All I Can Handle

Inside the Siliman Museum

noreply@blogger.com (Jerome Herrera) — Fri, 08 May 2026 05:05:00 +0000

After having cakes and coffee at Sans Rival, I decided to head to the Anthropological Museum at Siliman University. Entrance fee was 100 pesos.

There were a lot of interesting stuff in this museum that will make you think.

The museum is mainly focused on artifacts from an archealogical excavation site 15 kilometers away from Dumaguete. They are associated with the age.

The first thing that came to my mind when I saw this wood carving was that it was a depiction of a group of evacuees fleeing something by boat.

Yes, they seem to have been aware of the reptilians living among us back then.

What do you think? Do these artifacts match the image you have of the natives in these islands more than ten thousand years before the Spanish colonial period?

This part was the most interesting for me.

The museum also houses an impressive collection of artifacts from the Sultanate of Sulu.

LBC in Decline

noreply@blogger.com (Jerome Herrera) — Wed, 06 May 2026 05:07:00 +0000

I'm old enough to remember when LBC provided expensive but very dependable service. In the past, if you wanted to be sure that something gets delivered and delivered on time, you trusted LBC to do that job.

Today, it is but a shadow of its former self. From limited customer service and unexpected fees, it is no longer the "hari ng padala".

Last year, when I sent something to be picked up at the branch, I was surprised to find out when the recipient was unable to pick it up, that I had to pay a delivery fee just to get back the package.

This was not how I remember they used to do business in the past.

Times are changing and the business environment is deteriorating rapidly.

In February, I decided to use their rush delivery service for sending a package from Manila to Mindanao. The promised 24 to 48 hours timeframe was not followed and in fact it took them 7 business days to deliver it which was the regular delivery timeframe.

I emailed them about it but never received a response.

In April. I decided to use the same service for a package from Manila to Visayas and it took them 5 business days to deliver.

This time around, I decided to file a complaint with the DICT. Why is a huge corporation being allowed to collect premiums for a service that does not fulfill its promises? At the very least, shouldn't they have a proactive system that allows clients to get a refund for the rush delivery fee that was collected?

I was very disappointed that LBC did not receive the feedback I gave them in my email. Instead, they simply asked me what I wanted from them and told me okay, we will refund the difference paid for the rush delivery service. That was it. Not even an apology!

In other words, they don't care that a customer is bringing this matter to their attention so that they could resolve it.

In other words, they do not have plans on doing anything about it.

Since I had to check out DICT's website to find out how to file a complaint against LBC, I saw this interesting graph.

As evidenced by this graph, LBC is no longer the institution that it once was.

Filing a Complaint against LBC

Initially, I filed a complaint with the DTI but was informed that DICT is the one that has jurisdiction over courier companies. If you want to file a complaint against LBC or any other private courier companies, just email DICT at 1326@dict.gov.ph.

National Museum in Dumaguete

noreply@blogger.com (Jerome Herrera) — Tue, 05 May 2026 04:57:00 +0000

Located inside a quaint lighthouse-like structure, the National Museum in Dumaguete focuses mainly on the geology of Negros Island. They had a lot of mineral specimens so I asked them if there were quarries in Dumaguete. They said not in Dumaguete but on the other side of the island, Negros Occidental.

I love how they used the Cebuano language in the exhibits and signs.

The National Museum is just a short walk away from the Quezon Park.

Interesting Signs in Dumaguete

noreply@blogger.com (Jerome Herrera) — Tue, 05 May 2026 04:44:00 +0000

Cebuano signs at the National Museum and Public Market in Dumaguete.

Charming Dumaguete

noreply@blogger.com (Jerome Herrera) — Fri, 10 Apr 2026 05:41:00 +0000

I have always thought that Dumaguete was a big city just like Cebu so I was surprised when I got there to find out that Zamboanga city was a much more developed place.

It is however, a very lovely place. I loved how it was not noisy even in the downtown area and I especially loved the city parks.

Unlike other big cities, Dumaguete has nice parks in the downtown area.

Dumaguete was also noticeably cleaner.

The highlight of my Dumaguete trip was visiting the original Sans Rival restaurant. I first encountered this restaurant during my Cebu trip in 2024 and I loved their cakes so much that I made sure to visit the original branch in Dumaguete.

The original Sans Rival branch looked like it was an ancestral house that was later converted into a restaurant. It was a busy place and to be honest, the service was not that good. But It was such a lovely place that I immediately forgot about it as soon as I was seated.

I spent an entire afternoon on the second floor which had a nice view of the sea sipping coffee and having cakes.

They also have a nice boulevard in Dumaguete that is lined with restaurants. In Zamboanga city, our boulevard has schools and hospitals lining it.

I recently was able to trace my maternal grandfather's mother and I found out that she was from Dumaguete and that was the reason I visited it.

Before going to Dumaguete, my friend told me to investigate if there were a lot of people in Dumaguete that looked white. I told her that I knew a lot of foreigners retire in Dumaguete and maybe some have children with Filipino women so there could be some half-breeds. Anyway, I did see several locals who looked like they had recent white ancestors but what really amused me where the foreigners who acted like locals. You should have seen them! They have probably been living there a long time that they have become Filipinized!

I told my friend that the people from Manila had more main character vibes than some of the foreigners in Dumaguete.

