Poetry and Potion

The Lament of Crows - a Poem

2026-06-17T04:57:15.706-07:00

The Lament of Crows

-Kael Pinto-

Wednesday, June 17, 2026

7:28 PM

I rose up amongst the clouds,

Cawing with a shriek so loud.

Crying out for the change we need,

All ignored because of greed

I watched and listened and learn

About what people wanted and yearned

Yet all my hope has turned to fear

When all of these fell to deaf ears

I saw people moving on

Like ever walking automaton

Going on the lives they lead

Working to death so the pigs may feed

I shouted loudly to the sky

Waiting for other crows to fly

Until a murder will be formed

One strong enough to weather the storm

I know I'm small, one of the few

Insignificant crows who perched and flew

But I know crows are very wise

We will flock, ascend and rise

- photo from the internet - mindfulspirituality.com

Movie Review: Masters of the Universe

2026-06-15T08:27:55.726-07:00

I grew up watching He-Man and She-Ra on TV. It was a very enjoyable experience and made me love sword and fantasy materials more. Last Sunday, I watched the Masters of the Universe starring Nicholas Galitzine as Prince Adam, Camila Mendez as Teela, Idris Alba as Duncan; the Man-At-Arms, Jared Leto as Skeletor and many more.

If you know He-Man's story, he is the alter-ego of Prince Adam, the Prince of Eternia and son of King Randor and Queen Marlena. Eternia is a world of advance technology and magic. It is also the location of Castle Grayskull, the source of He-Man's power and is the home of the Sorceress, his guardian.

There have been too many versions of He-Man's story (including the story of Sheera, He-Man's twin), and there have been a lot of cartoons and movies about him. In the 2026 movie through, there were a lot of changes that for me, made the movie "too woke" for my taste. In this version, the royal capital of Eternia was attacked by Skeletor and his forces and Adam was sent to Earth by the Sorceress with the Sword of Power, separating him from his parents (and the Sword) for fifteen years. Adam reunited with the Sword, was attacked on Earth, saved by Teela and journeyed back to Eternia.

In this movie, Adam was a buffed marshmallow, and an HR in one company. This deviated from almost all of the He-Man movies/cartoons I watched in the past. Here, Adam is mostly sensitive and is in-touch most of the time with his feelings. He is a reluctant hero who just decided to fight after knowing that his parents are still alive. He rushed to Snake Mountain, confronted Skeletor and won, the end.

PROS and CONS

The PROS:

1. Nicholas Galitzine - I think he looks nice as He-Man. He is tall, hulking and is serving the body of He-Man.

2. Special Effects and the fight scenes are good too.

3. New approach, Adam sent to Earth to escape Skeletor. It's nice to see that Earth is in the same universe as Eternia.

4. I find Skeletor funny, same as his cartoon persona.

5. Dolph Lundgren's cameo. He was He-Man in the 1987 Live action movie.

The CONS:

1. The story: The pacing of the story for me is just too fast, with a lot of plot holes.

2. The Power - In this version, the Power resides inside He-Man, instead of being a conduit that channels the Power to him. In the previous versions, losing the Sword would revert He-Man back to Adam. Also, if the Power just buffs He-Man up in this version, he shouldn't be able to fight that well in such a short amount of time.

3. BattleCat - In this version, Cringer was a reluctant fighter, but he still fights. In the previous versions, Cringer is a scaredycat and the Power transforms him to BattleCat.

4. The duality of Adam/He-Man - in the previous versions, only a few people know that Adam and He-Man are the same person. This adds to the mystique of He-Man and the contrast of both him and Prince Adam. Adam is always viewed as weak and lazy and compared to the hero He-Man, who is the savior of everyone.

The Verdict - 6/10: The movie has its ups and downs, some nicer scenes and fight scenes, but one turn-off for me is the characterization of He-Man. He is always someone with a great sense of justice and would not hesitate to pummel through anything, just to save his people. Another thing is the movie's depiction of The Power, where in the past versions, it is always a power that Adam draw to become He-Man. Here, Adam was given the Power because of his heart. It is still quite an enjoyable movie though (although admittedly with a few cringe scenes).

CCTO - photos from the internet

Getting a Samsung - a quick review!

2026-06-14T01:08:26.978-07:00

Samsung phones are usually a staple in a Pinoy's pocket. Not because it is accessible (and cheaper) than the other major brands (like Apple, for example), but because Samsung has been secretly infiltrating our brains every time we see it being used by out KPop idols. Samsung is the phone of choice by all of the characters in the latest KDrama, KPop groups and celebrities. But honestly, I have a love-hate relationship with Samsung phones over the years... do I still buy it? Yes.

One of the most unpleasant experience I have with Samsung was with their Galaxy Fold 3, a very visually pleasing mobile device priced at 90+ thousand Philippine pesos. It was one of the best "high tech" gadget one can own at that time, when it was released last August 2021. Imagine seeing a phone that folds and reveals a bigger screen, truly a scientific breakthrough. However, just a year after I got it, I experienced the issue that a lot of Samsung Fold 3 owners report. First it loses Wifi, Bluetooth, Sound and display, and eventually, destroys your LCDs (yes, both of them) just be updating the phone. This was (and still is) an unresolved issue where Samsung's only reply is to bring it to the service center if it is still within warranty. Sadly, most of these devices break, months after the warranty. I still have my Samsung Fold 3, the most expensive paperweight I have on my desk.

I also get to use the Flips - Samsung Galaxy Flip 3 released August of 2022, which I won during a Globe Telecoms raffle (thank you Globe). Last year, I also pre-ordered a Samsung Galaxy Flip 7, which I also dispatched 6 months after, probably because of my bas experience with foldables in general. Are they aesthetically pleasing, well they are, however, aside from my post-traumatic experience with the Fold 3, I find the Flips too delicate and requires extra work due to their limited folded screen capabilities. Imagine driving and attaching the Flip 7 on your Android Play and you wanted to change something and it will require you to unfold the phone (while driving).

I think where Samsung Mobile really shines is with their "bar soap" phones. I owned a few of these phones, from the Ultras to the Notes. The latest one I had was the S24 Ultra, which I really enjoyed. The screen was amazing, the cameras lit (that 100X Zoom) and the versatility and the leeway to change the UI anytime, makes it appealing to me. My only complain about the Samsung phones is the battery life. Even with the Folds and Flips and the Note and the Ultras, I find Samsung's battery life rather lacking. For a very bright phone, with amazing AI capabilities, it has always has a rather small battery. With all of these being said, will I still get a new Samsung? Of course I have.

Enter - Samsung Galaxy s26 Ultra.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is a SMART phone. One of the best in AI features compared to Apple's iPhone 17Promax (which I wrote about) and even the Pixel (I owned a Pixel 8 Pro). Its AI features dwarf others, especially in editing pictures, getting information and the likes. The design is also better, straight screen instead of curved, smoother corners instead of the boxy form factor of the S25s. One of the prettiest and compact flagship phones in the market. Here's the complete spec-sheet from GSMArena

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

Released 2026, March 06
214g, 7.9mm thickness
Android 16, up to 7 major upgrades
256GB/512GB/1TB storage, no card slot
50%4,588,547 hits
595Become a fan
6.9"
1440x3120 pixels
200MP
4320p
12/16GB RAM
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
5000mAh
60W25W

Network	Technology	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G

Launch	Announced	2026, February 25
Launch	Status	Available. Released 2026, March 06

Body	Dimensions	163.6 x 78.1 x 7.9 mm (6.44 x 3.07 x 0.31 in)
	Weight	214 g (7.55 oz)
	Build	Glass front (Corning Gorilla Armor 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame
	SIM	· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) - INT · Nano-SIM + eSIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time) - USA · Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM - CN
		IP68 dust tight and water resistant (immersible up to 1.5m for 30 min) Stylus Armor aluminum 2 frame

Display	Type	Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 2600 nits (peak)
	Size	6.9 inches, 115.9 cm² (~90.7% screen-to-body ratio)
	Resolution	1440 x 3120 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~500 ppi density)
	Protection	Corning Gorilla Armor 2, Mohs level 6
		DX anti-reflective coating Privacy Display

Platform	OS	Android 16, up to 7 major Android upgrades, One UI 8.5
	Chipset	Qualcomm SM8850-1-AD Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3 nm)
	CPU	Octa-core (2x4.74 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix L + 6x3.62 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix M)
	GPU	Adreno 840 (1.3GHz)

Memory	Card slot	No
	Internal	256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM
		UFS 4.X

Main Camera	Quad	200 MP, f/1.4, 23mm (wide), 1/1.3", 0.6µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 67mm (telephoto), 1/3.94", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 50 MP, f/2.9, 111mm (periscope telephoto), 1/2.52", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 50 MP, f/1.9, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.5", 0.7µm, dual pixel PDAF, Super Steady video
	Features	Laser AF, Best Face, Horizon Lock, LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
	Video	8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60/120fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 10-bit HDR, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS

Selfie camera	Single	12 MP, f/2.2, 23mm (wide), 1/3.2", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF
	Features	HDR, HDR10+
	Video	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps

Sound	Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers
	3.5mm jack	No
		High-bitrate audio support

Comms	WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
	Bluetooth	6.0, A2DP, LE
	Positioning	GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS
	NFC	Yes
	Radio	No
	USB	USB Type-C 3.2, DisplayPort 1.2, OTG

Features	Sensors	Fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
		Samsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) Ultra Wideband (UWB) support

Battery	Type	Li-Ion 5000 mAh
	Charging	60W wired, PD3.0, 75% in 30 min 25W wireless (Qi2.2) 4.5W reverse wireless

Misc	Colors	Cobalt Violet, Sky Blue, Black, White, Silver Shadow, Pink Gold
	Models	SM-S948B, SM-S948B/DS, SM-S948U, SM-S948U1, SM-S948W, SM-S948N, SM-S9480, SM-S948E, SM-S948E/DS
	SAR	1.09 W/kg (head) 1.19 W/kg (body)
	SAR EU	1.28 W/kg (head) 1.35 W/kg (body)
	Price	$ 1,030.00 / € 955.00 / £ 818.49 / ₹ 118,000

Our Tests	Performance	AnTuTu: 2627986 (v10), 3892165 (v11) GeekBench: 11566 (v6) 3DMark: 7744 (Wild Life Extreme)
	Display	1480 nits max brightness (measured)
	Loudspeaker	-25.9 LUFS (Very good)
	Battery	Active use score 16:23h

EU LABEL	Energy	Class A
	Battery	55:00h endurance, 1200 cycles
	Free fall	Class A (270 falls)
	Repairability	Class C

Disclaimer. We can not guarantee that the information on this page is 100% correct. Read more

Now, did I regret getting this Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra? Of course not. Samsung has always been one of the phones I use daily. If there is something I can change with this mobile device, it's probably the battery. I would like to have a bigger battery to maximize the features it has longer and not plugged it in a socket every few hours.

Tell me your Samsung story. Are they a winner for you, or do you also have this love-hate relationship with this mobile brand. Let me know in the comments.

Using iPhone 17 ProMax after nine (9) Months

2026-06-14T00:32:40.105-07:00

I have been using iPhone for the past few years. When I was still starting with my career, I think Apple products are really expensive and very limiting. However, when I started moving up on the corporate ladder, I was able to afford an iPhone, starting with an iPhone XR (Coral :) and I have been using it since then. Though I have also tried using an iPhone 4 or was it 5, but I didn't really buy it new.

Since then, I have purchased an iPhone every 2 years - an iPhone 12 ProMax, 14 ProMax, 15 ProMax and now, a 17 ProMax.

Year after year, the iPhones have been "almost" similar. I actually made sure that I only change it every 2 years, but there was a time that I did an exeption, when they changed the lightning charger to a USB Type C. So from a 15 ProMax, now is the time to do a "user review" for the iPhone 17 Promax.

I got my iPhone 17 ProMax from Bangkok, as usual, out of impulse. I wanted to be one of the folks who has this phone in the Philippines. Here's the summarized specs of the phone from https://www.gsmarena.com:

Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max

Released 2025, September 19
233g, 8.8mm thickness
iOS 26, up to iOS 26.3
256GB/512GB/2TB storage, no card slot

6.9"
1320x2868 pixels
48MP
2160p
12GB RAM
Apple A19 Pro
4823mAh
PD3.225W

Using this phone since I got this last September was amazing. The one thing tghat I really noticed was the battery life. The phone can stay for 2 days without charging. It is not just because the phone's battery got bigger, the chip also made the phone more efficient and the new cooling chamber made the phone cooler. I haven't seen the notification that the charging stopped becauce the battery is heating up.

The cameras also became a bit better, especially the option to go landscape on the selfie camera. I have taken a few pictures during my vacation and the pictures came out really well.

The screen is also noticeably brighter and the interface became smoother. With the customizable homescreen, the iPhones now can be more personalized to suit the user's taste.

After using the new iPhone 17 Promax for the past nine months, I can say that this phone is better compared to its predecessors. The interface, the battery, cameras are way better compared to the last iPhone I was using. The new cooling chamber also solved the heating problems I usually encounter with the previous phone models.

Do I like the design? Probably not. However, it was designed like that to fit the new hardware additions. Do I like the materials Apple used to build their phones? I think it was a step back, from titanium back to aluminum, however, these changes again have purpose to enhance the performance of the device.

The Apple ecosystem is really great, with great accessibility between products and sharing the data to every device logged in to your Apple account. I also find Apple's Find Me very simple and efficient. That's why I invested in getting a MacBook, an iWatch SE and the Pods.

Will I recommend it to friends? Of course. Apple products are sturdy and they can last a very long time if you just take care of them.

A Watch Collector's Journey: Why a Filipino-Made TVRUS Xion II Blew Me Away

2025-08-13T15:45:00.000-07:00

What started with a simple purchase has blossomed into a full-blown passion. I began collecting watches after I got my first solar-powered automatic timepiece—a Citizen Eco-Drive. I called it my "big-boy watch." When I went to Tokyo last July, I snagged another solar-powered beauty: a Casio Edifice that connects to my phone via Bluetooth. Soon, my collection grew.

From Japanese Classics to Local Gems

My watch box now holds a mix of iconic Japanese watches and other unique pieces. I have an Orient Bambino version 7, a collaborative Casio G-Shock x Youths in Balaclava watch, and a classic Seiko 5. A friend sold me a US-made Invicta, and my tech-friendly wrist is covered with an Apple Watch SE and a Samsung Classic. With eight watches in the box, I started looking for something different.

That's when I stumbled upon a few Filipino brands on Facebook. Their unique aesthetics and affordable prices caught my eye, although my first experience was a bit bumpy. I tried ordering from Kawayan, but I wasn't notified that my order went through until I messaged them. Thankfully, I was refunded, but it left a sour taste.

A Leap of Faith: The TVRUS Xion II

I was still curious about local brands, so I decided to try TVRUS. I ordered two watches, the Xion II and Nightfall, and my excitement was through the roof when the package arrived with a bonus: a free black Twilight watch! My excitement quickly turned to disappointment, though, when I realized my original order wasn't in the box. I still have a pending order with them, which is a bit of a bummer.

Despite the shipping snafu, I was amazed by the quality of the TVRUS Xion II I received. This automatic mechanical watch is powered by both manual winding and wrist movement. Unlike my other automatic watches, the Xion II can go for several days without being used and still keep perfect time.

The watch looks fantastic and feels sturdy, and the rubber straps are incredibly comfortable. But the best part? It only costs PHP 3,300.00. For its quality, great looks, and price, it’s easily one of the most affordable and comfortable watches in my collection. I've already bookmarked a few other TVRUS models and plan to buy them soon.

Final Thoughts: A Filipino Timepiece Worth the Hype

The TVRUS Xion II is an amazing watch for any collection, whether you're a seasoned collector or just starting out. It proves that you don't have to spend a fortune to get a high-quality timepiece. I'm excited to see what else TVRUS has to offer and can't wait to add more of their watches to my collection.

Discover AkbayPH: Stylish, Durable, and Proudly Filipino

2025-07-27T08:01:00.000-07:00

Let’s face it—most Filipinos have a deep love for branded fashion. From luxury clothes and designer shoes to coveted bags by LV, Gucci, and Hermes, it's not uncommon to see affluent Filipinas spend millions to own these iconic pieces. These international labels are admired for their prestige and craftsmanship.

But in our admiration for global brands, we often overlook the beauty and value of our very own—homegrown, proudly Filipino creations that deserve just as much attention.

Recently, I discovered AkbayPH, a local bag brand making waves on social media. What caught my attention? Their bags are handmade, waterproof, and designed with both style and versatility in mind. Akbay takes pride in quality and functionality—values that align perfectly with today’s modern lifestyle.

As someone who’s been diving deep into collecting watches—especially Japanese brands like Casio, Citizen, Seiko, and Orient—I realized it’s time to give Filipino brands the spotlight they deserve, not just in watches, but across my wardrobe. Shoes, bags, clothes—you name it.

So I ordered directly from www.akbay.ph and started with the Oreo Multi-Way Bag. I’ve done an unboxing and a quick walkthrough of the product, and I’m now using it as my everyday bag. And here’s the best part: I’ve recently been accepted as an official affiliate of AkbayPH!

Expect more content soon—reviews, styling tips, and honest insights on local brands that deserve your attention.

Support local. Carry with pride. Choose Akbay.

If you love bags check this out - https://akbay.ph?sca_ref=9237419.mjOl1okH3HF

The Visit to the Mystic Isle (Late Upload)

2024-02-06T05:16:00.000-08:00

This has been on my bucket list for the longest time, a visit to Isla del Fuego, during the Holy Week. This trip has been planned, but always put in the sidelines since the fare and the trip also costs a lot.

Let me share my journey.

