Product Of My Mind

Life As We Know It, Is Nothing but an Endless Extension

2023-04-23T14:01:00.004+08:00

This life we live, a never-ending stream of moments, memories, and endless dreams

A journey we embark on from our birth, a story of existence, our time on earth

We start off small, innocent and pure

Our world so new, our hearts so sure

Each step we take, a new discovery

A journey of learning, of growth, of mystery

As we grow older, we start to see the world around us, so vast and free

We try to make our mark, we leave our trace on this endless extension, this endless race

We laugh and love, we cry and grieve

We fall and fail, but still we believe

That life is worth it, the highs and lows

The endless extension, the ebb and flow

We search for meaning, for purpose and truth, for something that lasts beyond our youth

We seek to find our place in this world, to leave a legacy, a story to be told

And as the years go by, we start to realize, that life is not just about the highs

But also the lows, the struggles we face, the endless extension, the never-ending race

For in these moments, we learn to grow,

to find the strength to face the unknown

To embrace the journey, the twists and turns,

to live each day, to love and learn

And though this life may seem so long

It's but a moment, an ephemeral song

So let us make the most of every day

and cherish each step along the way

For in the end, it's not the length of life but how we lived, and loved, and thrived

Let us embrace each moment, every breath and make this life a beautiful, endless quest.

Is This How It Should Be?

2023-03-30T21:05:00.001+08:00

I lost myself in love,

surrendered every inch of me

to someone who never cared enough

to see the beauty I could be.

I thought I knew what love was

but it was only an illusion.

A fleeting feeling

an empty buzz that left me with confusion

I gave and gave and gave

but never received in kind

I thought I could be brave

and leave the past behind

But every time I tried to leave,

the pull of love was strong

And I was back again,

to the same place where I didn't belong

I lost my sense of self

in the pursuit of someone else's heart

I put my dreams on a shelf

and watched them slowly fall apart

I thought love was supposed to heal

but it only left me broken

And every time I tried to feel,

I found that love was just a token

A token of affection

that meant nothing in the end

A mere fleeting connection

that I couldn't even comprehend

So here I am, lost and alone

with nothing but memories to hold

I wish I could have known

that loving wasn't worth the toll

But still, I can't help but wonder,

if I'll ever find my way out

of the spell that I'm under

And step into the light of a brand new day.

Am I Worthy?

2023-03-17T07:15:00.005+08:00

Sometimes I feel so small and weak,

As if I'm not enough, not meant to speak.

My worth feels lost, like it's out of reach,

And my confidence wavers with every speech.

I compare myself to others, and I fall short,

My insecurities take hold and become a sort

Of heavy weight, dragging me down,

I wonder if my worth can ever be found.

The world seems to demand so much,

And I struggle to keep up, to keep in touch,

With who I am, with what I want,

As if I'm always playing a game that's taunt.

But I know that I'm not alone,

That others feel this way, in their own zone.

And though it's hard to see my own light,

I know it's there, shining bright.

So I'll take a deep breath, and let it out,

And remind myself what I'm all about.

I'll focus on my strengths, my unique flair,

And remind myself that I'm worthy, that I'm there.

BULONG NG ISIP (WHISPER IN MIND)

2023-02-27T01:49:00.005+08:00

Nagtatanong ba ang iyong isip habang ika’y nakatulala?

Kung ano ang sorpresa ng bawat umaga?

Nais mong sumaya ngayon sa kung anong meron ka?

Ngunit sagot ng isip ay karapat dapat ka ba?

Nadudurog ba ang iyong puso habang ika'y nakatulala?

sa kahapong pakiwari mo'y tuso’t mapanlamang

Isip mo'y ika'y nagkulang ngunit ang bawat araw ay sadyang magkakaiba lamang

At iyong napagtanto binigay mo’y sapat naman pala, padududa ay dapat walang puwang

Nararamdaman mo pa ba ang pagasa habang ika'y nakatulala?

Dahil dilat pa ang mga mata at papalapit na ang bukas

Sa bawat tunog ng pag ikot ng kamay ng orasan, dalangin moy tumigil muna ang oras

Nang sa gayon makapaghanda ng wagas at may magagamit na lakas

Paano ang bukas, ang tanong ng isip sa isat isa

Maari bang balikan ang kahapon

at nang maitama ang mga maling lumipas na

o sadya bang nakatakda ang bawat panahon

Nakatanaw sa malayo ngunit walang nakikita

Tila bang bulag na dapat mangapa ngapa

Walang maisip kundi maging tulala

Nararapat kayang mamahinga muna?

ENTABLADO

2023-02-13T05:41:00.000+08:00

ENTABLADO

Sumapaw sa gabi ang malungkot na imahe
Lugar na makasalanan dyan sa may tabi-tabi
Napukaw ang paningin, sa may sulok di mapakali
Nakita kong hindi makalipad ang isang kalapati

Isang musikang mapanglaw ang kanilang isinalang
Lahat ay tumahimik at pawang nag-aabang
Sa isang maliit na entablado lahat ay nagtinginan
At isang wasak na bulaklak ang kanilang pinagpyestahan

Natapos ang isa, sumunod ang pangalawa
Sa anino pa lamang niya, natuwa na ang madla
Mapapansin mo agad ang kasuotan ng dalaga
Isang sapatos, yun lang at wala nang iba.

Kapit sa patalim kung kanila itong tawagin,
Sa ayaw at gusto nila katawan nila ang gagamitin
Kung hindi nila kayanin ay ibabaling ang tingin
Kaysa naman sa isang araw ay wala silang makain.

Natapos ang gabi, mag-isa lang syang umuwi
Sa kanyang mga mata, kalungkutan di mapapawi
At patuloy inaalis sa isipan ang mga nangyari
Isang gabi ng pagsisisi ang hindi na naman niya mababawi.

I Want To Breathe

2023-02-06T03:49:00.000+08:00

Royalty? Princes? Lady?

What I am?

I tried to fit in, I was trained to fit in

But it is never ending amount of criticism, I no longer know what to believe in

Discipline? Manner? Class?

What must I do?

I changed almost everything, even the way I talk

But it’s either less or too much and I can’t even get in between as you’re blind.

Silence? Mute? Shut up?

What else do you want?

I just breathe in and breathe out

But even this has meaning, you can even hear from the distance you think it’s a clout.

Explained? Speak? Burst out?

Which one is true?

I want to do what suits you

But though I think this way, you still view me as the fragile woman anyway.

Don’t you even get tired?

Do you even ask yourself how I feel through this plight

Do you even sleep at night with your misoginistic mind?

Do you even wake up with a smile?