I'm not sure if it was unique to Dumaguete but another thing I did while I was there was to try their breakfast dishes. My mom said that they also have this in Pagadian.

There is a section at the public market in Dumaguete that had al fresco dining and rows of stores that served breakfast food. They call this painitan.

I also made sure to buy some chocolate tablets. Surprisingly, the local Robinsons mall was not selling them.

My trip had a rocky start because when I got to the hotel, the lady told me that they were no longer affiliated with Agoda and that I had to pay again and wait for a refund.

Luckily, the hotel offered the same rate I got from Agoda. When I checked their rates on Facebook, I apparently got it at half the price compared to when booking directly with the hotel.

The next day, I was surprised to see the refund back in my account. That's the beauty of digitalization. Before, a refund would have taken several weeks to reflect on your account.

I ended the day with a visit to the Siliman University.

View of Cebu City From the Port Comparison

noreply@blogger.com (Jerome Herrera) — Fri, 03 Apr 2026 03:20:00 +0000

When I was travelling outside of Zamboanga city for the first time in 2007, I was able to capture this video aboard the Super Ferry ship in Cebu. Back then, I loved playing Sim City (and I still do). I became fascinated with urban planning and loved skyscrapers. The first time in my life that I saw skyscrapers in person was in Cebu.

When I went to Cebu from Bohol in 2026, I was excited to see this view again. I was travelling on an Oceanjet ferry from Bohol this time around.

I was disappointed when I did not see the view of the skyscrapers with the green mountains at the back. Instead, what I saw was only the new bridge connecting Cebu to Mactan.

Maybe the bigger ships use a different port or maybe they were taller so I had a better view.

Is the Chocolate Hills Worth Visiting? This is my Bohol Experience.

noreply@blogger.com (Jerome Herrera) — Wed, 01 Apr 2026 03:49:00 +0000

When I was planning to visit Bohol, I didn't really know where to go. Since the pier was located in Tagbilaran, that was where I decided to stay. When I checked how far away the tourist attractions were from Tagbilaran, I said to myself that I probably would just stay within the city.

So I surprised myself when I decided to go to Carmen, where the Chocolate Hills viewing deck was located.

When I went to Cebu City last year, my Cebuana friend was disappointed because I did not visit the popular attractions that tourists visit. I told her that I was already happy with visiting Magellan's Cross.

When I was in elementary school, Magellan's Cross was one of the tourist sites that I would often see in my books at school. I remember feeling like a loser whenever summer vacation would be over and my friends would tell stories about visiting the places we saw in books.

I also find myself gravitating towards museums and old churches whenever I visit a place for tourism and not the usual spots that appeal to most people.

When she found out I was going to the Chocolate Hills, my friend said it was nothing special, but I still made it a point to visit the place because it was one of those places in my books at school.

The primary reason I visited Bohol was because I wanted to connect with my maternal ancestors. I recently traced my family tree and found out that my maternal grandmother's parents were from this island.

Upon arriving at the pier in Tagbilaran from Dumaguete, I already knew that it was more economically advanced. Panglao was visible from the pier.

Even though it is not in the same category as Cebu, Tagbilaran has a big mall and even call centers!

The place I stayed at was great. It was only two kilometers away from the pier and less than a kilometer away from the bus terminal.

As soon as I got there, I visited all the historic places in the downtown area including the museum and the church.

There was conflicting information when I was doing my research, but I was able to get a bus going to Carmen from the Dao Bus Terminal. The fare was a little more than 100 pesos.

On the road going to Carmen, we passed by a lot of historic structures as well as the usual tourist attractions you hear about in Bohol.

Upon arriving at the man-made forest, the temperature dropped. It makes you wonder why they don't market this place like Tagaytay.

Maybe it was because I had very low expectations, but the Chocolate Hills took my breath away. I mean, the photos and videos you see simply do not capture their beauty.

Do you remember the music in the Wow Philippines tourism campaign videos? That's what comes to mind whenever I see these photos I took of the Chocolate Hills.

Visiting the Chocolate Hills became the highlight of my Bohol trip.

There are other viewing points aside from the one I went to. In fact, I thought that I had to take a motorcycle ride to the top, which online, it said was 100 pesos. In the end, I paid a 100-peso entrance fee, which already included a van going to the top.

You should have seen the restroom at this place. It was air-conditioned! Meanwhile, there could have been an air-conditioned rest area for tourists, but this was a government operation, so it figured!

If you are visiting the Chocolate Hills and travelling by bus, you can also visit the Loboc River Cruise and the Manmade forest because these are found along the route to the Chocolate Hills.

The next place I decided to visit was Panglao. Yes, I got budoled by the foreigner travel vloggers who go to this place. Perhaps it was because I had very high expectations, but I was not impressed by Alona Beach. Maybe it was better at the other beaches in Panglao that had high entrance fees. This was a public beach, so maybe it's already good, all things considered.

I was however, impressed with these palm trees.

Panglao was also accessible via public transportation from the Dao Bus Terminal.

Impressed by the Prawn Farm Restaurant in Bohol

noreply@blogger.com (Jerome Herrera) — Fri, 27 Mar 2026 03:06:00 +0000

One of the highlights of my Bohol trip was discovering the Prawn Farm restaurant. It was not in my itinerary because I intended to eat at a different restaurant inside Island City Mall. But when I got there, I decided the menu was too cosmopolitan, and I was looking for something more local. I did not find the staff to be welcoming at that restaurant as well. So when I saw the Prawn Farm's menu located on the opposite side of the mall, I decided to eat there.