April 1:

It was Palm Sunday. I started my trip in Iloilo City, I went home last April 1 and connected with my family. Had a great time with my sisters and parents, visited the cemetery where my ancestors are interned, visited some friends that were available to meet. I also went home to my mom's hometown and offered my prayers to the dead.

April 3:

It was early in the morning and I asked my father to drive me to the fastcraft wharf and bought a business-class ticket (P800+) to the island of Negros, in the city of Bacolod. I have lived in Bacolod for more than six months and I have a lot of great memories there. Upon arrival, I stayed in SM Bacolod and met some of practitioner friends. Went also to Mcdonald's Megaworld and waited for a friend, where I will stay for the night.

April 4:

We left Bacolod City around 6AM and we traveled for almost six hours to the city of Dumaguete. Dumaguete is the place where I will ride the fastcraft, going to the island of Siquijor. I went to the port to purchase a ticket to Siquijor but the line was picking up already, since tourists (both local and foreign) are already arriving in the city to travel to either Siquijor or Bohol from Dumaguete.

April 5:

Left the port of Dumaguete at 7AM. The fastcraft will travel from Dumaguete to Siquijor, then Siquijor to Tagbilaran and finally go to Cebu. The trip went smooth and the Oceanjet business class seats are comfy. I fell asleep during the journey, and the captain woke me up, asking me if I am alighting in Siquijor.

The Siquijor trip is “Mystical” if you can say that. I stayed in a small ABnB, non-AC (since the room is already unavailable) and I also rented a single motorbike. During my stay, I visited a lot of places in the island - I visited the biggest balete tree (with the little fishies eating your callouses), visited some great beach resorts, the mystic mountain (during the Healing Festival), the cave (near the Healing Mountain) and bars.

During this trip, I bonded with friends that I haven’t seen for a long time. The “magical” moments will be posted soon.

From Cael to Kael - the importance of words and names.

2023-03-31T04:53:00.000-07:00

I have been using a lot of nicknames since I was young. I am called Toto to my siblings, Mike to friends and Pinto in highschool (since we have 3 Michaels in our section, so we were called by our last names. I also used the nickname "Yohann" when I am among online friends, at the peak of Yahoo Messenger and mIRC chatrooms. There was a time when I was in Cebu that I used the name "Chance" as my BPO personna, since Michael is very generic and people would always have a lot of questions about you sounding feminine but you have a man's name, hence, a unisex name was the best choice that time.

When I worked in Davao City last 2009, I changed the spelling of my nickname to "Myke" because of my attachment to the Rune Algiz, which looks like a capital Y. My nickname had another change around 2015 (if I still remember it correctly), when I transfered to a different company and used the name "Cael" which is a shortened version of the name my grandmother used to call me - Mikael.

This year, I felt the need to change the letters in my nickname again. As a practitioner of the occult and as a person aware with the power of symbols and names, I felt it is the time to do it.

Words always have power. This has been established in mythology and history. In the Christian religions, we all know that in the Bible, the Word of God became Christ (John 1:14) - "And the Word was made Flesh and dwelt amongst us". In ancient Egypt, when they want to curse someone, be it a commoner or the Pharaoh, they would strike down their names in all the obelisks and tablets and they will be forgotten. In fiction, we have seen the power of words, symbols and names used as a very powerful tool in the stories. One example of this is the Earthsea books by Ursula K Le Guin, where the Wizards of Earthsea controls and manipulates everything by the power of their names. In Eragon, to know the name of an object (and speak it using the Ancient Language), gives you power over it. That is why, names (at least in these fictional universes) are a heavily guarded secret, shared only to people you trust.

The significance of names and words are given weight in the occult. In the local practice of Kabbalah in the Philippines, LNK practitioners can use the names of people and entities to control them. We can also see this in the practice of Ceremonial magick, especially in the practice of summoning which has a very strong emphasis on knowing the names of the entities that you work with. In these grimoire practices, (Goetia, Legemetton) or even in Enochian magick, knowing the True name of the entity gives you power over it. This is the main method to call beings from the other realm into this reality - by calling their names over their symbols (seals/sigils) and bind them with a more powerful name (i.e. the names of God - AGLA, TETRAGRAMATTON, etc.).

This is mainly the reason why in most magical practices and traditions, a naming rite happens upon initiation. This is where (in Wicca for example) a witch dedicant is introduced to the Watchtowers under different name, a Craft Name, separate from their mundane given name. That is also why some practitioners are hiding in different names (hence, a different persona), as to not be bound or controlled by others using these names.

Another example of the power of names can be found in the story of Isis and how she ascended to be one of the most powerful Goddesses in the Egyptian mythos. It was said that Isis used snakes to bite Ra while he was walking in a path, and since he cannot die, he was in agony. Isis then offered help in exchange of the secret name of Ra. Isis became the one of the most powerful magicians in the pantheon.

The power of names and words can also be seen displayed in ancient Greek and Roman mythology. Gods and Goddesses normally have epithets (names/titles) corresponding to specific aspect of a deity. Hekate is a very good example of this, as she is known to have a lot of names, tied to different aspects - when her worshipers call to her for protection, they might invoke her under the name of Hekate Alexeatis (Averter of Evil), Hekate Episkopos (the Guardian) or Hekate Epiteichea (the Stronghold). This is also true with other pantheons - Egyptian, Norse and even in Catholicism. Isis is known as the Lady of Ten Thousand Names, while Odin is, as he mentioned in the Neil Gaiman's book - American Gods -

“I told you I would tell you my names. This is what they call me. I'm called Glad-of-War, Grim, Raider, and Third. I am One-Eyed. I am called Highest, and True-Guesser. I am Grimnir, and I am the Hooded One. I am All-Father, and I am Gondlir Wand-Bearer. I have as many names as there are winds, as many titles as there are ways to die. (from the internet)

Mary, in the Catholic religion also has a lot of titles and epithets. Her known titles - Semper Virgo, Stella Maris, Purissima, Mater Dolorosa, Regina Caelis, Dei Genetrix, Mater Dei, etc. also shows that she is viewed similarly as a Goddess with many aspects.

Going back to my decision to change the first letter of my name, from a C to a K, these letters are viewed similarly in most scripts (Futhark, for example and even in our Alpabeto here in the Philippines - A, B, K, D...), however, as I am very particular in symbols, I choose the letter K because it is a combination of two runes for me... Kenaz and Isa.

In my current situation, I can say that I am now embodying the attributes of both these runes. Kenaz, the Torch for me is the bright flame of knowledge that I am willing to share to the next generation, to those who are willing to walk the Path I am walking. Isa on the other hand represents Ice, the stillness of winter, of self control and focus. Putting them both embodies control and moderation, being innovative and curious, but also cautious and relaxed. This would constantly remind me that giving in to these extremes are dangerous and the best way to go is in the middle, where everything is "just right".

- photos from the internet - goodreads.com/www.runesecrets.com

New 2022 Suzuki Jimny GLX - Getting to know Taiki!

2022-04-01T23:14:00.003-07:00

The Suzuki Jimny is the smallest 4x4 SUV in the market. I have been dreaming of getting this car since forever and I only took the step to finally get this last March 2022.

I own a 2021 Toyota Wigo (which I will be bringing home to Iloilo) as my first car, which of course has become a need since it is difficult to move around during this pandemic. However, using Stryx (the Wigo) to travel around Mindanao, I have observed that there are a lot of places and roads my hatchback can never go. There was one moment when we travelled to Maragusan via a short-cut in Mawab, which is a dirt road that cuts through the mountain. Stryx is not made for traveling around these challenging roads. It was then I decided that I need a vehicle that can take me anywhere I want to go, without the fear of getting stuck in mud, or get scratches while passing through dirt roads.

Then I decided to get a Jimny.

Last March 2022, I was adamant to get a Jimny. Since I was looking at the Jimny since before, I noticed that the price of the 4th generation Jimny has been going up since 2019 (and more than 100K/year). The new Jimny looks really cool (they say it’s a “baby” Mercedes G Wagon) and is a bit larger than the previous generation. It also has a very cool 2-Tone color option, which are the top of the line. It has a more modern design, but still pay homage to the classic Suzuki design since the 1st generation of the vehicle.

The 4th Generation Jimny has a new 1.5-liter 4-cylinder naturally aspirated gas engine good for 101hp and 138Nm of torque—a significant improvement over the 81hp and 110Nm numbers of the old 1.3-liter unit of the previous generation. The exterior is obviously improved, the interior is a still a mix of modern and classic design. The safety features are also upgraded, with the presence of rear cameras and sensors, equipped on the new Jimny.

It still has the same 4x4 Offroad capability, and a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic transmission that would take you anywhere you go.

The moment I laid eyes on this SUV, I totally fell in love. Aside from the fact that you rarely see this running around the roads of Davao City, the off road capability is the one that attracted me to this vehicle. Since I am doing a lot of road trips with Stryx, the Jimny’s capabilities to go anywhere – city roads, highway, dirt road and muddy off road trails, is something that I was looking for a “long-term” car. I am also NOT a fan of big SUVs and cars since I am very particular with space (parking at home), Jimny’s size is just perfect for me.