Enough, enough already, enough!

I don’t need titles, castles, wealth, I just want peace.

I need my life back and let me get back on my feet.

Give me time to breath

LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL

2023-01-20T09:42:00.004+08:00

Here is my attempt in writing an acrostic poetry.

Live today as if it’s your last, for tomorrow is unpredictable.

Inspire others in your own little way, for the world is full of despaid,

you could be a light to anyone.

Feel every emotion, may it be sadness or happiness, for it is a gift,

but never exaggerate as it will lose its fit.

Empathize as much as you can, for each road is different, you may have walked with the light,

them with the dark.

Illuminate your day with a smile, for it could be reciprocated by those who need it,

and, it makes you feel younger.

Safeguard your secrets, for not all have good intentions, but never be too suspicious, some can be trusted.

Believe in yourself, for everyone is given the chance to become better, never lose hope as long as you live.

Entertain others opinion, for they can help shape your principle, remember, each is a gift.

Accept your mistakes, for only then you can change, we are not born perfect,

but we can strive for excellence.

Understand differences, for it makes life more challenging, it could be a reason to keep going.

Treat yourself from time to time, for our body is like a machine, we do better when we are energized.

Influence the young with positive thoughts, but teach them the beauty of the opposite,

for life needs balance.

Fill your heart and mind with respect, for it is a foundation of a relationship,

without it, the world is in chaos, and you’ll be driving a sinking ship.

Uncover your true potential, for no one will and no one can, it is you who will grow through

what you go through then.

Leave your past after learning from it, for life is a journey, you need to travel light with self-honesty.

A Challenging 2019

2019-12-31T09:14:00.003+08:00

When there's darkness, there's light

Every year brings a lot of surprises may it be a sudden trip somewhere, a long lost friend who emerges on messenger or an extremely unexpected responsibility at work.

As human as I am, I have been through a lot of "sudden" this year which I say have tested my patience and my perseverance to an exponential level. However, these challenges make me thankful in the long run due to the fact that it will definitely be useful, it may not be in all aspects but most aspects of my life.

Don't Trust Anyone But Don't Distrust Everyone

This has been ingrained in me for more than a decade of handling people virtually. However, this year, it was put to the test how well-versed I am in this. I used to shed tears whenever I am disappointed on how people perform at work because I put my full trust in them. This year however, made me care less on whatever they feel but cared more on how they perform. You sign up for the job, better do it the best you can, or you hear from me, friends or not. Learning to read people made me become more efficient on what I do. On the contrary, I also make sure that I don't generalize people as I am aware everyone didn't come from the same mother.

Guard Your Secrets

Social media nowadays is becoming more of a place to gossip instead of becoming a place to inform, learn or educate. There are things that need to stay private for there are people who are just waiting to make stories about you. This also applies to a workplace; it is fine to be friends with your co-workers but learn to isolate personal relationship from that of work. There are those people who lose respect because they think you are friends.

Be Firm When You Say "NO"

We are in a society where we lean from each other, friends, family, or colleagues. I really had difficulty saying no to a request especially if they are close to me. My attitude of being generous had taken a toll on me a long time ago however, this year, I have said "NO" to a lot of requests. There is a big difference between asking for a help and taking advantage thus saying no to someone who is already taking advantage of you doesn't mean you are being selfish.

Just Do It!

Many of us get scared to do what they are passionate about maybe because of having no resources or just simply because it will mean getting out of their comfort zone. I, too, have been scared of starting new things in my life. I was scared to take other responsibilities at work because I was scared to fail. However, I realized, I will never know if I won't try. As they say, trying and failing is better than never trying. If you plan to do something new, it is fine to be doubtful but don't be scared to try. Often times, we are afraid of the unknown.

The year 2020 is almost beginning and may these lessons remain executed to become better. No matter what happened in 2019, good or bad, those are already part of life. Learn to never regret anything you have done and only then you know how to think before you do.

South Korea: It Has To End To Begin

2019-12-20T08:59:00.002+08:00

My battle for finding time to write is endless. I know it just boils down to having time management but it's just difficult when there's really no time to manage. LOL! And, again, it's long overdue!

To continue from where I left of, some of my days in South Korea were idle. It's because I still needed to work. Working in a totally opposite timezone make me feel exhausted when traveling. My body reacted badly to the point where I felt sick I just needed to sleep to regain my strength. I was lucky enough that my colleagues covered for me. One thing that's really annoying was when my laptop refused to turn on! I bet is was also reacting to the different weather!

Anyhow, may last few days went well even with all the blisters I have on my feet due to long distance walking. This is what I get when I have a hermit life!

As scheduled, my sister and I met up with my former boss and his family. We visited The National Museum of Korea which educated me more of their history.

What fascinated me more is that, they discuss the things they see inside the museum to each other which is enriching their knowledge more.

This is the Gyeongcheonsa Pagoda which is on the first floor of the building. It has a very rich history which was discussed to me by my former boss during our tour but I won't discuss that here. LOL

The museum houses prehistory and ancient history of Korea which includes evidences of Korean culture and civilization, the medieval and early modern history which include Goryeo Dynasty, Joseon Dynasty and Korean empire. These are the three important period in Korean history and here you can trace the happenings during those times.

What's really interesting to me is how the Hangul was developed. Well, the story was known to me a long time ago when I first became interested in Korean culture which was way back 2002. However, seeing those artifacts just gave a different feel and fascination. This gave me the interest in visiting more of our country's museums.

Again, I don't have my tripod with me thus the photo I want to capture was never achieved! LOL

Moving on, we decided to go to Dongdaemun then to Myeongdong but since he isn't used to going around, he was lost when we were on our way to Myeongdong. I'm not into shopping, well, I would say, this is one thing I really hate to do, so just passing through Dongdaemun made me tired.

Doing street photography while finding our way to where we want to be is absolutely fun! It actually occurred to me to just sit there, take photos and watch anything until it gets dark.

The next days were spent going around nearby places. My sister told me to visit a park near her apartment, the Nakseongdae Park, when she is in SNU however, the cool weather made me stay in bed instead. So, we decided to visit together. It such a very good place to run!

At night, we went to watch the Moonlight Rainbow Show at the Banpo Bridge where the famous Han River is.

It was a cold, windy night which makes it a lot better to watch due to the cold wind touching your face. I love that feeling! I maybe the person who likes taking photos but for events like this which I know it will take a long time to convince myself to visit again, I take a moment and pause and just immerse myself in it. The show was almost over here, it's just taken with my iPhone. Not a good photo but it will do.