I ordered the small Seafood Bouillabaisse Soup and the chicken executive meal, fully expecting the portion sizes I am used to at restaurants in Manila. When the soup arrived, I thought they made a mistake and gave me the regular-sized bowl. I mean, in Manila, this would definitely not be considered small. I think the small bowl was good for at least 3 persons. And considering how much shrimp was in it, it was definitely cheap.

The size of the chicken, as well as the portion size of the noodles, was also surprising. The noodles had a lot of shrimp on them!

Later on, I found out that the executive meal even included dessert.

The noodles also stood out. I thought I was getting a small simple side of noodles but what I got was a medium sized serving of flavorful noodles with lots of prawns.

I left that restaurant feeling like I dined at a buffet, and it was only 520 pesos total! In Manila, this would easily cost at least one thousand pesos. The small plate of peanuts given at the start of the meal did not help, either.

Unfortunately, I was leaving for Cebu the next day, so there wasn't any more opportunity to dine there again.

Awakening the Sacred Voice Within

noreply@blogger.com (Jerome Herrera) — Sun, 11 Jan 2026 02:25:00 +0000

In November of last year, I had the opportunity to attend a numismatic lecture at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). Since it was happening on the same day, I also decided to attend a concert at the Manila Cathedral.

I arrived at the BSP several hours early so I could visit their museum as well. The BSP entrance closest to the museum is along Roxas Boulevard and is within walking distance from the Quirino LRT Station. The building that houses the museum is just a few meters away from Gate 6, which is also where they hold public events such as the numismatic lecture I attended.

While modern and sleek, the BSP Museum was somewhat underwhelming. It does give visitors a general overview of the evolution of money in the Philippines, but I’ve seen more expansive and interesting collections from private individuals. What did impress me, however, was the staff. Everyone I encountered was very polite, courteous, and helpful.

As far as precolonial gold is concerned, the Ayala Museum has, in my opinion, the most impressive collection, one that even dwarfs that of the National Museum. Meanwhile, the BPI Museum in Cebu has a very good collection of paper money issued from the late 1800s to the present.

The lecture itself was not what I expected. Rather than focusing on numismatics in the traditional sense, it centered on the plants and animals featured in the new coins and paper bills issued by the BSP.

One amusing moment came when an attendee asked whether the BSP had any plans to mint bullion coins. The speaker deflected the question and asked someone else if they were at liberty to answer it, an exchange that made it sound like such plans do exist. After all, Palawan Pawnshop and Cebuana Lhuillier, both BSP-regulated institutions, have recently begun minting gold bars and coins, which suggests that the idea isn’t entirely off the table.

Another amusing exchange occurred when someone asked what metal the new coins were made of. Interestingly, the speaker didn’t answer the question directly.

After the lecture, refreshments were served. Yes, this is where your taxes go.

When the lecture ended, it was already raining, and I decided not to attend the concert anymore. I didn’t even know how to get to Intramuros by jeepney, so my only option seemed to be taking a cab. But it appeared that God had other plans. I met an old man who taught me how to get to Intramuros without taking one. He even offered to take me there himself on his bike.

I still had to walk quite a distance from where the jeepney dropped me off, so by the time I arrived at the Manila Cathedral, I was exhausted. Outside, a long line greeted me, and for a moment I regretted not just heading home from the BSP.

But I was already there. After using an expensive paid toilet, I braved the line.

Once inside the cathedral, I was instantly greeted by a cold blast from the air-conditioning. I’m not sure if that was only for the event, but it was a pleasant surprise. Seeing the stage and the lights, the exhaustion I felt quickly melted away, replaced by joy and enthusiasm.

It was my first time attending such an event, and it did not disappoint. The acoustics inside the cathedral were excellent, and the performance itself was breathtaking.

Little did I know that the name of the concert would turn out to be deeply foretelling and auspicious.

The past year has been a complete banner year for me. Had someone told me in 2024 that I would be doing what I did in 2025, I wouldn’t have believed them.

It’s time to create our own kind of music and sing our own special song because the sacred voice within has finally awakened.

Lan Hot Pot Buffet Review

noreply@blogger.com (Jerome Herrera) — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 13:18:00 +0000

My first time trying an all-you-can-eat hotpot buffet happened today at Lan Hot Pot in SM North EDSA. My friend and I went to their newly opened branch at the Annex.

We made a reservation for 10:30 AM because that was the schedule given to us on Messenger. On the day itself, we found out that the mall opens at 11 AM during the holiday season, so the restaurant located on the third floor also opened at 11. Just something to keep in mind if you’re planning to go early this holiday season.

The space-themed restaurant is a bit small, so it gets busy even on weekdays. The best time to visit is right when they open so everything is freshly stocked and there aren’t too many people yet. During the lunch rush, some meats may take a while to be refilled.

Once seated, the staff will ask for your soup base. Their bestsellers are the Signature Chicken Soup and the Satay Soup. Since my friend and I both like spicy food, we went for the spicy option.

They also have a sauce-mixing station with a recipe guide, plus a halo-halo station if you want something sweet. For dessert, they offer ice cream, pastries, and fruits.