So here is my new 2022 Suzuki Jimny GLX/AT, 2-Tone in Kinetic Yellow the top of the line model and the “poster boy” of the Jimny line. I named it Taiki which means “Great Radiance”.

If you're interested to get this amazing SUV, send me a message so I can hook you up with my dealer from Suzuki Lanang in Davao City. :D

Here WIGO - a 2021 Toyota Review

2022-03-28T07:37:00.000-07:00

Stryx, my 2021 Toyota Wigo G is my first car. I have waited almost 40 years before I decided to get one, since I do not see the use of getting a car before. When the COVID-19 Pandemic hit and I have discovered how difficult it is (not to mention, scary) to go from one place to another, made me look at getting a convenient car for daily use (if there is no ECQ, that is).

I was looking around for the best hatchback, budget cars that I can afford and are small enough to fit the garage of the apartment I am renting. I was down to four (4) options:

1. Suzuki S-presso - an entry level hatchback from Suzuki with really good ground clearance and affordable monthly payment (Php 11K at that time). The only thing I didn't like about this car is it's only on Manual Transmission. When the banks I applied to saw that this is the car I wanted, they declined my application saying that they can only process loans which are above Php 700K, with the S-Presso, the loanable amount is just more than Php500K. So this option was scrapped.

2. Suzuki Celerio - The next affordable car from the Suzuki line up. A hatchback which is also around 700K pesos. But again, the bank declined my application since the loanable amount will be lower than Php 700K. I need to look at other cars, or other banks.

3. Toyota Wigo - The Toyota Wigo was one of the options I was looking at. The Wigo was something that I didn't really consider before because I was not a fan of the rounded design. However, when I checked the latest (2020 model) Wigo, I was amazed by the facelift. It became kinda bigger and boxy, which was very attractive to me.

4. Mitsubishi Mirage - my last option was the Mirage, which was the last car I checked out. I have been comparing both the Wigo and the Mirage, and the former always beat it with Toyota's amazing features.

I started applying for an auto-loan, where I was assisted by some dealers from Suzuki and Toyota (Mitsubishi came last), and around this time, I was 100% decided that I am going to get a car. In my quest for driving, I started with getting a driver's license. I enrolled and attended the TDC (Theoretical Driving Course), a 2-day (16 Hours) class in driving. After I was done with it, I applied for a Student's Permit. This was around May 2021. I got a message that my loan application was approved and by May 31st, I got my new 2021 Toyota Wigo G (Black), even without a license yet.

The Wigo, which I called Stryx arrived June 6th in Davao City. Of course, I still cannot drive it since the OR/CR has not yet been released, and I still need to get the Non-Prof license, a month after I got the SP. After I got my Non-Prof license and I started driving Stryx, I discovered the beauty of driving and the freedom of having a car brings.

The Toyota Wigo G/AT is a very good "1st car". It's maneuverability is amazing and the safety features are top-notch for an affordable car. It sports a 3-cylinder 998CC engine with 89nm of torque. Though it is small to look at, it can surprisingly accommodate 5 passengers. It's equipped with a 7-inch infotainment system, keyless entry and push-button start system, a rear sensor and camera, automatic folding and auto-adjustable side mirrors, power windows and auto-lock. It also has 2 airbags, 14-inch alloy mags and many, many more. Truly, Stryx is a very reliable first car to professionals.

In driving Stryx for almost a year (this June), I have brought him to a lot of places in Mindanao and even though that it is designed for short city drives, Stryx was able to take us to as far as Agusan del Sur (Enchanted River), to Cagayan de Oro and Iligan, to Glan in Sarangani. He has been a comfortable road partner which always takes me to adventures, whether its up on the mountains, watching the sea of clouds or in Kapatagan, looking at the majestic Mt. Apo. For me, one of the secrets of Wigo is it's fuel consumption which is really amazing. You can travel for more than 200KM and still wont empty your fuel tank (from full tank).

If you're looking for an affordable (small) family car, I think Wigo is one of the best entry-level cars out there. Though I would be parting with Stryx in a few days, I will leave him in the capable hands of my family in Iloilo. Stryx will be the family's first car and I think he will be able to fulfill the family's needs for safe and convenient transportation.

Politics and Media

2021-10-09T03:46:00.003-07:00

The Philippines is coming to a very tumultuous year again - 2022, the year of the Presidential Elections. During this time, Filipinos change color depending on their political affiliation. Reminds me of this poster from the new Netflix series #SquidGames. Where people become so engross with their political affiliations, that they lose friends over debates and their choice of presidential candidates. At the end of the day, these politicians do not even care about them.

Media has played a very important role in swaying the emotion and decisions of the masses since forever. As they say, those who control information, controls the world. The media can make people see things in their own perspective, so technically, they can make or break a person, a company or an institution. They can make anyone a sinner or a saint, just by writing something about it (whether it is true or not).

Let's look at the articles from local media just a few hours after the presidential hopeful Bongbong Marcos declared his candidacy. Most of the local news outlet (example - GMA 7/Rappler) immediately published articles about the Martial Law. This action can obviously stir the (dormant) emotions of people, especially those who have unpleasant experiences during those times.

On the other hand, when the presidential hopeful Leni Robledo did a press release (as she always does), most of the media outlets started to circulate articles and pics of Mrs. Jessie Robledo doing all her kawang-gawa (photoshoot).

So going back on this premise, we can already see the role of Media in this coming elections. No wonder, media personalities and network owners are kept close by world leaders (often times included on their payroll).

This coming presidential election, I just hope that the media outlets would still uphold truth (I wish), and fair journalism. As a campus photojournalist in college, we are taught that we should be factual and fair. However, in the advent of social media, anyone can just write anything (whether there is evidence or not) and this can be passed on as truth. Anyone can even write their own Wiki pages and create a "real" online persona.

Whether journalists would follow their principles or would allow themselves to be dictated by money, that is up to them. We, the masses, must be very vigilant and do our very own fact check before we even believe what we see on TV or read online.

#Halalan2022

-pictures from the internet-

Of Turning 40 and (a Lot) of First Times

2021-09-05T02:29:00.004-07:00

This is final. I would be turning FORTY (40!!!) years old in 4 months. As my "life begins", I was actually planning a grandiose trip of the English countryside (a plan made pre-COVID pandemic). However, with the this global catastrophe, we do not have a choice but to adapt. I have done a lot of things that I didn't really think about doing.

First on the list was getting Stryx, the car 🚘. I initially do not have a plan to get a car, thinking of all the expenses in the maintenance, the monthly payment, getting a car loan from the bank, etc. It's that fear of having to pay a monthly due, an obligation which would really affect my budget. The pandemic, however became a trigger for me to take the leap. As the pandemic imposed a lot of traveling restrictions, I have to rely to friends with cars to do any local trips as commuting becomes near impossible. Once I have decided, the process for getting the car became relatively easy (with the help of a well placed spell - simple Bay leaf wishing spell). I decided to get a car on May 1st, and successfully brought Stryx home by June 4 (he arrived June 2nd in Davao). Now, I am able to travel to Mati and Maragusan on a whim, if I feel it. This is a very big responsibility, yes, but it is also a good way of having freedom.

The next first on my list is to get a tattoo. I am not really a fan of tattoos, since TBH, I find them unpleasant to look at (probably I see tattoos that are not really done well). Last August 13 (the Feast of the Lady of the Crossroads), I got a tattoo. The tattoo design I chose was Hekate's Wheel. - a sacred symbol, offered as a sign of devotion to the Goddess. I also chose the correct hourly correspondence, which was followed to the teeth by the artist - Hannah. I have planned to get a tattoo after I turn 40, however, I feel that this moment is the right time to get it, while I am still 39 years old.

This blog entry is kinda short since I don't really have anything to write now. I still wish to do a lot more "Firsts" when I turn forty, like travel to England to do a pilgrimage at the seven Isles in Avalon. I might probably just travel to Japan 🇯🇵 , since it is also one of the countries to visit on my bucket list. Probably go and visit Vietnam since I haven't had a chance to do it last year. Hopefully though, I would be given a chance to visit Europe next year.

I'll end this entry here.

The Importance of Knowing yourself in the Craft

2021-08-10T01:53:00.005-07:00

Know thy self – an age-old rule for practitioners of the Craft. We have seen this in numerous materials both in books and on the internet. But how important is knowing yourself in your magical journey?

The most important thing in working your magic is giving all of yourself when you manifest that Will. Most practitioners of magic would always say that crafting a spell requires not just placating all your senses, aligning your thoughts and your mind towards a specific goal, but also blending all these things together with foci in different planes – Physical, Mental and Spiritual to manifest the intention or the end goal of the rite. Doing these however would be very challenging if you have not accepted yourself totally. If you’re hiding behind walls of denial and rejection of your true self, this would really affect the outcome of your working.