I wonder how much energy is used with those lights! Photos can't really show how awesome it is in there! The sound of the waves of the river, the cold wind together with the glistening lights is spectacular to make your mind run free.

The next day, my sister told me we are going somewhere and I have no idea where it is. We got on the train, I saw the train to Busan, of course without the zombies, rode the bus and finally we where there! It's Kyung Hee university! It's considered one of the best universities in South Korea and a European inspired one just by looking at the buildings.

I wondered how much to they pay for tuition fees. This must be for the elite students, just seeing the outside like this means only one thing, the facilities must be excellent! I can't avoid to imagine studying there without having any financial worries. Oh well, not bad to imagine.

Having a society like South Korea which puts pressure on everything, this kind of environment, having trees all over, could help combat depression, that is, if majority knows how to be thankful of the little things. Sadly, this only applies to the selected few.

The last place we went to was at the Gwanghwamun Square, where the statue of King Sejong The Great is and the Gyeongbokgung Palace. It was difficult for us to find the statue although it was towering to a height of more than 6 meters. It's probably because we were already tired from walking.

The palace gate was swarming with so many tourists hence the difficulty in taking a photo of the entire gate. A clean shot is zooming in some parts of it.

Overall, although I never expected my visa to be approved but it did, I had fun experiencing what Seoul could offer. From the cleanliness, well-developed transportation system in which a good chance to experience no traffic to the silence of the environment.

Though it seems an almost perfect place to live, I, being a very observant tourist came to love my country and my culture even more. I cannot imagine Filipinos being detached to everyone else, losing the characteristic of always ready to lend a helping hand, may it be on the bus, climbing the stairs or even just crossing the street and to lose the ability of choosing to smile in the middle of a natural disaster.

However, it is the honesty and the discipline of South Koreans that will always captivate me to visit again!

South Korea: Day 2 and Day 3

2019-10-14T11:47:00.001+08:00

It's been a long time since and this time I am going to try to walk down memory lane. My second day in Korea was a bit gloomy as the weather was not really that good. We didn't want to go out in a rainy weather so I stayed indoors while my sister did her school activities at Seoul National University. I wanted to go with her but I didn't have enough sleep yet due to work schedule. Talk about going on a trip and bringing along work with you! That's just me!

While at home, my former boss called me for a possible meet up. He also didn't like to go out in a gloomy weather so we scheduled some other days.

My third day came and fortunately, the weather was really nice! My sister decided to show me COEX Mall's Starfield Library in Gangnam, Seoul. After getting off the train, she mentioned that this place is where most KPOP fans gather to have a glimpse of their favorite KPOP stars. Well, the walls are filled with TV Screens with Korean famous actors' faces on them.

The structure of these buildings are so fascinating it seems your photo is not enough to tell how good it is! Well, it will never be enough though!

Since the sun was too hot, we were too in hurry to go inside the mall. My sister is scared of the sun. hahaha! She's lived in Korea for so long she already adapted the Korean culture. As for me, I love the sun due to the fact that I rarely go out and enjoy it. I am living a hermit life which makes me stuck in my home office with my eyes glued on the computer screen. There are time I am being reminded to take my morning coffee outside the house just to catch the first rays of the sun. LOL!

Upon entering the COEX mall, I was stunned by this ginormous library! I was told it's 13-meter tall with more than 50,000 books in them! I was in owe!

Starfield Library is really fascinating my mind goes into thinking, "this must be a good place to work."

Time is running so fast in South Korea for me so we moved on and went to Seoul Forest. Can you imagine there is a forest in the middle of big city? Yes, there is, in Seoul, South Korea!

Even the locals are enjoying the nice weather, there are so many of them when we went there.

This flower stood out from the rest. It's just so beautiful and so big plus my favorite color I wanted to pick one and bring it home. Haha! But of course, I'm a very good tourist so I just took a lot of photos of it in different angles!

I was trying to capture the bee but then again, I kept cursing myself for not bringing my tripod, again!

When two photographers go together, expect for stolen shots since both are busy taking photos! haha!

So we ended up having selfies together.

This grass as I call it, is just so picture perfect but difficult to get a good one since it's just grass! LOL! But you gotta try no matter!

This one is famous for reflection photography but then again, I didn't bring my tripod I can't hold my breath for that long to get a clear photo so this is the best I can get.

There are many couple who were doing prenup photo shoots here so I had to be fast in taking photos. I would like to take a stolen shot of those couples but I might be sued if it got posted!

My second attempt in getting a reflection photo but still not successful! No tripod! At this point, I gave up!

I'm not photogenic so let's play hide and seek, well, unless you are a very good photographer.

These are just some of the things I saw in Seoul Forest that fascinated me.

After we got tired of going around here, we went to Understand Avenue. It is a shipping container store which brings support to teenagers, artists and local vendors. It consists of 115 shipping containers and of which offers various things from foods to coffee shops and arts.

I think it's an awesome concept for aspiring entrepreneurs. We could have gone around more but the heat of the sun is already unbearable for both of us at this time.

After a long, tiring yet fulfilling day, we decided to take a rest and enjoy a cup of coffee near my sister's place at BEOLS Floral Factory and Cafe.

Nothing is more relaxing than the combination of the coffee aroma and the flowers. Imagine drinking a cup of coffee while you are smelling those flowers on top of your coffee cup!

If you just want to relax and forget how your day went, I highly recommend this place in Seoul!

South Korea: Day 1

2019-07-09T10:48:00.001+08:00

Incheon International Airport to Nakseongdae where my sister lives is 58 minutes away by subway. I repeat, I am tired due to lack of sleep but of course, my feet still kept going. I have trouble with train cards all the time and I told my sister about that. She assured me I only needed to swipe! haha! I was relieved. I really don't know but when I went to Taiwan and Hong Kong, I always have may train cards eaten! I feel like I am cursed when it comes to trains! haha!

Finally, after almost falling asleep on the train, we have reached our destination. I was praying the station is near my sister's apartment because I really wanted to rest my feet. Yeah, it is near but the slopes was killing me!

Alley to my sister's apartment

We rested for about an hour as my sister was also tired. We have decided to go out and go some places nearby so we can go home right away when we feel tired. But before that, I ate another kind of ramyeon with bok choy! I so miss this vegetable! 😭

We decided to see Lotte Tower and then go to Olympic park and watch the sunset. Well, the sun goes down at around 7 pm! I was totally lost in time!

Lotte Tower. Photo Taken across the street

It seems near since the subway is fast enough. However, it took us 11 stations with 1 transfer before we reached Lotte Tower.