There are tons of ingredients you can add to your hotpot: meats, seafood, vegetables, noodles, dumplings, and mushrooms. They also have a skewer station where they cook skewered items on the spot. I’m not sure if they were fried or grilled, but I especially liked the chicken gizzard.

If you’re new to hotpot, just put a little of everything in your soup and experiment, you’ll eventually discover combinations you like.

Here are their branches and rates:

Lan Hot Pot Buffet is available at:

Gateway Mall 2 (Cubao), Ayala Mall Circuit, Lucky Chinatown (Binondo), 8 Missouri Center (Greenhills), The Shop Grand Central Park (BGC), and Okada Manila.

Rates

All branches except Okada:

• Mon–Thu: ₱799 per head

• Fri–Sun & Holidays: ₱899 per head

Okada branch:

• Mon–Thu: ₱899 per head

• Fri–Sun & Holidays: ₱999 per head

Birthday Promo

They offer a 1+1 birthday week promo. Dine within your birth week (Mon–Sun) and the birthday celebrant gets to eat free as long as they are accompanied by at least one full-paying adult (no other discounts allowed with this promo). Bring a valid ID showing your birthdate. Promo is available in all branches except Okada.

Overall, I enjoyed my first hotpot experience, especially since we went during the birthday promo period of my friend. Aside from the incorrect schedule provided through their Facebook Messenger, the service at the restaurant itself was really good. We’ll definitely come back.

Medal Restoration Project

noreply@blogger.com (Jerome Herrera) — Sat, 01 Nov 2025 07:42:00 +0000

A few days ago, I bought a set of collectible medals online.

Haul:

1. Marcos Inauguration Medal

2. Imelda PICC Inauguration Medal

3. Marcos and Imelda Medal

4. Kamagi Medal

5. 1933 Vatican Jubilee Medal

6. Opus Dei Medal

What started as a simple cleaning experiment turned into a surprisingly satisfying restoration journey. Many of these medals had stubborn rust spots and tarnish that wouldn’t budge with regular metal polish, especially the Kamagi Medal. I tried a few methods, including hydrogen peroxide and a vinegar–baking soda soak. The result? A much cleaner surface, with the original bronze and brass tones finally showing through again.

They’re still far from mint condition, but I think they look much better than when I first bought them.

I decided to turn the medals with loops into wearable vintage jewelry pieces.

Interestingly, I hadn’t seen a Kamagi Medal in mint condition before starting the restoration. I later discovered that the black patina was part of the original design. I think I might have approached it differently had I known!

Here are the before-and-after photos of the medals.

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

Before:

After:

Check out these wearable vintage medals and other listings at my Carousell page:

https://carousell.app.link/dbWeYBM1VXb

The DTI has spoken: businesses must accept cash

noreply@blogger.com (Jerome Herrera) — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 08:21:00 +0000

In an age where QR codes, e-wallets, and cashless payments are everywhere, many Filipinos may have probably experienced being told, “Cashless Payments only”.

At the Land Transportation Office (LTO), for instance, several applicants recently complained that they were required to use GCash and even charged a “convenience fee” for doing so.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) have made it clear that this is not allowed.

In a recent advisory, the DTI reminded all merchants and establishments that cash remains legal tender in the Philippines and must be accepted without discrimination. While digital payments are encouraged for convenience, consumers still have the right to choose to pay in cash.

Why this matters

Even as cashless options like GCash, Maya, and QR Ph have become more common in recent times, many Filipinos still rely on physical money. Refusing cash payments excludes these consumers and goes against both consumer protection and financial inclusion goals.

The law is clear

Under BSP regulations, the Philippine peso is the country’s legal tender, which means it must be accepted as payment for goods and services. A merchant who refuses to accept cash without valid reason may be violating consumer protection laws.

Digital payments: an option, not an obligation

Cashless transactions are convenient, but they should complement, not replace, the use of cash. The DTI’s advisory helps ensure that modernization remains inclusive and that no consumer is left behind.

Final thoughts

The DTI’s reminder is timely amid public frustration over the LTO incident. As the country moves toward a digital economy, progress should not come at the expense of accessibility. The right to use cash, the simplest and most universal form of payment, must still be respected.

Relive the Golden Age of the Philippines

noreply@blogger.com (Jerome Herrera) — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 23:49:00 +0000

Step back into the Philippines’ so-called golden era under King Ferdinand and Queen Imelda with this vintage bronze inauguration medal, a true relic of history, politics, and pageantry.

The back boldly declares “This Nation Can Be Great Again”, words that sound strikingly familiar in today’s world (👀 yes, long before Trump said it!).

In fact, I wonder what time they were alluding to. Were we a great nation before the Spanish invasion in the 1500s?

Condition:

Good overall vintage condition with visible age-related wear and patina consistent with its age. Some surface marks and light oxidation in recessed areas, particularly around the lettering and design details, but both obverse and reverse remain clearly legible and well-defined. The medal retains a warm bronze tone and a pleasing aged character that reflects its history.

Available via Carousell:

Check out 'VINTAGE 1965 Ferdinand Marcos Inauguration Bronze Medal', available at PHP 1,350 on #Carousell: https://carousell.com/p/1400012001

Facebook Marketplace: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1724153124885865/

Collecting Stamps in the Age of E-commerce

noreply@blogger.com (Jerome Herrera) — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 12:18:00 +0000

There was a time when collecting stamps was one of the most popular hobbies in the world. It connected people across countries, cultures, and even generations. Each small square of paper carried a story, a piece of history, or a face that once symbolized a nation’s pride. Today, with the rise of digital communication and online marketplaces, the world of philately has quietly transformed.