Here are some advice that I would give new practitioners walking in the path:

Acknowledging you – your strengths and weaknesses

You are you. Let’s establish that first. We are individuals with unique personalities and behaviors. We have a lifetime to identify our strengths (develop it) and weaknesses. The first thing we need to do is to assess ourselves. What do you think is your strength? What are the things that you can consider your weaknesses and how to improve yourself as a magician/witch? As you have identified these parts, the next thing to do is to…

Embrace all your sides – Darkside and all

We are people with different facets, unique parts that make us who we are. Everyone is a special mixture of attitudes, behaviors and characteristics that are just ours, making us totally different individuals. There is also a “dark side” in everyone, which most people hide and ignore. However, to become a “complete” person, this shadow self must be accepted and embraced, since this is part of who you are. Once you have embraced all of you the next thing is to…

Work on your Strengths – There is always a room for improvement

Many practitioners claim that they have this and that skill. I knew someone who told me that she is a psychic with a range of abilities such as telepathy, telekinesis, empathy, astral projection, psychometry, etc… and the list goes on. Most of practitioners that I know would have a variety of “USABLE” talents that they can utilize when needed. Some have varying degrees of clairvoyance (for example) and other skills. However, most are still in the “infancy” stage, where you know that there is a hint of that ability, and it needs to be practiced constantly to improve it. No one is a Supreme with all 7 Wonders under their belt. It takes hard work to develop abilities (unless one is born with it) and not everyone would have all of them at once. Which brings us to…

Know that you are limited – Acceptance is Key

Let’s accept it, sometimes no matter what training we do to develop some psychic abilities, we are not just made for it. Sometimes, people wanted to develop an ability that they spent their entire lifetime developing it, while disregarding the ones they have. By knowing your limitations, you will be able to work on the ones you have and cultivate it. Once you identified these limitations and accepted them, you must strive to move forward. Understand that …

Knowledge is ALWAYS power – Stagnation is worse than regression

Most seasoned practitioners have become so lenient in their practice that they stagnate. Most of us (myself included) would plateau in the practice that we sometimes feel stuck. What I normally do is to go back to basics, revisit the rites and rituals I did in the past and check if I can improve them. Amassing knowledge is always a good thing and is a sure way to improve your workings. What I do is to eat up every book and materials that I can find and gobble them up, expanding my knowledge in different topics of metaphysics/occult etc. However, after a few years of getting the knowledge from books and mentors, you would have that feeling that you still need to learn more. This is where you need to…

Listen to the Inner you – Jiminy Cricket Speaks

When we have learned everything (at least “everything”) that we can from books and mentors, we need to learn from other sources. This is where our intuition or our “higher self” will play the part of a mentor. We need to listen inwardly for wisdom and new knowledge. Sometimes this voice is from our Spirit Guides, Ancestors or Gods. In the absence of these worldly sources, the best way to go forward is to learn from these ancient sources. Once we have listen and learned from these spiritual sources, this is the time to…

Ground yourself with what is Real – Tama na ang Drama Recipe!

This is usually the pitfall where “famous” practitioners in the country fall victim into, losing themselves in the blanket of “mystery” and being special. Most of them label themselves masters, tagapagpangalaga ng Brilyante ng Apoy, Caster Keeper, Pulis Pangkalawakan atbp. My advice to practitioners is to always ground themselves. Though we are bending the laws of reality, we are still governed by these laws, whether we like it or not. As practitioners, we must always remember that we are still operating within the physical realm where certain limitations are being imposed.

Some of these practitioners that I heard of often claim outlandish things that might be “amazing” to newbies but is very laughable to someone who is also knowledgeable about these things. We need to remember that sooner or later, we will be challenged to prove these claims.

These are the things I want to put out there for new practitioners and to end this entry, I wanna leave these to you all – Live, Seek and Learn.

-Photo from the internet-

State of the (Magical) Nation Address

2021-08-08T02:35:00.002-07:00

In the current situation where some “practitioners” in the country are being bombarded by scandalous claims – (fraudulent and scamming allegations), the question of who are “legit” and who are not came again into the spotlight. There were plans in the past to create an umbrella organization, who was (supposedly) tasked to “regulate” Tarot reading and other “divination” services being offered to the public. However, as groups around the country aim to be autonomous and “self-governing”, the idea then was scrapped, and Arcanum (the umbrella org) was dissolved.

In the recent scandals that involved “Masters” in the community, there were a few accusations of fraudulent “fortune-telling”, overpriced “anting-anting” – amulets, cleansing rites and “pangontra”. These businesses and services offered spiked when the pandemic started and face-to-face negotiations were halted, you will likely see more online “readings” and spellwork – I saw one who was blessing everyone with her healing water by sprinkling it to the camera, during a Facebook live.

Online reading, by virtue of some psychic skills that enable the reader to remotely connect or “see” their clients are still legitimate (as I have seen), giving the querant the information they need to know. We have also seen remote workings like – cursing/kulam/, healing, protection etc., though not as effective as a face-to-face work, but MAY still work, nonetheless. Distance is not an issue most of the time to skilled practitioners, as zooming in and connecting to their clients can be done outside the physical realm. Seeing someone however, doing this casually on a social media platform, without preparation and entering an altered state of consciousness is casting some doubts on my mind.

Going back to the increasing numbers of “masters” and other claims (insert Sang’gre/Pulis Pangkalawakan/Reincarnation ni Freya/Grand Poobah here), I agree that there should be an organization to “endorse” readers or practitioners that they see as “legit”. Though they can never really police the practice, or label anyone as fake or legit (at least publicly), they can at least endorse people within their organization to clients, vouching the legitimacy of the practitioner. The question is though, how will they gauge the legitimacy of the practitioner? Will there be a test of Seven Wonders to identify the next Supreme?

In Arcana, where moving up in the ranks of the organization requires not just knowledge but the skills needed to move to the next level, we are very careful in naming someone an “Adept” in a specific field of study. While no one is a “Master” in the group, Adepts or Skilled members must prove themselves to the officers by undergoing trials and ordeals, before the title is added on their names. These ordeals normally last for years, just to make sure that the skills the members think they have are legit and are proven.

The good thing about us is we rarely go out in public and expose ourselves to the media. We study and accumulate knowledge, help out people in need (without asking for ridiculous payments), and test our skills so we can improve.

For now, we will just grab some popcorn and watch as things unfold. Let the dog show begin.

Image from: https://harryalbuspotter.fandom.com/wiki/Wizengamot

Poco F3: First Impression and Initial Review

2021-04-14T00:02:00.000-07:00

Poco, a brand of Xiaomi, has given us some Flagship level phones with a very affordable price. It started with the release of Pocofone F1 (which I also bought and used) and most recently, the release of Poco F3 last March 27th, 2021.

The Poco brand do not shy away in putting top of the line processors and specs in their phones. In the new Poco F3, it comes with the latest Snapgragon 870 5G (7nm), an Adreno 650 GPU, 6.67-inch AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+, 1300 nits (peak) brightness. It also has Gorilla Glass 5 on both front and back. There are two versions that you can choose from - a 6GB RAM with 128 GB of storage and one with 8GB RAM and of 256GB Storage. This phone is also equipped with two front firing DOLBY speakers, triple camera set-up at the back, with a depth-sensor and a 20mp selfie cam.

I ordered my Poco F3 during the pre-order launch at Lazada, who exclusively sell it with the early bird discount. The Phone costs for Php 17,990 for the 6/128gb, and Php 20,990 for the 8GB/256GB variant. I purchased the Arctic white, with two other color options available - Night Black and Deep Ocean Blue.

The phone looked really sleek with a semi glossy back and a plastic frame. It also shipped with a free screen protector and a transparent plastic case. Transferring the apps from my Red Magic 3S to the new Poco F3 was seamless too using Google to copy the old phone's content to the new one. Icons are also smooth to the eyes, and with the 120hz refresh rate, you would rarely feel a lag in the UI. It comes with a fast charging brick that is able to charge the phone's 4520mah battery quickly using Quick Charge 3+. The phone uses MiUI 12 based on Android 11 as its OS.

Camera:

The Poco F3 triple camera set-up is okay, especially if you give it enough light to work on. We have a 48mp main shooter, 8mp ultrawide lens and a 5mp macro lens. Using it under favorable conditions (better light), the camera can give you outstanding pictures and videos. Though you will observe some struggles under lowlight conditions and when you're moving as this phone doesn't have OIS.

Main Camera:

0.6 Ultrawide:

x2 Zoom:

Macro Lens:

20MP Selfie Camera:

Gaming:

With gaming, I used Poco F3 for Mobile Legends on very high settings, with no issues. The game is smooth and the heating is tolerable, thanks to the built-in cooling system. However, I also saw some reviewers experiencing some overheating in their heavier games. I probably need to try it with graphics heavy game.

What I think could have been better:

Though Poco F3 is a very good phone given its very affordable price, there are a few things that needed improvement.

The first one was the pre-installed apps present on the phone. When I first set the phone up, I noticed a lot of applications present on the phone. Some of them are games, or other utility apps that I do not really need. Though, you can uninstall them, it will require some effort to go through all of them and remove them from the phone.