My sister loves taking photos as well as pausing for photos but I only love taking photos. LOL! She would always ask me to pause for a photo. Unfortunately, I am so bad at it. 😔

Closer Shot

After feeding my eyes with tall buildings, we decided to go to Olympic park which is another train ride. I was already loving the train at this point. haha!

A lot of people seemed to be going here to unwind as well since it was weekend. A city with lots of trees! It's like a combination of the city and the countryside. It's just a wonderful place to take a walk, play with your kids, ride a bike or just simply forget about your worries.

The view was just so amazing I took not just one photo but three! Black pink was scheduled to have a concert on that day. My in laws who are into KPOP would have loved it!

The park has so many statues everywhere. They are just so nice to see especially most of them are under those so green trees! I wonder how they look like during the winter season. hahaha!

We were sitting on a bench with this view during this time. Watching the sky go dark and eventually the lights from the Olympic Stadium started to illuminate.

It was a very tiring day however, the scenery is just so spectacular I don't want to go home yet. But we still have a long day tomorrow so we decided to head home, of course, by the subway!

South Korea: A Sprint To The Plane!

2019-07-03T10:03:00.001+08:00

It's been a long time since my desire to visit Seoul until it finally came. Although I didn't expect my visa to be approved, I found myself sprinting to the boarding gate as the plane is almost departing.

Sprinting? Why? I cannot write all the details as to why I needed to run as fast as I could to the boarding gate while carrying an almost 7 kilogram backpack. Simple answer: I live and I flew from a third world country where life is so slow even the immigration officer seems to be still sleepy and just don't care even if the people waiting in line are almost in tears afraid of missing their flight.

Who wouldn't sprint to catch the flight if you are going to land at the second best airport in the world? Incheon International Airport!

I was dead tired due to lack of sleep as I still needed to work the night before my flight. I was asleep the whole flight except when I had to wake up to eat my in-flight meal. When I reached Incheon, taking photos was completely forgotten; good thing I was able to get these.

Incheon International Airport: On the way to immigration counter

Arrival: While waiting for my sis to pick me up

Those flowers could have been the spirit of spring despite the fact that I already anticipated cherry blossoms is over. Anyhow, I have expected to enjoy the cool weather of spring!

The long wait which I categorize as chaos back in Ninoy Aquino International Airport almost made me give up. My mind was already thinking of re-booking for the next flight but still I made it! I was beyond happy when I get to have my passport stamped with a visa to an OECD country!

I cannot write everything in one go, no matter how I customize it, thus the next about the whole trip will be up soon!

Little Things

2018-11-19T07:38:00.001+08:00

They say little things are always taken for granted in which I believe is true. I have been watching a lot of documentaries lately from murder to extreme poverty to religion etc. and with this I came to love and appreciate more of what I have.

In the Philippines where I live, it seems so difficult for the majority to understand and use freedom in a good way. Taking for example the discipline of not littering, we can see them everywhere even if trash bins are present. I had and still have the chance to travel my country and it is saddening to witness people throwing their trash anywhere. I cannot forget the time when I was traveling by sea on a ferry and a group of family were eating peanuts and the trash was thrown directly to the sea. I called their attention and all I got was a stare and smirk. Is it a crime to show care for the environment? Was I like an alien from another planet for calling their attention? We consider this freedom yet in other countries they are not given the chance to go outside and enjoy the beauty of their country because their tradition forbids them.

There are so many children who are exploited; it is because they choose to go down that path. I admit not many have the privilege to go to school but believe me, if you want to change your life, you can as long as you are willing to do it. Some have their parents abroad yet they are burning their parents' money with drugs, alcohol and others yet there are so many people here and abroad who dream to have a school built in their community. It breaks my heart to hear a story about those people who are forced to work overseas even though they cannot understand what is in their contract because they cannot read nor write. They only sign their contracts through a thumb mark. Yet many have the chance to tell their parents they don't like to go to school.

We have the freedom to listen to music and we do it so loud not thinking if we are already bothering our neighbors. In other countries, they are forbidden to even listen to music in public. We have the chance to mingle with other people, attend parties and other group meetings yet many seem to enjoy gossiping about others but there are many cultures not allowing their women to step outside their homes.

We have the chance to have a house to live in but we choose to stay outside until late at night spending time with our so called friends yet many don't have a roof on their heads to go home to or worse they have no family at all because they are unfortunate for being abandoned. Our society is slowly loosing its decency even if we deny it. Women are allowed to use whatever they wish to wear even if it means putting them in danger. Teens go on a date without telling their parents the truth and doing nasty things in public and eventually going home pregnant. This is part of our freedom to choose what we want to do yet there are many who don't have the freedom to go out their homes. Many don't have the freedom to dress up showing their skin when in public and many don't have the freedom to choose or even see the person they will be married to.

We have so many things in life in which others only dream to have yet we don't use them in a right way. Sometimes we MUST pause for a moment and think of the things we are already taking for granted because one day it may be taken away from us and only then we realize the value of those little things are.

Poem: About Deception

2018-06-04T08:25:00.001+08:00

Once

compose on May 10 at 6:53 pm

You were my hope once

Until you took it back

Turned into emptiness

Like a void in the darkness

You were my smile once

Until you took it back

Turned into a frown

Like it brings me down

You were my reason to live once

Until you took it back

Turned into loneliness

Like the storm in the wilderness

How can I forgive?

If your lies is endless?

How can I trust?

If you are the reason to doubt?

Why is always the question

Sorry is your only answer

How have you done it?

"You're crazy" is what you say

Revenge I seek

Yet I can't move my feet

Death perhaps is my hope

To rest from your deceit

Macau-Hong Kong Trip: Somewhat Unplanned Part II

2018-04-15T10:17:00.002+08:00

So we traveled to Hong Kong by ferry. On our way to the ferry terminal we met a fellow Filipino and she guided us until we reached Hong Kong. We were thankful although I already know we have ridden the wrong ferry. We should have stopped at the terminal which is walking distance to our hotel. It was fine as I experienced being refused to get out of the train station because my metro card malfunctioned again. I really don't know but trains don't like me so much. It happened in Taiwan and it happened many times in Hong Kong. It's much luck I guess! hahaha!

Since the weather is very cold for us, it was a little difficult to go out without using layers and layers of clothing, but still we tried our best to explore the place. Taking photos was extremely difficult but I did my best to do so.

It's already night time but it seems like people are not sleeping. The streets of Hong Kong is too bright for those who are not used to it.

We are about to catch the Symphony of Lights but we can already see it had started. Just because we used most of our time in queue for a waffle, we missed it. LOL!

The famous waffle store in Tsim Tsa Tsui. The serving is huge and for small eaters like me and Gael, one order is enough but of course, we always forget to buy just one.