When my father gave me some stamps as a kid, stamp collecting was already a dying hobby. It was very hard to grow a collection because the only time I could get my hands on stamps was when someone received mail.

When I started collecting stamps, exchanging stamps with other collectors was no longer a thing. It wasn't until my father studied in a different country where they had hobby shops that sold stamps that I was able to grow my collection significantly.

Perhaps things were different in Manila, because I remember seeing used stamps for sale at some antique shops in SM Megamall, as well as in the gift shop at the Ayala Museum. That was however, maybe only about ten years ago.

Perhaps over time, stamp collecting has become more niche and that resulted to selling stamps becoming more lucrative.

By the time I was in college, I found a way to buy some stamps online. In 2006, I bought some Japanese occupation and Spanish era Philippine stamps from someone in Manila through Ebay Philippines. I paid them via Western Union (with hefty fees involved) and they sent me the stamps via LBC. Although apparently, Ebay Philippines was launched in 2004 so maybe me being able to buy stamps online in college was not necessarily a result of stamps becoming more expensive. Perhaps Ebay merely provided a way to connect buyers and sellers.

Looking back, I realize I was literally part of history because eBay Philippines was probably the first e-commerce platform in the country, and I happened to be among its earliest users. Back then paying someone in Manila meant using Western Union. Even bank transfers were inconvenient because the preference for banks differed between cities and provinces. In Zamboanga City, it's Metrobank (or it was back then) that was the bank of choice for most people and that was the bank that had presence in the most central part of the downtown area. In fact, I was surprised to learn that BPI and BDO were the popular banks in Manila when I came here for the first time.

Today, being a stamp collector is much easier. I recently found a way to buy stamps from sellers abroad and not only is it possible to make cross-border payments so easily now but you don't have to pay huge fees anymore for making such payments. This is the positive side of digitalization.

I also experienced getting refunded for a cross-border payment in only a few days. If you can believe it, I made the mistake of buying the same item from a US-based seller instead of the Singapore-based one as I intended.

Soon, we may even see instant settlement become a reality!

Today, the Japanese stamps I bought from a Singapore-based seller have finally arrived. I have to say that I was very impressed with the way they neatly packaged the stamps. Everything looked professionally done!

They even used nice stamps on the envelope.

I also had the opportunity of buying assorted used stamps from all over the world from some sellers in other parts of South East Asia. Based on the price that I got them for, I think stamp collecting was a more popular hobby in countries like Malaysia and Thailand compared to the Philippines. Perhaps a lot of old collectors in those countries are finally letting go of their collections and with interest among young people being low, they sell the stamps at low prices.

Ironically, at a time when stamp collecting is practically dead, the hobby is now more accessible than ever before. At least for the time being, what used to be rare can now be quickly acquired at a low cost and with just a few clicks.

The Silent Little Night Watchman

noreply@blogger.com (Jerome Herrera) — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 14:01:00 +0000

"Guardia sereno! A las doce han dado.”

That’s a line from Nick Joaquin’s May Day Eve.

A year after moving here, I woke up in the middle of the night to find a cat walking toward me like it owned the place.

My first thought was that it was a shape-shifter that would probably eat me. But when it saw me wake up, it quickly headed for the locked door and slipped out through the open window (which I assumed was where it had come in).

Several days later, I woke up in the middle of the night to find a fat cat (literally) crying in the kitchen. It was terrified of me and ended up crashing into my oregano plants. I had to clean up the mess right then and there.

For several nights in a row, different cats have been trying to get in through my window.

But tonight, it seems like they (or at least one of them) finally got the message. At first, I thought I was imagining a cat sitting by my window. Upon closer inspection, there really was one. I even managed to take a photo.

I don’t know if it’s a message from the cosmos (cats have always been tied to spiritual symbolism), but it’s strange how they suddenly appeared a full year after I moved here.

A Generation Without Bomb Threats

noreply@blogger.com (Jerome Herrera) — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 04:28:00 +0000

Today, I realized that there is now an entire generation of Zamboangueños who never experienced the constant bomb threats and rumors of rebel attacks that my generation did.

I recently met a 17-year-old from Zamboanga City through my Chavacano blog, and he asked me if we also experienced class suspensions due to weather disturbances (maybe the climate change programming is finally working for this generation). He was surprised when I told him about class suspensions caused by bomb threats.

Of course, there were class suspensions due to rains and flooding, but they only happened when I was in elementary school. By high school and college, I never experienced flooding on our school premises. Perhaps it had more to do with the school's location or maybe there was La Niña when I was in elementary school (oh no, there goes MY climate change programming).

It boggles the mind that there is now an entire generation of Zamboangueños who never experienced constant bomb threats as a way of life. I remember our house shaking from bombs being dropped on the building at Lupong in Cabatangan (where the rebels were hiding), only about five kilometers from where I lived in high school.

I even remember hearing a bomb explode just a kilometer away from our school, right in the downtown area, when I was in college!

Perhaps people in Manila will never understand the excitement my generation felt whenever a popular restaurant in the country set up shop in our city. It felt like rain after a long drought, almost like Christmas!

