a healthier life!

CARE FOR SOME TEA?

I added drinking tea in my daily habit. No, not the usual tea that has caffeine in it like black tea or green tea. Caffeine is not good for people with GERD. I drink the "tea infusion" ones that do not have caffeine. Examples are infusion of flowers like chamomile and hibiscus, infusion of fruits such as raspberries and mangoes, and infusion of herbs such as cinnamon. I believe in this healthier choice.

I drink my tea infusions now while watching on Netflix. I sometimes couple it with small pastries such as tarts and pies. Just a teeny weeny bit of carbs. And no more napping or lying down after eating something! Definitely no lying down after eating a meal no matter how sleepy I get.

IMPORTANT NOTES / DISCLAIMER:

Consult your doctor or go to the ER immediately if you are not feeling well. My symptoms and experiences are mine alone. They are unique to me and my body. You should not take those to diagnose what you are feeling or experiencing. You should always consult your doctor.

Also, drinking tea is my preference. You should not take tea just because I am drinking it, or that because I believe in its health benefits. Research and ask experts.

Happy 73rd Birthday, Dad!

2021-09-05T19:00:00.004+08:00

When my siblings and I were growing up, our Dad wasn't physically present in our lives. He was in the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in the 70's and was deployed to different parts of the country. He was an Overseas Filipino Worker (OFW) in the 80's and 90's. He had jobs in Saudi Arabia and Singapore. So, you see there was very little time for bonding and quality time with our Dad. We do however, recognize that his sacrifices were for us, his family. That is why we never complained. We were just thankful that despite the hardships during those times, our family was intact and we were supported all throughout by our father. Now, he has turned 73 years old. He is getting old. Thankfully, with the Grace of God, he is still in the pink of health.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SARGE!

"Dade" is what we call him. The word just grew on us. His close friends however, call him Sarge. It's because he was a Master Sergeant.

Sarge in his heyday is a martial artist. He enjoys Karate and has taught the art to his fellow Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia. He is also a sharpshooter. Proof of this is his Silver Medal for a shooting competition in the PCG. Though I get to see the medal and the punching bags he used in practicing his Karate, I haven't had the chance to see him in action, i.e., in practice, demonstrations, or in mentoring. No not in combat, thank goodness.

Sarge likes to drink with his buddies. Sometimes too much. But he is getting around this now. He has grown "a bit" older and wiser, which means his drinking sessions are fewer and the alcohol intake lesser. The body tends to give in more easily to "undesirable habits" when one is older.

MY BIRTHDAY WISH.

My Dad and I have gotten close ironically when I moved out of the house. When I visit my parents on weekends, we have long talks over dinner. It actually amazes me that our family became much closer now that each one of us has our own family. I suppose that the reason for this closeness is having a better understanding of the sacrifices made by our parents in raising us.

So, my birthday wish for my Dad as it has always been for the past years is to LIVE A LONG, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND PROSPEROUS LIFE!

73 MORE BIRTHDAYS TO COME.

I am quite sure of this. My Dad's mom and dad, my grandparents, are like Sequoia trees. They could actually live hundreds of years, I believe. They were in their late 90's when they passed due to mishaps.

Anyway, I need 73 more years to show Dade my appreciation for everything he has done for our family. I wanted to take my parents to places they have never been before. With the help of my older sister, we were able to take them to a couple of nearby countries before the pandemic. We had plans of taking them to Thailand in 2020 but the pandemic broke out. I am still hopeful though that we would get to push forth with our plans next year or in 2023.

73 more years to show our gratitude actually is not enough. Did I mention that my Dad is a "great provider"? Not in the sense that you might think. We actually lived before a completely modest life. Just basic necessities. My father however, with the help of my mother (my Mom is great and she's the best in the entire universe!), my dear grandparents and close relatives, he was able to have all of his 7 children finish college. 1 English Major, 2 Computer Engineers, 1 Political Science Major, 1 Industrial Engineer, 1 Computer Science Major and 1 Fine Arts graduate. If that is not considered a "great provider", I don't know what is.

We love you, Dade! Mwah, mwah! Tsup, Tsup!

10th Year of the Blog: A New Leaf is Now Unfolding

2021-09-04T18:17:00.004+08:00

10 years. 1 decade. Can you believe it? This year, 2021, marks the blog's 10th anniversary. Congratulations self!