Building, tall, small, colorful buildings everywhere. If you love nature, then this place is not for you.

Would I forget taking photos of them? Of course not, no matter how cold it was!

It's his first international trip, although a short one, he enjoyed.

We like taking a walk so we usually GPS a place where we can go to on foot. And here we are at Hong Kong Park.

Who would have thought, I still can long exposure shots without my tripod. I master holding my breath for few seconds now. hahaha! Next tine, I will go for a minute!

Buses are everywhere, and double-decker ones. I wish this was not abolished in the Philippines, it might be of good help to fight the horrible traffic situation. But I am wondering, the reckless drivers might turn EDSA into a movie-like car race scene! haha!

Hong Kong might not be a place for nature-loving people but for those who love architecture, this place could be the starting point.

I never got tired of taking photos of the streets of Hong Kong. It's just so Instagram perfect especially if you adore night photography.

After two attempts to witness the Symphony of Lights, we finally made it.

Staying in Hong Kong for awhile made us more beautiful. Haha! Unfortunately, dad has his own world and always on the look-out of free WiFi so he doesn't have a lot of photos. hahaha!

We plan to go back there to hunt for cheap products. LOL! But it's not practical, it's better to go to another country for another experience but if my fingers go crazy enough to suddenly book for a flight to Macau or Hong Kong again, we'll just have to pack our bags.

We might have had some hiccups while planning this trip but still we had fun and they are the best travel buddies I had so far. Let's go exploring again! Be ready, I am in the mood to book a flight. LOL!

Macau-Hong Kong Trip: Somewhat Unplanned Part I

2018-03-27T09:35:00.001+08:00

Booking a flight somewhere without even researching about it is somewhat crazy I know but I did anyway! Gael suggested we go hiking on her birthday but for me it seems like not a good idea. I suggested we travel somewhere in the Philippines until she suggested Macau. My fingers are so fast in typing and clicking airline sites and so after comparing prices, I booked right away. hahaha! It was a reasonable price so that's fine.

Thanks to Jel for her suggestion of not underestimating the winter season in both countries. We went shopping for winter clothes as we don't want to freeze. Shopping alone is tiring because I hate doing this but if I don't, I'll be stuck inside the hotel!

Practicing while waiting for Gael

Our flight wasn't delayed but of course, Gael is always beating the clock whenever we fly somewhere. Peace! haha! Since I came from an 8 hour shift before the flight, I was already too sleepy while waiting for departure. Upon arriving at Macau International Airport, I was anxious to feel the cold outside! And yes it was too damn cold!

It was difficult to find our hotel from the bus station. We had to go around same places many times until we decided to ask. Our GPS wasn't helping at all! We were so tired but we still managed to brave the cold to go out and try the local foods. Who doesn't want to eat hot and spicy noodles in the middle of an 8 degree Celsius? LOL!

We had to go back at the hotel right away so we can sleep and wake up early the next day as we had to travel to Hong Kong. We needed to check out at 12 noon, but we planned to go around nearby places before we move to another country. Taking photos in a cold weather was really challenging! I tried hard to have my hands exposed in the cold in longer time!

The streets of Macau is really picture perfect! Anywhere you turn, there are angles that you can see that's worth taking a shot.

These photos were taken while we are on our way to the Ruin's of St Paul's. It's nearest tourist spot from our hotel and where we can find a coffee shop so we decided to go there.

It was really a good place to go only if you are up to a long walk. It's a perfect place to feel the cold. hahaha!

I was trying to get an angle with fewer people but it was difficult unless I use long exposure but unfortunately, I didn't carry my tripod with me.

I was hoping he was already out of the frame before I press the shutter but he was still there. Haha! Therefore, I had to take another shot again.

We went up here for a coffee and we were hoping it's a local coffee shop but it wasn't. We had no choice but to take it because we were already starving.

And they are both into it. LOL

But of course, my photos are blurry. hahaha! And that's totally acceptable.

We still wanted to go around but it seems like time was running so fast we go to back to the hotel to pack our bags.

Street sign

Our stay in Macau was not long enough so we will definitely go back there!

Hotel Review: San Tung Fong Commercial Inn, Macau

2018-03-05T09:26:00.001+08:00

Finding a "cheap" accommodation in Macau was the most difficult job I had done so far. It's a casino place so what do I expect. We were hoping that Airbnb could help us but most of the cheap ones are already outside Macau. It wasn't an option due to the fact that we need visa for us to stay in mainland China.

With so many comparisons done, we settled to stay at San Tung Fong Commercial Inn. I've booked it through booking.com which was very easy and it offered a pay at the property option. I preferred this since it's international and international or conversion charges to my credit card will cost a lot.

It was difficult for us to find the place but after going around for several times, we were able to find it. Thanks to those people who tried to help us give the direction.

Upon entering the hotel, all our tiredness were gone. LOL! Unfortunately, the receptionist who tried to assist us couldn't speak English so we had to wait for someone who can. You have to have a very good ear in listening to their way of speaking English. If not, it will take a long time for both of you to understand each other. My experience with zero English students finally paid off! hahaha!

The hotel required a MOP100 deposit which was understandable considering the room almost has all the things you need. We booked a deluxe family room which cost us HK$900. It's expensive but it was worth the money. The room was spacious for 3 people, the beds were really comfortable you don't want to get up. The room includes a flat screen TV, a percolator (preferable for coffee addicts like us), drinking glasses and a hair dryer! This is necessary during the winter season!

The bathroom was really spacious I can even do my workout there. LOL! What's interesting was that everything you need when you take a shower is already provided. I so loved their shower gel! It felt so good on the skin. I just forgot to take a photo of it I might find it here. I really enjoyed taking a long shower.

What I have noticed though is that there was no one to assist us with our luggage. Perhaps it isn't common overseas as it was the same when we traveled to Taiwan. Perhaps I will just enjoy having those in my country. LOL!

Overall, staying at San Tong Fung Commercial Inn was one of my wonderful experience! Will I stay there again should I visit Macau the second time? If I have a budget for such price, I would definitely do!

Being A The Kapihan Ambassadress

2018-02-16T06:03:00.001+08:00

You open your Facebook messenger and you got the message that you are chosen to be an ambassadress of a coffee shop you love to go to. What a surprise!

Being one was a privilege. I was not only given discounts on all the food and drinks I ordered but I was able to share the discounts to my friends and family members. I tried my best to taste all of the menus but due to restrictions I wasn't able to. I have a very sensitive throat so I always refrain from cold drinks hence I always order hot drinks. Therefore, my in-laws were the ones who enjoyed the cold drinks. I was also in the process of staying away from any foods containing pork so I was not able to taste some of their delicious-looking snacks. I just relied on my companion's taste buds. LOL!