I remember the giddy feeling when we dined at the first Jollibee on its opening day. It felt like a Fiesta!

In fact, I can still recall every single popular restaurant that opened while I was growing up in Zamboanga City: Jollibee, KFC, Mister Donut, and McDonald’s. There were others, like Greenwich and Chowking, but they didn’t generate as much fanfare.

Back then, the idea of an SM Mall in Zamboanga City seemed impossible. Nowadays, several well-known brands open in Zamboanga every year, and nobody bats an eyelash anymore.

The last time I went home, I barely recognized Zamboanga, with the new flyover under construction and all the new establishments changing the landscape of the city.

Growing up in Zamboanga City during a time of constant tension and excitement shaped my generation. I guess we are unique because we knew fear, but also the thrill of small joys amplified by scarcity. Today’s youth may never understand the mix of danger and delight that defined our childhood, but their Zamboanga is one of growth, change, and modernity, a city that continues to evolve in ways we once only dreamed of.

The Smoke Machine is in Full Swing

noreply@blogger.com (Jerome Herrera) — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 06:44:00 +0000

Never let a crisis go to waste.

We are frogs slowly being boiled in water. As usual, the frogs do not notice it until it's too late.

For several nights now, I have been having visions of a QR code and once a vision of a QR code, a calendar, and a signature (which I interpreted as a memorandum of a circular).

I don't know if you have noticed but recently, there has been an accelerated push towards a cashless society. I'm not talking about what has been happening since Covid (which was another case of never letting a crisis go to waste). I'm referring to the free train rides using the national ID (https://rssoncr.psa.gov.ph/content/NCRII/psa-dotr-move-free-mrt-3-and-lrt-rides-every-wednesday-national-id-holders), intensified pressure on banks to accept the national ID (https://philsys.gov.ph/psa-joins-bsp-forum-on-national-id-calls-anew-to-financial-institutions-to-integrate-with-the-national-id-system/) and digital senior IDs among others.

I'm not sure if the visions pertained to a key decision being made by a certain date that has to do with a cashless society but you can bet I wasted no time in getting rid of most of my one thousand pesos bills.

I still remember what happened in India in 2016 when they demonetized the 500 and 1000 rupee notes. The reason given were the usual: fight corruption, stop terrorism and money laundering.

Today, I woke up to news that they have decided to limit daily cash withdrawals to ₱500,000.00. (https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2025/09/19/2473856/bsp-caps-cash-bank-withdrawals-p500000day)

Obviously, there are exceptions so you can rest assured that it is the honest small businesses who are likely to be affected by this policy.

The narrative of course is that this is going to help the fight in corruption.

I mean I can think of a dozen ways of circumventing this rule and I am not even involved in anything illegal.

This is how easy it is to control the masses. Watch and learn.

The whole thing began with Vico Sotto's (perhaps another actor, knowingly or unknowingly) revelation that Korina Sanchez received money from the Discayas (Sotto's political rival) which led to a senate investigation. The hearing occured around two weeks after a lunar eclipse which is usually an omen.

When the corruption scandal hit, a former Department of Finance official floated the idea of getting rid of 1000 pesos bills.

In fact, I have been sensing ideas like this to be floated around in the coming days.

Recently, we were able to observe the central bank take a more direct approach in its bid to control the people. I don't think a lot of people see what a big deal it was that the central bank was able to order Gcash to remove links to online gambling apps from their app. (https://mb.com.ph/2025/08/14/gcash-maya-to-take-down-in-app-online-gambling-links)

And just like before, who would think that they may have an ulterior motive and that they may not have our best interest at heart?

Yes, it's the same playbook over and over again.

I mean if they can prevent you from doing something that is completely legal, what else can they ban you from doing? Eating meat and travelling in the name of curbing CO2 emissions?

How much easier is it for them to control us once everything is digital?

The current corruption issues hounding the nation is the perfect grounds to make all of this a reality because who is going to oppose these measures when they are neatly wrapped in a box with a bow? Who is going to remind the ordinary people that this can easily be used to weaponize against them in the future?

The road to hell is ALWAYS paved with good intentions. Are we going to see Revelations 13:17 come true in our lifetime? Who knows? However, a cashless society will definitely make that scenario a possibility.

The Real Meaning of “Don” in 19th Century Spanish Philippines

noreply@blogger.com (Jerome Herrera) — Sat, 06 Sep 2025 12:14:00 +0000

Today, I learned that Don was an actual hereditary royal title during the 1800s in Spanish Philippines.

In popular media, the title of Don was associated with a rich person.

I'm not sure if this practice extended or even came from Latin America, but I always had this impression that it did because in Tagalog-dubbed telenovelas, the servants would always call the head of the household as Don and Doña. Much later (when my Spanish proficiency allowed it), I was able to confirm that even in the original Spanish, they were using Don and Doña.

I can’t remember which book it was, but I remember reading that it was actually the Americans who popularized calling the hacienda owners as Dons.

When I was working with Spanish-speaking clients in Latin America, I noticed that in certain countries, some people called their customers as Don.

When I did some research on the usage of Don and Doña in Latin America, it appeared that this was the equivalent of calling someone ‘Miss’ or ‘Mister’ in the American South. For example, Miss Abigail or Mister Paul. Not too different from how you get addressed as ‘Sir’ and ‘Ma’am’ together with your first name (e.g., Sir David, Ma’am Joy) in our country.