They could have put a bigger battery. Compared to the phone that was also launched together with the F3, it could have at least come with a 5000mah battery. In the few days that I was using the phone - playing games, YouTube viewing and social media apps use, it can stay on for a full day before it would require you to charge it again. However, comparing it to the more affordable Poco X3 Pro (5160 mah battery), the F3 should have at least reached the 5Kmah level.

Though you will get a USB-C to 3.5mm headphone jack converted, I would have preferred a dedicated headphone jack built-in on the phone. This would let me use a wired headphone, watching videos or listening to music while the phone is charging. Though, I often use a JBL wireless headphones and an AirPods Pro, I would appreciate my Poco F3 to have a headphone jack.

Despite of the features I personally want for the Poco F3 to have, I do not have any complains on how the phone looks and performs overall. It has a very good processor, amazing screen with an equally amazing refresh rate, very good DOLBY speakers, responsive fingerprint sensors and most importantly, a very affordable price for its specs.

Now, do I recommend this phone to friends? I definitely do. This is one of those mid-range priced phones with a flagship level specs that we need for our daily use. Comparing its price vs value, Poco F3 is definitely a flagship killer.

The Next Phase of Belief

2021-04-09T01:32:00.001-07:00

Belief is a cycle (at least for me).

As we learn and experience divinity and hone our magic, we open to different experiences and thus, forge our beliefs. Belief as defined is an “acceptance that the statement is true or that something exists”, so in this premise, we may see things and accept it differently from others.

The journey of my belief is quite a gradual change. I was baptized as an Aglipayan, then converted to Catholicism when it was needed (since I was in a Catholic Church choir – for my scholarship during college). The belief in the Monotheistic godhead which has “three forms” was a curious topic for me. When I was still a “Christian”, I discovered an affinity with Mary, as the intermediary between me and God. I always feel that God (The Father) was too far, and the only Divine aspect of this monotheistic God who is accessible is either the Holy Spirit (The Will of God), and Jesus Christ, who is God made flesh. Since Mary is the Mother of God, her presence and her intersession is a “short-cut” to reaching God.

When I was in high school (way back in 1995), I discovered the joy of Wicca. Looking at the belief of the religion, it is mainly Duotheistic – the belief that there is a God and a Goddess with many form and faces. What I believed this time was that God (or the Divine) is not somewhere far, but is here, around us. This, together with the belief that Mary is a Divine being and should have been worshipped as a Mother Goddess, opposite to the Father God. During this time, I familiarized myself with the different forms and faces of the Goddess, believing that She is like a diamond, with Her different forms (including Mary) as the different facets of the gem.

As I have continued becoming a Wiccan for a few more years (1995-2012), I have immersed myself in the lore of the Goddess. Here I started to research on my favorite Goddesses (or aspects of the Goddess at this time), looking at their cultural and historical background, their beliefs, and places of power. Here my belief evolved into what it is right now, polytheism.

My journey as a polytheist stemmed from the belief that the Gods I worked with, have their own culture and worship. Cerridwen for example, has a different story than Hecate, although they are both a Cauldron goddess. I became interested in serving the gods in the religion that they belong to and the how they are being worshipped in their own culture. That is the year (2012) where I moved out of Wicca and moved to Religio Romana, a reconstruction of the old Roman religion.

Comparing the way the Goddess Hecate is worshipped (and the spirits in general) in Wicca versus how She is viewed and worshipped in Roman paganism (as Hekate or sometimes Trivia), is quite different. She has her own set of worship, with sacrifices done in the crossroads. She is not just a form of the Great Goddess, but a separate Deity altogether. As a crossroad Goddess, She was deemed as a protector of the roads and travelers. She is also seen, not just as a crone aspect or face of the Great Goddess, but also a motherly midwife goddess who takes care of the young. This along with so many titles and epitaphs make Hekate a powerful and complex deity, not just a crone and the symbol of the Waning Moon in Wicca.

In Wicca, the Great Goddess is the center of the worship, with the God of the Hunt, her escort who comes secondary. The Great Goddess is also viewed as the same being who “appears” or is the different goddesses in so many cultures. One of the centers of belief in Wicca is also in the observance of the cycle of death and rebirth, the movement of the life from one season to the other.

Roman Paganism on the other hand, focused first on the spirits of the place. The formless nameless gods that interact with us daily and giving them respect and prayers as form of an obligation. The ancient Roman belief started with the veneration of the Numa, the Divine presence in a place. People regardless of their skills to perceive the spirits, would always “feel” if the place has something in it. When they start to bring offerings in these places, creating shrines and altars, the Deity of the place is “born”. They will also make representations of the Deity’s form and give it a name, then worship it. As the worship of the deity grows, and temples are erected in their honor, their following becomes so big that they are sometimes regarded as the patron/matron god of the place.

This way of worshiping the spirits is also evident in most animistic practices – in Shintoism, Native American Shamanism, Philippine Babaylanismo, to name a few. The spirits of the place are also closely tied with ancestor worship, as some believe that the ancestors who are interned in a specific place become the guardian spirits of that location.

In the evolution of my belief system, my polytheistic view of the Divine fit with the beliefs of the Roman religion I am in. Gods within the Religio Romano are individual beings with different personalities and attributes. The reverence of the ancestors is also a very strong system in the religion, as well as the veneration of the spirits of the place (The Lars). In this structure, Religio Romano can also accommodate the native Filipino spiritual belief system – and that makes it better as this hits home.

Growing up in Iloilo, I have been familiar with tamawo and engkantos. I read them in books, heard it from neighbors, but most of all, they are characters in stories my grandmother used to tell us. They are part of the everyday life of people in our province, where they leave offerings to the “tag-lugar” on altars, invite them during meals and asking them for bounty – ex. in fishing and farming. People long ago are very sensitive to these beings because they are not treated as something different but are considered our unseen neighbors. As I grew in my practice, I have focused far from home, studying Western magical practices and religions, paying little attention what we have here. Now it is time to come home to our own practice and beliefs.

Though I cannot let go my obligation to the gods I swore to, I am incorporating our pre-Hispanic belief of the spirits in my practice. Now I am focusing more on the reverence of the ancestors and working with the spirits of the place, formless, nameless or not.

Let’s go back to the basics, again.

Photo credits:

Moon Phases - https://www.teenvogue.com/story/witchs-guide-to-the-new-year

Shinto Shrine - https://www.greenshinto.com/wp/2017/03/16/hearn-14-ancestor-worship/

Lalarium - https://arjuna-vallabha.tumblr.com/post/160389383012

Wiccan Altar - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wicca

Hekate Trivia - https://archetypicalwitchcraft.wordpress.com/tag/hecate-trivia/

Babaylan - https://www.aswangproject.com/filipino-shaman/

Occult Groups on Social Media

2021-01-24T02:35:00.003-08:00

Since the 1990s, my journey in the ever-elusive path of Magick has been challenging, intimidating and has encountered a lot of stops than the forking crossroads. As the interest in the study of witchcraft and the occult is on the rise, I have been scraping whatever information and knowledge available from books in the dusty, obscure corners of the library in UP Highschool. For the past five years, the only available source of information about it were a few Time Life Books, some Encyclopedia about ghosts and spirits, occult and other sociological studies of tribal beliefs and folk magic. One of the most influential persona in my interest to study the local Visayan folklore is Dr. Alicia Magos of the University of the Philippines in the Visayas. Her book, the “Enduring Ma-aram Tradition” contains some information that painted the picture of the magickal practices in the Tribes of Panay.

In the coming years, I have started the research group in Iloilo and have started corresponding with active practitioners on the internet. I have met some of these practitioners in my trips around the country, sponsored by my university, when I was sent to writing seminars and competitions. The correspondence continued via the chatrooms on Yahoo Groups, MiRC, MySpace and Friendster. During the “occult revival” here in the country, a few prominent groups have started from all corners of the country. Some boast of “direct lineage” from mentors connected to established occult orders and traditions from around the world. Most of us were eclectic fledging witches experimenting with substitution of herbs for magick if the actual spell ingredient can’t be found in the spice section of the supermarket.

As the 2000s started, the desire to create a community of practitioners was sparked and with this, events all across the country started to gather the everyone in parties, open circles and groups. In Iloilo, the Order of the Inner Circle was born and has become one of the most active groups in the country, coordinating and corresponding with various organizations. We have done some collaborative activities with groups from Bacolod, Cebu, Mindanao, and Luzon. We shared rituals, exercises and activities to create a more “codified” set of exercises and rites.