As the Kapihan was improving, their menus has improved a lot too. They have added other varieties of drinks and snacks. I always order either the single pour over or the french press but then they have added italian roast which was a lot stronger than the two. Does it suits my coffee taste buds? Definitely! Although it is far from the taste of my ultimate favorite coffee, I still can live with it.

Being an ambassadress of the Kapihan had taught me a lot. One is to not overuse the privilege given to me, I hope I didn't. LOL! And the second one, I learned to love local coffee shops. This experience was broaden when Gael and I visited Taiwan. Local coffee shops are everywhere in Taiwan which made both of us fall in love with the place. We are really hoping to go back and stay longer there, and drink so much coffee! hahaha!

One thing I wish the Kapihan should implement is the clean as you go. We Filipinos are accustomed to having our trash being cleaned by others and perhaps that's one of the reason why we tend to scatter our trash anyway. In addition, I do hope as the Kapihan grows, they will have the suspended coffee program or the pay it forward coffee. I'd be willing to share what I can. Just my two cents though.

My sincerest thanks to all the staffs of the Kapihan for giving me such a privilege. My apologies for not visiting in a long time as my work schedule became a restriction. If you happen to open 24 hours, I'll be your company everyday. hahaha!

Hotel Review: Adriatico Arms Hotel

2018-01-15T08:11:00.001+08:00

I was a little skeptic to go to the city on holidays because I am aware there are so many people especially foreign tourists who might be checking in hotels during those times. But since I am having a lot of issues with my internet connection and at the same time I wanted to spend a quiet Christmas, I then risked to book a hotel. It is more difficult when you are looking for an accommodation for 3 people.

I searched from all the possible booking sites to get a good deal. My favorite booking site didn't offer a wide range of choices hence I had to use other sites I know. I wanted to stay in just one hotel until my companions arrived but it doesn't seem to be practical since it is more expensive. I then looked for another hotel nearby where I stayed alone and luckily I found one with acceptable reviews. Although I was doubtful considering some of the bad reviews I have read about it, I told myself, there's no harm in trying. Besides, we will just be staying for 2 nights. I got a good deal from agoda for $4,089.96 for 2 nights for 3 people; it's their deluxe room.

Since I was already nearby, I checked out earlier from Leez Inn right after my work shift to check-in earlier at Adriatico Arms Hotel as I was already feeling sleepy. Just by looking at the map, it's 13 minutes away on foot but I was wondering if I could make it because I was carrying a 3 liter water bottle, my camera bag with my laptop in it and all the lenses and accessories plus my bag of clothes. Upon checking out I know the staffs of Leez Inn were just staring at me perhaps wondering why I had to bring that water bottle. LOL!

I tried to take a walk however my sleepiness is telling me to take a ride. I hailed for a tricycle but my brain was totally in shock when the driver overpriced me. I am not tight-fisted but then it was too much. Luckily, a pedicab driver saw me and gave me half the fare the tricycle driver asked. I then gave the pedicab driver more than he asked thanking him for not overpricing me.

I was 3 hours early for check-in but the receptionist just let me check-in for 1 hour early check in fee for 150 php. Outside, the hotel seems to be uninteresting but inside, I was in awe! The guard on duty was all smiles, the receptionist was very welcoming and the ambiance just wants to make me stay longer.

The room is really spacious. I chose 1 single bed and 1 double bed. It is equipped with a closet with hangers in it.

A flat screen TV, a refrigerator and a safety box. It has two sofa chairs, 2 bedside tables and a working desk. It was absolutely perfect for my preference.

The bathroom is also spacious with a big lavatory top where you can put all your toiletries in case you brought your own. It has also two toilet bowls, one is for male and 1 for female. Cool ey?!

What I love so much about this hotel is their WiFi connection. It was fast enough for all the online work I had to do.

The restaurant downstairs is wide enough to accommodate a lot of guest. We had our lunch there, it was a bit pricey but the serving size is worth the price. I prefer hotels with restaurants so I don't have to go out and find a place to eat unless I have a lot of time to spend looking around.

Overall, our stay was amazing! I think my sister in-law enjoyed her birthday stay-cation! Would I go back there? I will definitely stay there again, perhaps longer if given the chance!

Taiwan: First Is Always The Best Part II

2017-11-09T16:28:00.002+08:00

After trying to finish our food at Modern Toilet, we decided to go back to out hotel to take a rest to have an energy for our night market tour.

There's a night market near our hotel, accessible on foot which is the Ximending Night Market.There were a lot of foods to choose from but since we can't understand what's written on their food stall, it's just so difficult to buy. Gael and I both don't eat pork so it was more difficult to try without knowing what are the ingredients. But we still tried some.

onion pie

I don't know what's it called :D

It was fun chasing the man above because he and the other stall owners were running away from the cops and we just kept chasing him.

squid

Highly addictive popcorn chicken

We were so full we couldn't finish everything. The serving sizes were big enough for us to finish everything. Time to rest for the next day's adventure.

First stop for the day was Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hall. It is in Xinyi District. We took the train going there which was very convenient and this time we didn't get lost. hahaha! It pays to look at the map on the station!

It is not as big as the Chiang Kai Shek but the outside view is awe-inspiring! Of course we didn't just stay outside, we tried to get in and we were lucky enough to witness the changing of the guards. Also, if you appreciate art, the objects inside the hall will make your heart jump for joy.

Even the lighting fascinated me! Who would forget to take their pictures in this amazing environment?

When you are beating the timer of your camera to be included in the frame, this is the result. hahaha! My photo below looks like I wanna pee!

I wouldn't get tired of taking her photo. You know why? She knows exactly how I want her to be on the photo. hahaha! I think she is my soulmate, really! Don't get me wrong, our brainwaves are just wired to fully understand each other.

Isn't she gorgeous?

Since we were tired and hungry. We decided to have our lunch at Din Tai Fung. I'll write more about it on my next blog if I am not lazy doing it. LOL!

Our next stop was Taipei 101 which of course the highlight of the trip, I think. Gael booked our Taipei 101 tour via Klook. The view outside was irresistible hence we stayed for a while to take photos before going in.

I really wished I got the courage and the arms strength to bring my tripod with me. This place was perfect for long exposure shots!

The rain started to fall so we had to get in. There were a lot humans inside and I though we couldn't make it because I am used to slow process in my country but I was so amazed everything went smoothly and all the people were accommodated I think since there were no more people in queue when we got down.