Yes, in the Philippines all men are knights and all women are queens.

It wasn’t until very recently when I decided to research my ancestors that I found out that Don was actually a real title back in the Spanish era. It wasn’t just any ordinary title because only the members of the principalia were allowed to bear this title.

In this 1872 census record, the cabeza of the cabeceria was Don Juan Quintos. The cabeceria is the equivalent of the present-day barangay, and it is only the cabezas who were allowed to vote (someone among their ranks) for a gobernadorcillo, which is like a mayor in our time since he administers several cabecerias.

1872 Census Record of Ermita, Manila

You know how they always say that the Philippines used to be several divided kingdoms before the Spaniards? Well, the members of the principalia were the descendants of the original rulers of those kingdoms. This explains why membership in this class was hereditary.

Obviously, social norms change, so I’m not sure if Don and Doña were also serious titles in the past in Latin America.

What I discovered changed my perspective on something I thought was just something to add drama in telenovelas. In 19th century Philippines, “Don” was not just a sign of respect or wealth, it was a title of nobility tied to political privilege and heritage. This means when we hear Don or Doña in old documents, we are looking at a person who belonged to a powerful class in pre-colonial society as well as during Spanish colonial times.

Navigating Security and Evolution: The Dual Dance of Human Life

noreply@blogger.com (Jerome Herrera) — Tue, 05 Aug 2025 13:01:00 +0000

I think I had a download last night through a dream. It was a message about why we are here. I can't recall the dream anymore but I remember the message that I was given.

We are here to sort of strike a balance between our need for safety as well as our need for growth.

There is no growth in safety. However, we can't be in growth mode perpetually either.

When we left the garden of Eden, we chose growth over safety.

Stay too long in safety and we become restless and stagnant. However, too much growth will soon burn us out and we start craving for safety again.

In fact, I realize that our lives in this planet is often composed of periods of safety and growth. Often, we build and crave for safety only for us to get bored in the end and then we start to yearn for growth again.

Therefore, we live in a perpetual cycle of oscillating between growth and safety. From Eden, to exile, to return. From comfort, to quest, to home again.

Does this make sense to you?

Our life on this planet is a constant balancing of safety and growth. Some people overdo growth and end up destroying themselves. Meanwhile others overdo safety and end up stagnant or not learning a lot in their lifetimes.

Today, a lot of things are happening which is forcing us to reflect on our need for safety and growth such as the emergence of Artificial Intelligence. While a timeline definitely exists wherein we effectively harness AI's potential without losing our own humanity in the process, I think a dystopian timeline involving AI use also exists.

Do we choose what is familiar and comforting or do we dare challenge ourselves and expand our horizons?

Existence outside of this meat suit and 3D planet is perpetual peace but there is no growth in peace and that is why we choose to come here to have this grand 3D experience called life.

More Distractions

noreply@blogger.com (Jerome Herrera) — Sun, 27 Jul 2025 03:15:00 +0000

Well, once again we have been outsmarted.

Just a few days ago, people were angry about the lack of flood control and finding out about the 20% tax their savings. Now their attention is on a boxing match between the PNP Chief and who else but Sebastian Duterte.

The media, being used by the government to broadcast this spectacle is no ally to the masses.

I have said it before and I'll say it again. The elites are laughing behind our backs.

Is it a coincidence that the SC decision on Sara's impeachment came out two days before the "Boxing for Charity" event? You decide.

If you ever wondered how so few people at the top is able to control the billions of people in this planet, well this is how.

Official poster of Torre Vs. Baste charity boxing match

Bread and Circus. A strategy used since Roman times.

In the end, the house always wins.

We Got Played... Again!

noreply@blogger.com (Jerome Herrera) — Fri, 25 Jul 2025 09:48:00 +0000

Today, I found out that the rumors that the supreme court will be declaring the impeachment case against the VP as unconstitutional were true.

When they arrested the former president several months ago, I watched an interview of Sara visiting her father in the Hague. My initial thought was that it was definitely not a daughter whose father was wrongly imprisoned. I even thought to myself what if she sold her father to BBM or the globalists controlling him so she could get out of the impeachment case?

During the elections, several people voted for senators based solely on whether they thought that they were going to convict or acquit Sara.

It was crazy because how do you even hold a senator accountable for their promises once they are in power?

People keep on getting manipulated and the elites are laughing behind the scenes. Imagine all the people they were able to trick with their drama. These people are laughing their asses off while the masses are fighting one another.

The elites have been laughing since BBM's first SONA

At the end of the day, Sara is safe from conviction, BBM gained new supporters because a lot of "kakampinks" were manipulated into supporting BBM, and former president Duterte who probably has only a few years to live anyway get to spend them in the Hague where prisoners are treated very well.

I mean the former president probably has a better standard of living in the Netherlands as a prisoner than most poor Filipinos.

Meanwhile, the Filipino people suffer from poverty and all sorts of misery.

We are ants inside of a jar being shaken. The ants do not know who or what is shaking the jar so they blame one another and fail to see the hand that holds the jar.

Why the CMEPA Law Isn’t Going to Cause a Bank Run

noreply@blogger.com (Jerome Herrera) — Wed, 23 Jul 2025 03:15:00 +0000

People are upset to find out that there is a 20% tax on the interest they earn from their savings accounts but they do not get upset when the central bank lowers interest rates which devalues the currency.