When I wrote the first blog entry on March of 2011, there wasn't any grand reason nor a significant goal for that matter. All I wanted was some sort of a journal that could inspire others in living their truths in the middle of the hurried and chaotic things happening around us. Heck, the first blog post wasn't even interesting.

Then just like any journal that you start when you make your new year's resolution, there is the Day 1 entry and nothing followed after that. I can't stop laughing when I checked the second blog post. It was on March of 2012. It is exactly a year later after the first blog post in March of 2011! Isn't that incredible?

HERE WE ARE NOW.

After ten years, here we are now. It is still a "small" blog. With only about 261K views of its 184 blog posts for over 10 years. The blog has not reached the audience and views I hoped for. I still believe though that the key is consistency which I obviously did not have for the past 10 years.

I promise to change and share with you my life on a daily basis. And I hope you would support me. If I did not have that grand reason or significant goal before, now it's different. I hope for the blog to become big, reach a much bigger audience, and be that source of real, lasting inspiration as this is a course on life. I know that together we can learn from each other.

Now, I should truly fulfil the blog's slogan. I would like to intimate for you to embody the essence of the blog. That is, to:

REFLECT ON YOUR LIFE THROUGH ANOTHER MAN'S EYES.

If you have something on your mind you wished to do but for some reason hasn't gone around to doing it... just do it! Don't mind your other self telling you that you can't do it or you don't have the resources to do it; or someone telling you it isn't just for you... the hell with it! Make your dreams come true.

YOU CAN MAKE THINGS HAPPEN.

And now I am going to do it. I am doing it. This is the start. Watch me!

Antique Philippine Paper Money

2021-09-03T17:17:00.001+08:00

Obverse View of the Philippine 5-Peso Note Issued in 1921

This paper money featured in a 2014 post of mine has turned 100 years old officially. Can you believe it? It's insane.

The 5-Peso note issued by the Philippine National Bank (PNB) in 1921 during the American occupation has survived 100 years which officially makes it an "antique". An object is considered antique if it was 100 years or older. I wonder how much this antique money is valued now? Do you know?

The obverse or front view of the money is still legible while the reverse or back view is almost wiped out. Oh, well! I still get to keep it.

Reverse View of the Philippine 5-Peso Note Issued in 1921

SB19 'MAPA' | OFFICIAL LYRIC VIDEO

2021-08-25T15:05:00.004+08:00

Who has not heard this song yet? Stop living under a rock, okay! MAPA by SB19 is the tribute song to our parents. "Ma" of MaPa stands for Mama; and "Pa" stands for Papa - our parents.

The word MAPA in english is "map" figuratively represented by our parents who stand as guides in our lives.

Thank you, SB19, for this wonderful song!

Rest If You Must, So Quit!

2021-03-06T23:17:00.027+08:00

It was odd. I was odd. While most people lost their job in this pandemic, I chose to quit my job.

Know your worth. With this, you will always make the right and best decision.

I was a consultant for a software development house and headed the entire technical department. I chose not to renew my contract that ended December 31, 2020. I paused my career because I decided to take care of my health.

Being the perfectionist that I am (probably bordering on obsessive compulsive) even though I was working from home, the pressure and time spent to getting things done are never less compared to when I was reporting to the office. Work is actually more daunting.

Even before the pandemic hit, I was suffering from a bit of a health condition that needed medical attention. Work was my excuse for not undergoing the procedure I needed. This excuse however, could no longer be used. It turned out as a catalyst in worsening my health condition. Unhelpful subordinates and difficult bosses didn't help. Quitting therefore, became a need rather than a choice. Thus, the decision was easy.

2 moths later, I find myself enjoying my time. Sure, I miss paydays! But I am more excited in the prospect of doing things I really like while biding my time before making another important life decision. I could go back to school, start my own business, travel the whole wide world, start my vlogging channel, or learn Qui Men Dun Jia. The possibilities are truly endless.

It was odd. I was odd. While others have been putting off deciding on something, I firmly made the decision of what could be considered as an outrageous absurdity given this COVID-19 times.

It was my decision. I made that decision. Have you made yours?

Break Free

2021-03-03T00:31:00.014+08:00

Sometimes it’s hard to admit that we are living a lie.

That we live in a world we created to shelter us from the harshness of reality.