As the popularity of the occult and the lure of mysticism became more mainstream, the media has caught whiff of it all and has become the “platform” of a few practitioners who started to create a public persona of authority in magick. Some of these “media personalities” became the unofficial spokesperson and “authorities” on magick, though some of them do not really know what they’re doing and talking about. These pressure from appearing “correct” on television and radio, for me has caused the existing issues that magickal practitioners have since then. Most of them thirst for the lure of the spotlight and the 15-minute fame an interview could bring. This has caused a lot of discord in the community as people started to compete with others for interview spots, TV and radio guesting and newspaper articles. Groups have engaged in “witch wars” as a result of these competitions. Now, 20 years after, the competition is still ongoing between groups and individuals to get their place on the spotlight, with clients or getting followers. Now, the new stage where these competitions happen is social media.

We have seen a lot of groups popping on Facebook with claims of expertise and their promise of power to whoever follow or study under them. And when we have a couple of people, claiming to be masters, competing on a small stage, then conflict will rise. Some of these “masters” would also be quick to shut down other people they perceive as threat to their “kingdom” and will talk bad about them to remove them from their path. This is actually the reason why I decided to slow down and step away from these groups online. The community has become too toxic and the main goal of forming these organizations has shifted from learning to profit. Now people put themselves out there, not to educate people about the practice, but to get followers that are their potential clients in the future. For me, this “occult commercialization” has become such a norm that “energy exchange” for these lessons have been increasing dramatically. Now, instead of helping people and teaching them how things are done, it has become, “yeah just pay me, I’ll do it for you”.

I just hope it is not too late to stir people back to become Seekers of Knowledge and the motivation of learning is not to monetize it but to look for answers.

Images from the internet.

Long Lost Poems

2021-01-14T08:33:00.002-08:00

KOLEHIYALA

By MPPinto

Kasisidmon kung magmata,

Para mag eskwela

May kwaderno nga dala

Pero blanko kag wala sang letra

Maligo kag mag-ilis,

Sang bestida nga manipis.

Dala kurit kag kiskis

Sang make-up sa iya kutis.

Madulum na ang kalye

Sang ikaw nagbyahe

Kay wala inugpamasahe

Ku-ot nalang ang plete.

Karon handa ka na,

Dulom na sa Plazoleta

Tindog na kag mag linya

ang Klase magasugod na.

KALIT

By MPPinto

Dali-a wala si nanay

Kadto na di sa balay

Dala coke kag tinapay

Ang text ni Inday

Ini naman si Toto

Daw nagapala-is nga ido

Dali-dali nag paligo

Ari, libre naman ang igo.

Linti kag bilatibay,

Ang yawyaw ni Nanay

Sang nakita naga sampawanay

Si toto kag si Inday

Kay man mga bata pa,

Di pa handa mangasawa

Ang solusyon sa problema

Si Clara nga paltera sa Tanza

Pero ining si Inday naga luha

Kay indi na makabata

Sa malip-ot kag kalit nga kasadya

Dalayon nga pag antos ang gaba ya

Sounds of Sadness - Rainy Monday Musings and Melodies

2020-12-07T06:55:00.007-08:00

It's been a long time since I have written poems. It's probably because I haven't had any time to do any introspection related to, well just me. Battling in my head are voices that are constantly arguing about things - career, money, family. Today is the 7th of December, 2020, a very rainy Monday and here are some musings.

Image from http://astrikfu.blogspot.com/

Hard Rain

Rain is falling hard,
Like my pent up, hidden tears
Loud yet hard to grasp.

Cael Pinto. 120720

MUSIC & MELANCHOLIA

Music is my saving grace. 
Each line and tune lift my soul.
Like the promise of day after the night.

Each pause, each stop
Gives my mind a breather.
Like the light at the end of the dark tunnel.

Each note on the scale,
Is like a drop of tear, a panel of emotion.
A color in the dark canvas of this world.

Each sharp, each flat.
Conveys unspoken words.
Hidden deep within my soul.

Each rhythm, each beat
Is matched by my sad heart.
Unable to speak.

-Cael Pinto, 12072020

Pag Sug-alaw sa mga Kapapuan (The Meeting of the Ancestors)

2020-11-24T01:09:00.000-08:00

In the past 25 years of practicing the Craft, October 31st is always a special night. It is the night of Samhain and I have celebrated this without fail since 1995. Way back when I was Wiccan, this celebration is the "holiest" of the eight Sabbats and is usually celebrated grandiosely. This festival marks the "Witches New Year" and the preparation usually starts really early. We would normally go to secluded beaches or even rent out private resorts for a night so we could have it all for ourselves. Even when I started practicing Roman Paganism last 2012, I am still joining Wiccan friends celebrate this festival, where we still dress up with our ritual robes and crafted masks. Samhain became a moment where friends get together and honor the ancestors.

This year however, the rite has become less centered to the Pagan or Wiccan belief system as we have celebrated this night solely for the spirits of the land and the ancestors. The rite deviated from the conventional ritualistic set-up of Wicca and has mainly become a more intimate conversation with the spirits.

The night started with the preparation of the ritual space, the candles and the offering to the ancestors. I prepared a red candle, passed to participants where they engrave the surnames of both their parents on one side of the candle. When we were done etching the candles, I tied red yarn at the bottom part of the pillar candle and bury it on the ground. We also prepared the bonfire and the offerings to the spirits of the land (honey and milk) and for the ancestors (tobacco, bread and spirits). As midnight comes, we throw some incense on the bonfire and sit around the ancestral candle.

After we ask permission from the spirits of the land to allow us to do the rite, offering them a libation of milk and honey, we faced Katulundan (West) where the sun sets and the dead resides, calling for the veil that divides the world to part and let the dead walk among the living. We hold to the red yarn that is connected to the red candle (red being the color of blood is the perfect color to represent the family blood line), I used blood to coat the yarn and yank it a little to represent the calling of the spirits from the Idadalmunon (the underworld). As we yank the yarn, we whispered silently the names of the ancestors that we are inviting to the rite. During this time, we have felt a change in the air, as it became colder and the I have personally seen a few "people" walking around and disappearing from the corner of my eye.

After the invitation of the ancestors, we took turns and told stories about our ancestors. I believe that our ancestors live in the stories we pass on to our descendants and we celebrate their lives through story telling. This would also make us remember them all the time. Aside from the unseen visitors, we were also visited by a really big Mariposa who flew and landed around the space where we did the rite, as well as a black millipede walking around the ritual space.

I named this rite "Pag Sug-alaw sa mga Kapapuan", a Hiligaynon term which in English means the Meeting of the Ancestors. Sug-alaw means to meet, encounter or come upon, especially said of persons coming from different directions. We ended the night telling stories and thanking the ancestors for their wisdom and guidance, as well as their protection. It is just right to honor and remember them, not just on the day of Fiesta Minatay every November 1, but daily.

"Kari kamo mga Kapapuan

Dungga ang amon panawagan.

Amon kamo gina pasalamatan,

sa pagpalayo sa amon sa kalalat-an.

Kari kamo mga Kaparyentihan,

Pamati-i ining ambahanon,

Kari kamo, palapit kag batuna,

ining amon mga dulot.

Kari kamo mga katigulangan,

Dugo sang amon Dugo,

Amon kamo ginadumdom,

sa maragtas kag sa amon panumduman."

Come, our ancestors,

Listen to our call.

We thank all of you

for saving us from misfortune.

Come, our relatives,

listen to our chants.

Come forth and receive

all of our offerings.

Come, our elders,

Blood of our Blood.

We are remembering you,

In our stories and in our memories.

-Bane-

The Hallows cometh!

2020-10-23T00:20:00.001-07:00

The time for the Halloween is here again and I am celebrating it as simple as possible. In the years back, we have been celebrating the Hallows eve in the point of view of Wicca, celebrating the feast of Samhain as it is celebrated by Wiccans around the world. In the few years that I have observing Religio Romano however, the celebration has become quite irrelevant to me since it was not a major feast or celebration to the religion.

However, since the night of the Hallows has a significance to the Filipino culture (it being the night before Fiesta Minatay), I have always considered the time where the veil between the realm of the spirit and the world of men are starting to connect and would culminate to the closing of this connection on the eve of November 2nd.

The planned celebration this year would be more focused on the celebration of Death and Rebirth, as well as the honoring of those who passed before us. This will also center around the reverence of ancestors and the family. We will be letting go of the more ceremonial trappings of Samhain and stick to the simple folk/cultural celebration of giving prayers and offerings to the dead.

We will also stick with the more traditional offerings like alcoholic beverages, some local delicacies, tobacco, and all other favorite things of our loved ones.

I will be writing about the celebration after the Hallows' Eve.

-image from the internet-

The Spirits in the age of Pandemics and Uncertainties

2020-10-20T23:41:00.007-07:00

It has been half a year that we have started this life of isolation. We have been in this situation that brings a lot of stress not only on the body, but mostly on the mind. I have been in situations where I wanted to be alone, you may call it moments of being an "introvert", where I looked for peace and quiet in my fast-paced life. Now, it is a treat to get out and sit in coffee shops reading a book.

I have been locked in a cycle of work, eating and sleep - all mundane activities needed to survive. Most of us has lost the connection to the spirits and the Divine during these times, however, in this delicate times we are all too focused on the survival of the body and totally forgot the state of our other self.