If you have savings accounts in digital banks or banks that do not have the same license but the same business model, you may have noticed a significant drop in the interest that you have been earning since 2024.

This is because the central bank dropped interest rates for the first time since 2020 last year.

A few days ago, I watched a video by a Filipino lawyer talking about a possible bank run because of the CMEPA law.

It's absurd that people (and a lawyer at that!) would even entertain such an idea because as mentioned before, interest rates have been trending down since last year.

In fact, money in banks has been going up.

If a certain time deposit account is earning 5% per annum TAX-FREE, the depositor now has to pay 20% on their earnings. This sounds like a lot but in reality, it is only equivalent to a 1% reduction on the net interest earned or 4% from 5% per annum.

Since last year, interest rates on most digital banks (as well as non digital banks but operating as a digital bank) have already gone down 1 to 2 percent. So the idea of a bank run due to the CMEPA law is preposterous.

These are tumultuous and therefore emotional times, but people need to have clearer heads in order not to make poor financial decisions.

We've Paid This Tax for 28 Years — So Why Are People Mad Only Now?

noreply@blogger.com (Jerome Herrera) — Fri, 18 Jul 2025 01:15:00 +0000

After 28 years of paying 20% tax on interest earned from savings accounts, people are finally angry about it.

Today, I was amused when I saw several posts explaining the Capital Markets Efficiency Promotion Law and the people in the comments section were having none of it. They were still very angry at this law as if all of a sudden they have come online and realized how unfair taxes are in general.

I have gone through an awakening myself during Covid so I know how that feels like.

Savers get taxed heavily both directly and indirectly. Aside from the 20% tax on interest earned from savings accounts, savers get battered heavily by inflation, which is an invisible tax.

This is why Robert Kiyosaki says in his books that savers are losers.

Over the years, people have come to accept inflation as a natural phenomenon like the rain.

Perhaps now people will start being indignant about inflation.

Perhaps this is the beginning of something glorious.

Savings, Taxes, and Truth: A Wake-Up Call for Digital-First Filipinos

noreply@blogger.com (Jerome Herrera) — Thu, 17 Jul 2025 13:50:00 +0000

Today, I found out that a lot of people are unaware that the interest they earn from their savings account is taxed at 20 percent.

The internet is abuzz with disgruntled Filipinos talking about the Capital Markets Efficiency Promotion Act (CMEPA). Unfortunately, this has been fueled by the media itself framing this new law as a new tax that savers will have to pay.

While this law affects everyone that has been enjoying a lower tax rate (such as long term time deposit accounts) it is not true that there will be an increase in the tax rate on interest earned from regular savings accounts.

Some people even think that their savings will be reduced by 20 percent!

It's so sad because a lot of people are inclined to believe misinformation simply because of their politics.

This is what we have become.

The good news is there is now more awareness about the unfairness of savers getting taxed heavily.

Perhaps banks that do not display a breakdown of the interest earned and tax withheld will now be required to do so in order for people to be aware of the 20% tax. I checked my online bank accounts and it is only BPI that displays the interest earned and tax withheld amounts. The others like CIMB and Seabank just display the net interest earned.

I don't know why but the 20% tax is something that I have been aware of ever since I started working so I am very surprised that I have friends who are my age and who have had bank accounts for a very long time now that are unaware that the interest income from their savings accounts is getting taxed 20%.

A lot of people who thought that it was their savings that was going to be taxed at 20% threatened to remove their money from the bank.

What they do not realize is that this is something that they can no longer do in an all digital and cashless society.

In fact, negative interest rates will become a possibility once physical cash is gone. And yes, negative interest rates will be a tax on your principal and not just on the interest income earned.

So perhaps there is a divine reason for all this. Who knows, instead of raking in more money from this measure, the government might even be pressured to lower or scrap the tax on interest earned from savings. And perhaps people will realize the importance of physical cash.

Choosing Hard Mode in the Game of Life

noreply@blogger.com (Jerome Herrera) — Thu, 03 Jul 2025 12:09:00 +0000

If you were born here, you chose the hard mode.

They say that people who chose young countries to be born in tend to be young souls as well. This choice gives them a greater chance at learning more in their lifetimes.

In this Reddit post, this person is complaining about how life is so much better abroad than here. He only realizes that the grass is greener on the other side when he goes on a vacation in Taiwan.

Personally, I think that I was able to shift to a better timeline when I made certain drastic life decisions. It was scary as hell but sometimes taking the road less traveled pays dividends.

A friend told me that he doesn't feel enthusiastic about life on this planet as other people do. Personally, I think everyone is pretending.

Life on this planet is tough and I also feel like going back to the stars most of the time. But we asked to be here exactly to experience all the hardships that we are experiencing. And I don't think we would have asked to be here if we did not think that we could handle it. So I told him that he didn't have to be enthusiastic about life, surviving daily is enough.

We live inside of a video game. I used to play Tropico 6 on Easy mode but it has become too easy so now I play Hard mode. Whenever I do something wrong in the game, I start all over again but this time I would know better. That is essentially what we are all doing here.

I think that there is an event happening soon that will act as the catalyst for us to remember who we truly are and why we decided to be here. We live in exciting times and it is quite an honor to be alive during this anticipated time of "remembering".