I guess it’s time to break free,

Shed our skin and show our true self.

The world awaits for the real you!

Be brave little one! Walk on your path courageously. It does not matter if the road was rocky, surely the journey will all be worth it!
Love lots!

A Good Start

2021-02-24T23:40:00.001+08:00

I just would like to mark this day, 24 February 2021, Wednesday, as a special day. You know why?

I have been putting off buying a new iPad because I still have my iPad Mini. The iPad Mini is a really an old model. So, I finally decided to buy an iPad Air (4th Generation) Wi-Fi today. I shall be using this for writing my blog posts which is what I am doing right now. Also, I hope to maintain with this my on-line shops that I have recently put up in eBay and Carousell. I needed to be mobile and at the same time have all of the tools available to me like I was in front of my desktop computer. iPad Air truly fits the bill. I hope I can maximize the potential of this investment which has set me back for 35 thousand Pesos.

Above is the front cover of the box and the artwork is quite cool. Cheers to a great somewhat of a beginning! 👌🏼

Just so you know, I bought the iPad from PowerMac Center in SM Aura Premier Mall in Taguig City. What about you, have you been planning to buy a new one or upgrade your worn out gadget? What gadget would this be? And why have you been putting off in buying it? Let me know and put your comments down below. xoxo

SB19: The New Era

2021-02-23T16:20:00.002+08:00

IKALAWANG YUGTO.

It was a week ago when SB19 released a teaser in YouTube of what's to come on March 9, 2021 - their much anticipated comeback, or in Filipino, "ang pagbabalik". Dubbed as the New Era, "Ikalawang Yugto" or the second stage, watch the majestic scenes in their trailer above.

SB19 has released songs from 2018 up to 2020, performed concerts, held mention parties in several social media platforms, streamed live shows, and created on-line content that are all considered to be part of the GITZ (Get in the Zone) era. Their powerful ballads, catchy tunes, impeccable dance moves, out-of-this-world harmonies and amiable personalities have gained them a huge following collectively known as A'TIN.

In the next two weeks, we will be witnessing the rise of the phoenix so to speak. The new era will speak of their renewed strength and creativity as artists. I may be going out on a limb here in saying this but this PPOP (Pinoy Pop) band's talent and dedication to their craft will surely leave us all in awe on March 9.

I have no doubt that SB19 will deliver beyond our expectations. You can bet on that!

Season of Love

2021-02-23T03:30:00.018+08:00

GAMEBOYS, the BL Series. (CTTO. Poster was taken from Wikipedia.)

I have been binge watching BL Series in YouTube. Mostly on Filipino BL Series. "BL" for the uninitiated refers to Boys' Love, a sub-genre of the "romantic" kind whose stories are specific to boy-on-boy relationships. Apparently this started in Japan and became quite popular due to the "mass production" of such series in Thailand. Now, the Philippines has joined the bandwagon and has produced quite a lot in the past year. If there was anything considered good in this pandemic, it's the rise of good quality motion pictures on the Internet. Be it full features, shorts, documentaries, sitcoms, miniseries and series.

For the Filipino BL Series, I particularly love Gameboys, Gaya sa Pelikula and Hello Stranger. The stories are good. The actors are good. Even the production value is good. I might make a review of each BL Series. But for now, I am just happy being reminded by these series that one, love knows no gender; and two, we can choose to love and feel loved everyday.

I just feel like after completely watching a series, I just want to bury my head in the arms of my partner. There's contentment. There's comfort. There's happiness.

Despite the pandemic, thank goodness for Filipino BL Series in this Season of Love. No, not Valentine's. The real Season of Love starts on January 1 and ends on December 31. Just so you know. 😏💖

The Pinoy Shutterbug: Moon Edition 2

2020-05-01T07:25:00.001+08:00

Last April 8, 2020, Wednesday, a day before Holy Thursday, the moon is at a short distance from the Earth which would make its appearance bigger and brighter. This is known in astronomical terms as Supermoon. However, the time that this phenomenon happened is around 2 AM, early in the morning of April 8. By mistake, like me most people thought that we would be able to take a glimpse of this Supermoon evening of April 8. Well, what can I do? I shot anyway.

Thankfully, the moon did not disappoint. It may not be as bright or as big on the exact time it was near Earth but it was awesome nonetheless. It appeared pinkish. I thought of capturing this dramatic effect so to speak. And here is what I captured.