She was kind enough to say yes when I asked for her photo. I was just mesmerized with how flawless her skin is plus the lighting made her glow!

pretty girl at the information desk

Taipei 101 is famous for it's high speed elevator and yes it is absolutely super fast!

My ears were really affected with the speed of the lift. My hearing ability was impaired for few seconds.

From the 80th floor, you'll be able to see a 360 degree view of Taipei city. Sorry for the above photo, my gear wasn't complete enough to take a shot from a glass window. Well, that was a wake up call to invest more on my equipment if I really want to take this seriously.

Happy faces

Now, I am the model. I am so bad at it so pardon me.

Photo credit: Abigael Garcia

There are still a lot of things to see while on your way to the elevator going down. Below is the famous tuned mass damper. It is used to reduce the amplitude of mechanical vibrations, according to Wikipedia. Very scientific ey?! This is really huge but it looks like a massive ball of cheese. hahaha! I was hungry that time hence that's what I thought!

Taking a photo here was very challenging since there were a lot of people who wanted their photo taken and also people passing by so you should be fast enough to capture before you get a photo bomber. hahaha!

I really don't know but once we got down the building, we felt exhausted. Perhaps because of the pressure? Just a hypothesis though.

Going back to the hotel was really tough. It's pretty late and the weather was really unpredictable. The rain was on and off and our decision to take the taxi was on and off too until we just agreed to take the bus. hahaha! Good thing we did or else I wasn't able to capture this.

It was such an awesome view to end the day!

Taiwan: First Is Always The Best

2017-10-11T09:41:00.001+08:00

Unplanned trips are actually the most memorable ones. Booking my plane ticket a month before the trip, made me really nervous as I usually plan 6 months or more in advance. Little did I know that it would turn out to be the best. This is also my first time traveling with my friend and of which we've been planning to do for countless of times. Prior to that, we worked on our e-visa which was approved a day after, booked for our accommodation and read a lot of blogs about Taiwan.

Gael's outward flight was different from mine since she booked hers earlier than me therefore she needs to wait for at Taoyuan Airport for more than an hour We also booked for our airport pick-up to our hotel since we arrived early in the morning. Going through everything made me nervous but it was a wonderful experience especially going through immigration. I noticed that most of the immigration personnel master the art of poker face. Lol!

Day 1:

I woke up late as usual. haha! I was startled when I saw the time on my phone which was almost 12 noon. Gael and I were not staying in the same room but we were just next to each other. We decided to have something to eat. The food on the plane made me full until I wake up I think. We went for a walk to find a place to eat. We ate at a noodle shop, not so far from our hotel.

There's nothing more delicious when the food you eat is really authentic! The noodle soup was just so good I finished mine in no time even it was too hot! I have tasted other soy milk before and I didn't like the texture. But Taiwan's soy milk was so good!

Of course, the day won't start without tasting an aromatic coffee! We can't function without it, I tell you! Therefore, we got on our feet and roam around the place to find a coffee shops. Thanks to our reliable gps for teaching us where to go! hahaha! While walking, I took the opportunity to take some photos. Practice makes perfect, they say! My ability to adjust my settings while doing other things was really tested!

The streets are just so clean! And walking here is perfect!

I am so fascinated with the architecture design of most of the buildings in Taipei!

In addition to practicing, I have a wonderful model so who wouldn't take the opportunity to snap her photo?

After a long walk, we finally reached a coffee shop! It's a suggestion on google maps. Fong da s just a small coffee shop in Wanhua district. It's easy to find when you're walking along this place. Besides, the smell of the coffee will definitely make your feet head to this coffee shop.

Who would look for Starbucks if this coffee shop serves better tasting coffee? I wouldn't! We tried their classic Taiwan coffee and it's biting our tongues. haha! It actually woke up even my nerve endings. LOL!

After this, we decided to go to Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. According to our gps, it will take us two station via train. We bought an easy card loaded with 100 TWD for easier transport. We can use the card for buses as well therefore very convenient. Since, it is our first time to take the train, of course, we lost our way. hahaha! Instead riding the train going north, we rode going South! Two people who don't have the sense of direction. We laughed at our own mistakes! Funny but a wonderful experience!

squeaky clean

We took another train going to Chiang Kai-shek. This time we looked at the map on the train station and this time, we are on the right direction. It's like we took a train tour because we went the other direction.

The building structure is spectacular! I was thinking, I wish I have a drone so I could take an aerial shot of this structure. Someday, I will!

I was in awe upon looking up because the ceiling was a lot better to see. haha! Unfortunately, I couldn't just lie down the floor to a better photo. haha!

We're enjoying! Our tiredness and sweaty faces were not noticeable. Good job camera!

almost sun down

We both agreed to have a meal after satisfying our eyes in this place. We went to Modern Toilet Restaurant which I will be talking about on my next blog as this is getting longer, readers might get tired reading.

Enjoy! Until next post.

Hotel Review: Leez Inn, A Gem In Malate, Manila

2017-09-26T09:01:00.001+08:00

Traveling can be tedious at times especially when looking for an accommodation that suits your low budget. I am the kind of person who doesn't want to spend so much for my accommodation because I prefer spending more for my food. Since I am working from home, sometimes I just wanted to go somewhere to change my ambiance and re-energize and perhaps to change my perspective. Staying in a routine for a long time makes me bored to death. When I go to Manila, I usually stay in Malate, with that I have tried different low-budget hotels in that place. Most are just okay but there's always something missing.

It was planned to attend the international book fair event in SMX convention center so I booked a place to stay. I usually use travelbook.ph for my bookings but then that time I used booking.com to see if there are cheaper hotels I could find. And I did!

I saw Leez Inn and upon checking the location seems to be ideal for me. The reviews say that it is a quiet place to stay. I booked the deluxe double room which was priced at $23. I was a bit skeptic of course since I am not so familiar with the place. I was wondering if Manila Bay is accessible on foot as I planned to take some photos.

Getting to the place wasn't difficult at all. Well, I used Uber service so that could be an advantage. It was near the bus station where I got down. I arrived 2 hours earlier, unfortunately I wasn't allowed to check-in early because there were no rooms available as per the receptionist. So I just left my luggage with them and went to my other appointments.

The lobby

I was quite surprised upon entering the room. It is spacious, spotless and well-lit. The combination of the colors of the room seems so relaxing for me. The beds were just so inviting. Most of the low-budget hotels I have stayed at don't provide good sheets. But this Leez Inn's sheets can be compared to 5-star hotels.

It is equipped with a remote controlled air-conditioner that doesn't wake me up in the middle of the night because it so damn noisy.

