Three years ago, I decided to totally revamp my resume and make it more visually appealing. Since my line of work is in the creative industry, I didn’t think twice about injecting a bit of fun and personality into my curriculum vitae. And even though I personally don’t look for work at any agencies, some of my clients still ask for a copy so always having an updated one is important.

I was no longer happy with the old design. It may have seemed cool then, but now I notice the clutter of irrelevant information. Also, I saw a couple of other resumes online that looked a lot like my previous one. A redesign was in order!

There were only a couple of things that I wanted for my new resume: it should be clean and straightforward, and should be inspired from the character sheets in those Role-Playing Games. Once I had a clear direction, I pieced everything together one at a time.

Other things that I considered:

1. Decided to include my college education only since I figured that my high school was pretty irrelevant. But for the curious ones, I studied in San Beda Alabang.

2. I didn’t include specific tasks and job description in my work experience because I wanted my portfolio to define the quality of my work.

3. For my ‘Abilities’, I only included the type of work that I’m willing to do. Most people would probably put everything on their resume making them look like a jack-of-all-trades, but I didn’t wanna end up doing some crappy work on MS Office just because I can operate the program.

4. Whoever’s looking at my resume should instantly know that the owner is applying for a creative position. Which explains the use of illustrative elements and a bit of infographic.

For reference, here’s my first creative resume.

When making/updating any resume, I think it’s important to know who you’re applying for and what kind of work you wanna get into. That way, it’s easier to edit the information that goes into it while making subtle changes to make your curriculum vitae stand out from the pile of generic ones.

With the intention of finding my muse and getting back into doodling shape, I gathered a few of my illustrator friends for a sketchwalk in Manila’s best place for old architecture, bustling streets, and authentic Chinese food–Binondo!

We started early in the morning with a filling breakfast at Wai Ying, then headed to Escolta to check out 98B and the Saturday Market Escolta inside this abandoned building. The tiangge had a lot of vintage and hipster stuff and I was glad I didn’t bring enough money for anything.

It wasn’t a pretty successful sketchwalk because the streets were to hot and unbearable so we decided to walk all the way to the new Lucky Chinatown to take advantage of the air conditioning. In the end, we took refuge at Starbucks where we started a discussion on art, design, and love. Fuck love. Hahaha.

Rhaf and I weren’t able to produce any doodles but our industrious friends did. Gabi even brought out her water colors. #NahiyaNamanAko.

Before ending the meet-up, I couldn’t let everyone go without having them taste the awesomeness of Dong Bei‘s dumplings. Sure enough, every single one of them enjoyed the fresh homemade kuchay dumplings.

We’re planning to make this sketch-ups a regular thing, so if you’re a creative who wants to doodle the day away with us, let me know by leaving a comment below! =)

Who would pass up a chance to spend a weekend away from the blazing heat of summer in Manila? Not me. Especially when I was invited by the nice people of Summit Ridge to try out their summer offerings.

I eagerly packed my bags and slept the entire time we were en route to the hotel. After a few briefings, we were able to check in to our respective rooms an hour before lunch to be able to relax and prepare ourselves for the days ahead. I had an entire room for myself with a balcony view facing the peaceful lake where Taal Volcano silently sits in the middle.

Talk about convenience. There's a mall right beside the hotel.

A bed big enough for three. But it's just me.

Clean sheets, fluffy pillows, and bed weather. I was torn between staying in bed or going 7 floors down to the buffet lunch that awaited me. #FirstWorldProblems

The weather was just right: not too hot, not too cold. It was a little too warm from the usual Tagaytay temperature that I was familiar with, but definitely cooler than the sauna in the big city. And boy was I glad to have escaped that torture even for just a couple of days.

Our weekend’s theme centered around health and wellness and I was all up for it! About time for some healthy living, I suppose.

Fine and healthy food for our midday sustenance.

For lunch, our taste buds were tested with a Filipino Summer Fiesta at C2 Classic Cuisine featuring authentic Pinoy dishes with a twist. Fried Sumpia (lumpier with prawns), Inasal Rice, Panacota with Kapeng Barako, with the usual Fried Chicken, Kare-kare, and Sotanghon. But the clear winner of the buffet was the Seared Tilapia with Coconut Emulsion and Pineapple Salsa. Aside from the fish being perfectly cooked, the sauce was so divine I thanked God each time I took a bite.

Back-breaking moves.