From the camera settings of the above picture, I reduced the aperture but increased the time for a longer amount of exposure. I thought that this would make a more focussed photo. True enough the dramatic pink tinge did not appear, and the black and white picture below is what I had.

I hope you liked my pics. xoxo

IKAKO (Ikaw at Ako) - A Message of Love from SB19

2020-04-12T22:44:00.000+08:00

"And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love." - 1 Corinthians 13:13.

"... na basta may pag-ibig sa puso nati'y magwawagi." (As long as we have love in our hearts, we shall be victorious.) -- Ikako by SB19 Sejun.

"The eternal optimism and indomitable spirit of the Filipino people are embodied in the narrative of Ikako." -- Emohr Oemlab, Lifestyle Check 101

In the middle of humanity's battle against the dreadful and deadly novel corona virus 2019 or better known as nCOV-19, comes a ray of sunshine from Sejun, the team leader of the PPOP boy band SB19. Premiered in SB19's official YouTube channel at 9 PM today, Easter Sunday, is the song Ikako (a contracted form of the Filipino words "ikaw at ako" which means you and I) with the music composed and lyrics written by Sejun.

The song tells us that we can surmount any obstacle as long as there is love in our hearts. All of us, you and I, will rise victorious in this world crisis. Our hope nor our resolve will wane. It is us... the whole world... the entire human race... you and I... ikaw at ako... "ikako" up to this battle's end.

I believe that this would make a fine anthem, a "boost-me-up" song of the Philippine Department of Health (DOH) or the Inter-agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) in leading the fight against this outbreak in our country. It is a great song that brings warmth and comfort to the listeners. It will surely uplift the spirits of our front liners as well as the patients! The eternal optimism and the indomitable spirit of the Filipino people are embodied in the narrative of Ikako. Indeed, a worthy anthem of the times.

The beautiful composition is Sejun's version (a demo of the song if you will), which means that there is a possibility of an SB19 studio version with harmonies and a rap verse (or two). It would for sure be worth the wait. Fingers crossed. xoxo

SB19 Breaking Barriers

2020-03-26T03:13:00.001+08:00

GET INTO THE ZONE! BREAK!

Sound Break 19 or SB19 has been breaking barriers, breaking grounds, breaking stereotypes, and breaking records!

True to their name, SB19 has broken into the music scene not only here in the Philippines but also around the world. Yesterday, the all-Filipino boy band trained by ShowBT entertainment company whose headquarters is in South Korea has broken into the Top 10 peaking at Number 7 in Billboard's Social 50 Chart and Number 35 in the Emerging Artists Chart. This is an amazing feat for a Filipino musician. It is safe to say that they are indeed a "buzz" in the global music scene introducing the world to P-POP!

Here is their video from their official YouTube channel, SB19 Official, thanking their fans dubbed as A'TINs for their new standing in the Billboard top charts:

There's nowhere else to go boys, but to GO UP! Congratulations, Sejun, Josh, Stell , Ken, and Justin! You make us all proud! xoxo

SB19 - The EPITOME of SUCCESS Through HARD WORK

2020-03-21T17:47:00.005+08:00

GET INTO THE ZONE!

For me the quintessential music would be the classical and theatre musicals. It may be an elitist view but spare me for a bit here because I grew up with a grandmother who was trained in classical music and an aunt who would not listen to any genre of music except for broadway tunes. The rebel in me would at times sound trip with my classmates in high school listening to cheesy music from the juke boxes aligned in street cafes near the school premises. I do have my prejudice favouring some types of music but overall I can say that I appreciate a wide range of music genres. Pop of course will always be there. I would from time to time obsess over certified hits.

If there was one pop boy band that really made a mark in my childhood days it would be MENUDO. For those of you who have not heard of Menudo, it's a band composed of 4 Puerto Rican good-looking boys. Or was there 5 members? Geez, I can no longer remember. Anyway, if you knew La Vida Loca Ricky Martin, then you should know that he was the youngest member of Menudo back then. Their looks totally took them to a whole new level of popularity. But there is no denying their talent and the amount of hard work they put in into their performances. You would not believe the kind of popularity they had. It would be along side One Direction and BTS. That's debatable of course because back then there is no Internet but they were able to conquer the global market. So, I suppose they should be considered one of the greats.