The room has a flat-screen TV, an electric kettle which is very suitable for a coffee addict like me. There's also a small refrigerator which most hotels with the same price range don't provide. I was really happy as I would love to have some foods stored there in case I go hungry at midnight and I am too lazy to go out and answer my hunger.

Closet and safe

I am so impressed with the safe that they provide. You can put your important things there when you go out not worrying it could be stolen unless they will carry the whole safe, hahaha!

The bathroom is not that big compared to other low-budget hotels I have been to. However, I am fascinated with its cleanliness. I am ashamed to make it dirty. LOL!

The lavatory is outside the bathroom which I prefer as I don't want my feet to feel the bathroom floor when I just gotten up. Yes, I know it's weird, but I just don't like it. The room may not have a good view from the small balcony which I forgot to take a picture since I didn't use it, but still it isn't that of big disadvantage. The only downside during my stay was that their internet connection wasn't working so there was no WiFi connection. However, it was just fine as my mobile data connection was fast enough for whatever job I did online. Also, there's no lift so it is perfect for someone like me who prefer using the stairs. But if you're lazy to use your feet then this place isn't good for you.

Most of all, I commend the staff for being friendly and helpful. I was so inconsiderate because I kept ordering for coffee without realizing that they have to use the stairs to the 4th floor to bring my coffee. I apologized upon realizing.

I would love to stay in this hotel again!

Poem: Astray

2017-09-02T07:44:00.001+08:00

Astray

by: Susan G.C

composed: 22 August 2017

Creating images in my mind

filling the emptiness you left behind

You stayed quiet until now

friendship over I think somehow

Staring at nothing

tears slowly falling

Regret I feel revealing it

Better I should have just concealed

Your messages I read

paints a smile yet I bleed

"I will never leave", your creed

Yet your absence all I feel

Should I wait? Should I stay?

Will you remember, please convey?

Should I leave pages? Should I close?

Leaving your chapter, better or worse?

Who Is He?

2017-08-16T08:02:00.002+08:00

The silence is deafening and waking up her fear. She scanned the place with her eyes not moving her body as if it got numb because of the darkness. Her mind is drifting to a world of malarkey yet a piece of it is pushing her to think of the world she is in. She made a step, a subtle one, not intending to awaken anyone inside. She’s reaching for the staircase; an old, wide and beautifully carved staircase. While her feet are busy ascending, she heard footsteps coming from the door. Her heart started to throb thinking her captor was able to follow her. She stood in silence in the middle of the staircase hoping she won’t be discovered. She wanted to hold her breath as long as she could but she doesn’t want to pass out again.

As the footsteps are getting closer to the staircase, her mind came rushing of an idea what to do. A part of her brain is telling her to run away from the footsteps but another part is telling her to keep still and pretend like a lifeless thing. She noticed the illuminating ring, the same ring she saw from her captor. She got ready as if starting a race but as soon as she made her first step, two masculine hands hugged her by the waist. She wanted to scream but nothing came out because of fear. She can hear the stranger’s breath but suddenly noticed his breathing is a gentle one. The warmth of his breath pulled her back from the void. She wanted to feel safe but the ring is making her horrified.

She can feel that the man behind her has a lean body figure, broad shoulders and stone-like muscles. She is envisaging this man can pick her up single-handed. She decided to speak but as soon as she opened her mouth, she heard him say, in a guttural voice.

Keep silent.

*This is a continuation of this story: Who Is He?

App Review: CNNCT

2017-07-10T07:43:00.001+08:00

Photo credit: EVG company

Having a place or an app to use when you want to connect to people around the world, learn their culture or simply seeing their environment is just amazing. Personally I use this app to divert my attention from my full time job which is sometimes exhausting for me. There are times I am bored and I am just going online on CNNCT and voila! My boredom has vanished!

The concept of the app is to travel around the world while you're at home. Users can learn about other culture and many more.

I had the privilege to chat with Igor Monakhov, a highly successful Russian IT entrepreneur, who founded the new video chat app CNNCT.

Me: Tell me about the people behind CNNCT.

Igor: It's a project very dear to me. I gathered a team of young, ambitious and open-minded people who share my vison.

Me: What inspired you to create CNNCT?

Igor: Well, I faced an interesting problem at a former project of mine. In 2011, the team Fotostrana, a photo sharing and social network website, asked me to deal with the fact that a lot of people were leaving their website. I had a look and realized that a lot of people were leaving because some users made them uncomfortable. You see, users on some website had very different goals. When someone like a married man or woman, or even someone happy in their relationship, is constantly confronted by people using the website as a dating site, they are uncomfortable. They just want to find pen-pals around the world, to discuss anything they feel like.

I felt touched by the issue. That's when I realized I had a solution. I want to create an application where people feel safe to chat and discuss.

Me: What's the vision and mission of CNNCT?

Igor: The vision I have is of an application where people from around the world chat and discuss, make new friends, share interests and have inspiring and interesting conversation in a safe and cozy environment.

Me: How do you see CNNCT on the long term?

Igor: I believe that everyone has something worthwhile to say and everyone is worth listening to. We all have different areas of expertise and we should all have the opportunity to share our thoughts, our visions, or opinions. On CNNCT, everyone will have that opportunity.

Based on our conversation, I imagine that this app shouldn't be a place for nudity, racism, sex chat or any unpleasant behavior. However, with my time of stay in this app, I had experienced a lot of nasty things such as people masturbating, men asking women to show their naked bodies or show their bodies with clothes on, couple having sex, a woman giving her partner a blow job and even racism. I also happen to experience women ending the call when they see they are connected to fellow women because their goal in the app is to find a foreign boyfriend. I feel very sad because it is very difficult for me to talk to women from the Philippines where I come from because they have a different goal in using the app and not applying it's concept. I have used the app for more than a month and I got connected to many Filipino women but I only happen to have a good conversation with 2 women.

If I am going to talk about improvement, I hope CNNT will ban those people automatically when they are doing nasty things.

What I love so much about CNNT is that it connects you to anyone which means you can meet someone who lives somewhere. I won't like an app that will let me choose which country the person I will be meeting online is from.

I have met a lot people from all over the world; countries I only read online and know nothing about it. With that it made me more open-minded about other people's culture. I have learned so much about the Muslim community which I never heard of before, their way of living, political and economic situation and most importantly their views about terrorism. Now, I came to realize that those are the things that are never shown on TV and that most of the news we see is definitely one-sided.

Thanks CNNCT for opening a virtual world for people who would love to expand their horizon!

UPDATE: Unfortunately, this app will be discontinued from October 30,2017. It's so sad to see it go.