Free yoga and zumba classes are held every weekend during the summer. On Saturday afternoon, we were taught basic yoga and pilates. Haggard! We were only doing the basic poses but I was sweating profusely trying to hold each one. I’m not very bendy kasi.

The following day, I was excited to do the zumba but they didn’t tell us we’d be shaking our thang in public. Our trainer brought us to the middle of a mini mall right beside the hotel, where spectators and random passers-by got to see us getting jiggy with it. After the first few minutes of shaking my booty, I retreated in shame.

The pasta was a little stale for me, but the fish was a gift to my taste buds.

This fruity concoction was a pleasant surprise to end a meal.

Deserving its own separate post would be our dinner for the night featuring C2′s Whole Food Power Menu which they describe as “Healthy meals and snacks for the summer weekend” and is available until the end of May.

This is how I wanna watch movies from now on.

Capping off the first night was a movie treat outside as we comfortably lounged by the backyard lawn while Life of Pi was projected on a huge wall. Coffee and tea were served while a spread of pastries and chocolate truffles laid on a platter before us. Pampered, we were.

The fun didn’t end that night. The very next morning, after another wonderful breakfast that included the best bulalo I have ever eaten in my 26 years of existence and a short embarrassing public display of gyration, our merry group was driven to this hidden restaurant in Tagaytay, known to people by word of mouth.

I can never say no to a plateful of prawns.

Bawai’s is a small family-owned resto that serves authentic Vietnamese dishes. I was planning to eat less and was successful until the spicy prawns and pork arrived at our table. I couldn’t resist giving in to a cup of rice. It only made me more excited for the upcoming Vietnam trip I had planned later this year. The meal was too great and memorable that it deserves more than just a snippet on this post, and so a well-deserved rave will be up on my travel blog soon.

My belly was packed full with love and happiness after lunch. My conscience was clear for I consumed a well-balanced meal. My spirit was a little bit lighter.

Bags of beans and sugarless brews. The art of coffee appreciation.

They also serve unlimited cakes and coffee in the afternoon. Sweet!

The rest of the afternoon was spent for Coffee Appreciation as an instructor from Coffee Academy dropped by to give us a lowdown on how to take our love for coffee to another level. We were able to see different ways to brew and even had the rare opportunity to taste authentic brews from Costa Rica and El Salvador, which were the best rated coffees in the world.

Other facilities include a gym, infinity pool, function rooms, and indoor playing courts. And if you want convenience, there is a Robinson’s Supermarket right beside the hotel!

I had an amazing stay at Summit Ridge. The staff were genuinely friendly and are always on an infectious positive mood, weather was delightful, food was exceptional, rooms were clean and comfortable. Plus, seeing the sunrise over Taal Lake for two consecutive mornings was a gift unlike any other.

For a similar experience, I recommend booking at Summit Ridge to avail their summer promos. More information can be found on their Facebook Page.

I started this one last January but I couldn’t finish it for some reason that it felt something was missing. This was supposed to be a reprise since the previous version seemed to dark for me. Anyway, I wanted to finish it today just so I can move on to other things. Hahaha.

Back in January, my great vector buddy Rhaf asked me if I was interested to give a talk for an event that their organization, Vector X Vexel, is cooking up for April. Of course, I obliged. Aside from wanting to share some vectoring tips, it was a personal test for me as well.

I remember a few years back when I did similar seminars in some universities. It felt strange because I was supposed to inspire and motivate them to pursue this career, but deep inside I knew I was already falling out of it. For a time I believed that I was shifting to another passion and illustration was already out of the picture.

Hello, Kzee!

I wasn't able to buy any merch. Guys, how about an online store? :)

What's your vector style?

Since college, I’ve been on and off illustration hiatus that I’ve been calling ‘Quarter Life Crisis’. Everyone who’s following me online have witnessed me fall deeper into an abyss, struggling to breathe. I stopped accepting invitations for seminars and other public speaking engagements, dropped my pen, packed my bags, and tried to convince myself that I was a man of the world and that my home is out there.

But now that I’m already swimming my way out of the dark pool of drama, I don’t wanna talk about drowning anymore. Right now it doesn’t matter if I’m following the current, crashing with the waves, or going against the flow, what’s important to me is to just keep moving.

Impressive works from VxV. I wanted to buy most of them, to be honest.

Rhaf taking the stage.

Three months later, a week after my month-long solo expedition, I found myself in front of several college kids all eager to listen to what I had to say, hoping that they get something out of the 40 slides and 60 minutes of me blabbering on about being a freelance illustrator. Ang sakit sa bangs!