And now comes... (drum roll please) Sound Break 19 or popularly referred to as SB19.

I am a 48 year old snob mind you! But OMG!!! I was mesmerized and hooked by this Pinoy boy band. Saying that they are a breath of fresh air is an understatement. Would you like to know why I was so impressed with SB19? Well then, read on...

The boys of SB19 from left to right are Justin, Sejun, Ken, Stell, and Josh. I took the picture from their official YouTube channel SB19 Official. So, copyright credit to the owner (CCTO). I hope you don't mind me using your picture. Thanks!

I have high standards when it comes to anything really. I was raised to do well in everything I do. "Doing Well" means giving all that you have plus more. "More" would mean anything that you can do aside from the actual work you put in to performing a task such as arriving early for a meeting, preparing ahead of time, and delivering more than what was expected. So, naturally if I see someone who exhibits a certain level of excellence, I will be his or her forever fan and/or supporter!

You see, excellence can never be achieved by mere talent! Tons of people all around the world are gifted with extraordinary talent be it on singing, dancing, painting, writing, speaking, playing an instrument, sculpting, designing software, building iconic structures, inventing useful stuff, and many, many more. But what separate the GREATS from mere talented people is HARD WORK!

Never mind SB19's aesthetics influenced by KPOP. Sure they can dance, sing, rap, and write songs. But when you see them dance and hear them sing, you would know, for sure, that tons of hours have been put into every movement and every note. You would know it. It is that OBVIOUS!

This is why I like this group. They have a genuine and burning passion to achieve their goals and dreams. They have that fervent desire to succeed! That is why they are giving everything they have plus more. You know me, for me, that is EXCELLENCE!

So now, I am a new and forever fan, SB19! I guess I am one of the A'Tin fandom now?

My personal message to the group:

Great things will happen to you, SB19. Just keep on doing what you do. Know that every drop of sweat that falls becomes the building block of not only your success but also of your GREATNESS!

I agree. PRACTICE WILL NEVER BETRAY YOU! Also, keep your head up high in the clouds but please, do keep your feet planted on the ground... firmly. Conquer the world for us Filipinos. You have my 100% support. xoxo

I'M NOW IN THE ZONE!

Earth Finally Had a Break! How about Giving This FujiFilm Camera a Break?

2020-03-21T01:06:00.000+08:00

I don't know about you, but here in the Philippines it's already the dry season and strangely enough the air is cooler and much fresher at nights and actually even in the afternoon sun. I suppose Mother Earth has had a break from all the pollution that we humans have been causing her all throughout the ages. This COVID-19 pandemic is truly scary and potentially devastating to a lot of businesses and livelihood of so many. The flip side of it however, amidst the lockdown imposed by countries, our one and only Earth has been given a chance to breathe. To heal. To renew itself in ways we may not comprehend. But we feel it. I feel it!

Before this 2019-nCoV became an epidemic, I was excitedly waiting for the "summer season". I have had weekend escapades planned out, bought plane tickets and booked AirBnB accommodations. I wanted to visit this time some really beautiful places in the country that I have never been to. One of the things I have been preparing for is the underwater camera that I would be using to capture underwater sea footages. The Go Pro Hero 8 is already out. I am completely not sold with its tag price however. So, I kept on looking for an alternative that's mainly affordable but at least with useful features and perhaps some that would be similar to the Go Pro's. It does not have to be an action camera but something that's waterproof would be ideal.

And what do you know? I found the FujiFilm FinePix XP140. It is a compact point and shoot camera that's shockproof to a drop of 1.8 meters, waterproof up to about 25 meters, has bluetooth and WIFI, and surprisingly records videos with a 4K resolution. What's more is that its price is half of that of the Hero 8's. Amazing isn't it? Truly a great find! I know that I may not be able to use it any time soon, but I know for sure that this will be very useful to me. I will just have to patiently wait for this lockdown and pandemic to be over.

FOR NOW, PLEASE STAY AT HOME! KEEP SAFE, EVERYONE!

Oh, here's a VLOG that I recorded for the unboxing of the FujiFilm FinePix XP140. Please note that this is not a paid advertisement nor a sponsored VLOG episode. I hope you enjoy it. I threw it in the swimming pool. xoxo.