A couple of months ago, I have tried to do a little something aside from my daily obligations. I learned that the path to the other side has now become difficult to tread, or at least have been barred to visitors. That's why I now thought that the gods and the spirits have distanced themselves from us, or at least became deaf from the millions of pleas from their devotees. They have been, for quite some time now, difficult to talk to (at least in my case).

I also think that people may feel something different even though they are not "psychics". Most people that are at least sensitives to these changes may feel the negativity from all of these happenings in the world. They might feel depressed or anxious in varying degrees. Some people may also become "recipients" of messages from the other side through dreams, and most of them are not aware of what they are or how make anything out of it. I just hope that whatever message they wanted to send will be understood and passed on.

This pandemic has caused a shift, not just what the new "normal" has become, but also the mindset of the people. This is the reason why we should protect ourselves from negativity and other "influences and intrusions" from the other side. Some people are very susceptible to these influences and may often act on it in a very bad way. One may wear protective stones and amulets to ward these energies off. People can also rely on their faith to protect themselves from these influences (if your are especially religious). Spiritual cleansing must also be done regularly to remove these negative energies around you and your home.

During this time of pandemic, we always need to be very careful. Always make sure that we follow the protocols set to protect our friends and families against this disease.

-photo from the internet-

Phone Review: Using iPhone XR in 2020

2020-07-20T23:50:00.002-07:00

Is using a mid-range iPhone released last 2018 still okay for use in 2020?

iPhone XR was released last September 2018 together with iPhone XS and was part of that year's Apple release. This phone was criticized because of having an LCD screen and was released in a variant of colors, and was compared to Apple's 5C release.

However, using this phone for almost two years now, I noticed that the "Liquid Retina" LCD display is not really different from Super Retina OLED displays of the iPhone XS. I love how Apple created the LCD so seamless that it doesn't really feel different.

I got the 256GB Coral variant from #GlobePH. Here's the specs of the iPhone XR from GSM Arena (www.gsmarena.com).

iPhone XR has lived to its reputation as always. The UI is seamless and you wont feel any lags when you navigate through the phone. I haven't feel that this was the most affordable of all the iPhone variants released that year. As an iPhone, the iPhone XR is very premium as it is made of glass and metal combo, making it very sleek to touch. The front and the back panels are both Gorilla Glass, however I am not suggesting that you do a drop test 😅. This glass back panel also enables wireless charging if you have compatible wireless pads.

iPhone XR will be able to upgrade its OS to iOS14 come September, when Apple will release their new set of Apple products.

The seamless experience that I have using this phone is with how its very easy to access content across all devices you link it with. I am using a very old iPad, an iWatch 4 and a 2019 macBook, and it's just amazing to access apps and receive notification on all of these platforms when it arrives on the phone.

Now with the cons.

The things that I do not like with the iPhone XR after almost two years of use is the battery. The iPhone is not really known for its battery capacity and this is reflected on the iPhone XR that I have been using. Early July 2020, I checked the battery health of my Phone and it is at 90% capacity, and as of today, July 21, 2020 here's its battery health -

I am always careful of my phone's (all my phones) battery management, because I don't want them to have lower charging capacity. Since batteries degrade as time goes by, I am making sure that I am charging them properly. However, I always get anxious to see this number go down. With my experience with using an iPhone before, the battery is not really its strong suite.

So, let's now answer the question - "Is iPhone XR still a good phone in 2020?" My answer is CERTAINLY.

iPhone XR is still a very good phone to use two years after its release. The design is still similar to the iPhone 11 they released last year and I would say it is still fashionable. The Apple A12 Bionic chip is working well and the upgrades to iOS 14 are coming. Once the upgrades come, you will feel that it is a totally different phone. Even though my iPhone XR battery capacity is at 89%, a full-charged phone can still make it up to a day before I recharge.

If you want to have a less pricey iPhone and still get iOS 14, amazing cameras and seamless UI, you may get an iPhone XR in 2020. But if you have the money to burn, wait for a couple of months and get a new iPhone that will be released this September.

After 6 Months: ZTE Nubia Red Magic 3s Review

2020-07-15T23:15:00.000-07:00

ZTE Nubia Red Magic 3s

Red Magic 3s, a gaming phone that is probably new to most people compared to the well known brands like ROG or Black Shark. I got this phone December 13, 2009 and have been using it since then. This phone has all the specs of a flagship from 2019. Here's what under the hood (https://www.gsmarena.com/zte_nubia_red_magic_3s-9839.php)

	Dimensions	171.7 x 78.5 x 9.7 mm (6.76 x 3.09 x 0.38 in)
	Weight	215 g (7.58 oz)
	Build	Glass front (Gorilla Glass 4), aluminum back, aluminum frame
	SIM	Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by)
		RGB light panel (on the back) Pressure sensitive zones Built-in cooling fan

	Type	AMOLED capacitive touchscreen, 16M colors
	Size	6.65 inches, 108.6 cm² (~80.5% screen-to-body ratio)
	Resolution	1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~388 ppi density)
	Protection	Corning Gorilla Glass 4
		90Hz refresh rate

	OS	Android 9.0 (Pie), Redmagic 2.0
	Chip set	Qualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855+ (7 nm)
	CPU	Octa-core (1x2.96 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 485)
	GPU	Adreno 640 (700 MHz)

	Card slot	No
	Internal	256GB 12GB RAM
		UFS 3.0

		Non-removable Li-Po 5000 mAh battery
	Charging	Fast charging 18W Quick Charge 4+

This phone has specs that can rival gaming phones Php 20K higher than it. Along with a very good interior, the phone's aesthetic also include what you can see in all other high end gaming phones. You can find RGB lights that are customizable. This phone is also equipped with left and right touchpads that you can assign game function when you switch the game mode on (physical button found on the upper left side of the phone).

PROS

What I like about the Nubia Red Magic 3s is how seamless it is when you use it. I haven't encountered any lags or any hiccups probably because of the Snapdragon 855+ and the 12 gigs of RAM. This phone can also multitask, without crashing the apps or pages opened. Red Magic 3s also has a very good cooling because of a physical fan installed at the back of the phone controllable on its game center. The game center also displays the phone's temperature, fan speed, RGB light presets and screen recording.

The screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 4, has an 80.5% screen to body ratio and has a 388 pixel per inch (ppi) and has a 90Hz screen refresh rate. The phone is bright and you can use it under direct sunlight. Sounds are also very clear and loud with two front facing speakers located both at the top and the bottom part of the screen. Battery life is large at 5000mah and has very good fast charging capability. It also has an 18 watts charge with the box.

The build of the phone is compact and made of aluminum so it feels really solid in your hands. You may also purchase additional items that you can use with this phone (a controller, a deck where you can connect a LAN cable, etc.). I purchased the Bluetooth controller for around Php2K.

CONS

The cons that I can see using this phone for the past 6+ months is mainly in the UI. Red Magic 3s is still running on an Android 9 Pie with Red Magic 2.0 skin on top of it. I also noticed that the "Phone Name" reverts back to a default "Red Magic 3s" even though you already change it. I also found online that there is already an Android 10 OTA released in China, I still cannot find any news for a global update online. I also find the UI very "basic" looking with a limited option when it comes to personalizing the themes.

The support for the phone is also a little difficult, I tried asking questions on their website regarding the Android update, but I haven't got any reply.

Another cons about this phone is there is absolutely no Water/Dust resistance, because of the fan exhaust installed on the phone.

The camera of the phone is so-so, sporting a single 48mp f/1.7 main camera at the back with an LED flash that takes decent pictures.

VERDICT

ZTE Nubia Red Magic 3s is a very good solid phone, especially if you are into games. I tried playing Moonton's Mobile Legends Bangbang and experienced no Lag. I also played heavy graphics game like Black Desert Mobile on it, and the game looks good and the game play is seamless. After six (6) months of using this, I am amazed of the battery life and the user experience. It is still snappy and responsive with all the apps running in the background.

I am just hoping to have this phone upgraded to Android 10 sooner than later so I won't get bored with it and to give it a new UI overhaul. After six months, I give this phone the following ratings:

Performance: 9/10

Graphics: 9/10

Battery Life: 9/10

UI: 7/10

Camera: 7/10

Overall: 8/10

Customizable RGB Lights at the back

Game Mode activated via a physical button at the left side of the phone

The Witch's Brew - Poems from Witchvox.com

2019-11-19T23:07:00.002-08:00

The Witch's Brewby Bane Serpentmoon, AP

Come now when the moon is full, Where the earth is damp and the wind is cool Outside the room, in open sky Let’s cook our brew and then we’ll fly Gather, gather all we need, Fresh leaves, dried roots and powdered seeds. No Dragon’s Blood or eye of newt Just mint and lemon and ginger root Put it all in a boiling cauldron, Stir it clockwise with a wooden spoon. Add some crystals and fragrant oils, the brew is done, after it boils. Now its ready, our healing brew, Which will get rid of cough and flu. With leaves and bark, roots and stones, It’ll fix the muscles, then skin and bones.