I was fidgeting and nervous because public speaking has always been a challenge for me. But just like plane rides, the more I do it the less I become afraid. I was sweating profusely because my body was releasing more heat faster than the a/c could relieve me with its soft chilly breath.

Still, I had to remind myself that the event wasn’t about me. Not about my feelings and discomforts. It was about them and how I can share what I know and what I’ve been through in hopes of giving them some new insights about this career. #MissUniverse2013

Time to put on a good show.

So when the host called my name, I took a deep breath and crossed fingers that I could deliver with more clarity and consistency than I usually do. When nervous, I try to inject some humor to keep things light and informal. Good thing bumenta naman yung iba kong hirit.

The room was packed and the a/c couldn't keep up. Pawis France tuloy ang peg ko.

Oops. Di naiwasan maging bitter? Hahahaha!

It was cool to meet the other speakers as well even though I wasn’t able to catch their respective talks. I was specifically glad to have finally met Quiccs in person since I’ve been following his work since college days. After everything was done, my friends and I stayed a bit to check out the exhibit. It was nice to meet some of the members and those whose works I only see online. The guys behind Vector X Vexel are all talented ones!!! Upon seeing the exhibited works, I doubt they needed any advice from me. Puro paglalandi lang sinabi ko. Hahaha.

With Oliver, Quiccs, Lulli, Rommel, Rhaf, and some girls.

I didn’t leave empty-handed, though. After the event, it was sort of a reaffirmation that this was really what I wanted to do in my life. I am an illustrator. It took a few years for me to accept and realize it with all the self-doubt and inner turmoil that went through, but at the end of the day it’ll always be the thing I’d want to do the most until the very end of my life.

I want to draw!

Photos were taken from several members of Vector X Vexel who attended the event. Congratulations to Vector X Vexel and thanks for having me! :)

It was an idea that has been hovering above my head for over a year but I’ve been afraid to take the first step. I filled my thoughts with unnecessary fear and countless ‘what ifs’ about the uncertainties that could lie ahead. 

Ever since, I have been beating myself up with self-doubt and worrying about the future, which has actually prevented me from living in the moment for a huge chunk of my life until today. But sometimes, I do make an effort to go out there in hopes of making significant changes in my character.

Going around town with Chen, a Taiwanese backpacker I met in Melaka, Malaysia

Beautiful architecture of the heritage houses in Penang, Malaysia

Kids wearing traditional costumes at Wat Prathat Doi Suthep. They immediately ganged up on me and this photo cost me 20 baht. Chiang Mai, Thailand.

What those well-traveled individuals said was true: Just book that roundtrip ticket to anywhere and everything else should fall into place… if you let it.

I had no definite travel plans when the days of 2013 started passing by, let alone the budget for an international trip so early in the year. Booking those tickets was a spontaneous decision that came when I read about a friend’s travel plans on Twitter.

Once the first big step has been made, I found myself applying for a visa to enter Myanmar. Next thing I know, I was preparing an itinerary for two more weeks around Malaysia, and before the trip ended, I decided to extend another week to cross the border to Thailand. All I needed to do next was earn enough money for the trip.

Krabi, Thailand. Incomparable to our beaches.

My pod at my favorite hostel in Penang, Malaysia.

A Buddha statue inside Htilominlo Temple. Bagan, Myanmar.

At first I didn’t have any reason to travel except to have the bragging rights of having a ‘long term solo-backpacking trip‘ under my belt and to have more content for my travel blog. Then it became an attempt to try and forget him, which I realized in the middle of the journey is not what I really wanted to happen. So instead it became a test if I could learn enough within that short amount of time to jumpstart a series of changes once I get back to my reality in this city of blurry faces and blinding lights where time moves faster than the light inside me.

Can travel really change a person?

Photo-op overlooking the view from Mt. Popa. Bagan, Myanmar.

A cab driver in Bangkok handed me a different set of menu.

My favorite spot at the mossy forest of Cameron Highlands, Malaysia. The highest point in Peninsular Malaysia.

Well, if we’re talking about physical change, then yes.

Male backpackers tend to lose weight during long-term trips. I'm glad it was true!

Except for Cameron Highlands in Malaysia, it was hot and humid everywhere I went with temperatures rising up to 40 degrees. Enough to render me motionless from dehydration during the afternoons in Myanmar. Back in Manila, the weather is a lot more tolerable, so I’m no longer complaining about the summer heat in the Philippines.

The heat didn’t stop me from going around on foot. Each day I would have walked a minimum of 5 hours, partly because I wanted to lose some weight, which I fortunately did despite shoving so much food down my throat.

The best Prawn Mee soup in Penang, Malaysia.

My favorite street food: Skewered liver dipped in spicy sauce! Bangkok, Thailand.

The best laksa I've ever tasted! Calanthe Art Cafe, Melaka, Malaysia.

What I miss most about Thailand. This Thai Iced Tea (Cha Yen) only costs P16

And speaking of food, the flavors and spices of each dish in all three countries were spectacular. Rich, warm, and very affordable! Not to mention how clean and healthy (except for Myanmar) their food was. Even their fast-food tasted different.

But it does get lonely. There were nights when I longed to talk to my friends back home. I missed speaking in my own language. I learned to suck it up and to try and initiate conversations with other backpackers or ask questions with locals. Being an introvert at heart, keeping up with small talk was a challenge. I didn’t make any deep connections with anyone but I’m satisfied that I tried.

Barefoot monks at the gate of Shwedagon Pagoda. Yangon, Myanmar.

In front of one of Ernest Zachaveric's famous street art in Penang, Malaysia.

This sweet lady is cooking my lunch! Tiger prawns at Taling Chan Floating Market. Bangkok, Thailand.

There are so many stories to tell and too many photographs to show that singling out a few here seems unfair to the rest so I’m leaving the details for my travel blog. But overall, it wasn’t really a ‘fun‘ trip. It had a lot of ups and downs because that’s how life is. And it wasn’t a vacation because it certainly didn’t feel like one. What I know is I realized so many things about my life and how I want to live it.

In a nutshell: Melaka was visually inspiring, Yangon was a quick love affair, Bagan was exhaustingly beautiful, Kuala Lumpur was personally uneventful, Cameron Highlands made me hella horny, Penang was creatively comforting, Krabi was a one night stand I’d want to visit again, Bangkok was financially frustrating, and Chiang Mai is nothing but love.

Terracotta sculptures at Chiang Mai, Thailand.

This cute little monk was roaming around Shwezi Gon Pagoda. Bagan, Myanmar.

For experience sake, riding a tuktuk! Chiang Mai, Thailand.

It was 6 in the morning and I was walking to the BTS Skytrain when I started tearing up. I was on my way to the airport and in a few hours will be back in Manila. I did it. 30 days. 3 countries. I felt proud… and a little braver than a month before where I cried for two nights in a row due to anxiety, fear, and stress. 30 moons later and there I was with two heavy backpacks, treading along Silom Road, crying for the opposite reason that things seems to be a lot lighter.

I realized I was being too overly dramatic again so I manned it up and told myself “Pucha, Robbie, sa Manila ka na mag-emote okay. Hindi pa officially tapos.”

So did travel change me?

Found a big heart in Melaka, Malaysia.

Looking back, the adventure was too short and familiar for any of those significant changes that I was expecting to actually happen. But it did give me a lot of new insights, a fresh outlook, a different perspective, a renewed inspiration, and loads of appreciation for the things I left behind.

Now that I’m back to my reality, the change is all up to me.

3 countries in 30 days!

Achievement unlocked! :)

—

Big thanks to Dockers and The Flying Dutchman for providing most of my outfits during the trip. For 30 days, I didn’t have to worry about looking good with my limited wardrobe as I got to mix and match different pieces. The clothes were versatile and comfortable and perfect for traveling. And my photos wouldn’t have the same quality if it weren’t for Canon for lending me a 650D to use during the trip. Even though I also brought my G12, capturing moments was a lot easier with the DSLR. Lastly, our stay in Bagan wouldn’t have been as comfortable if it weren’t for The Hotel @ Tharabar Gate and keeping us sheltered from the extreme heat.

This trip wouldn’t be possible without the help of my friends! Much love to Angel for booking my flight to Malaysia and back, to Yoshke for booking that roundtrip ticket to Myanmar AND a last minute flight back home from Bangkok, to Mica for coming to my rescue and sending some money when I already ran out of cash, to Dan for booking all my accommodations at Hostelworld, and to Vince for letting me crash during my first night in Malaysia.

<3

Lastly, thanks to these people who have accompanied me during the first week of my explorations: Riz, Dong Ho, Jerome, Ron & Monette, Gay & Luna, and Melo.

For those who are curious, I only spent less than P45,000 for the entire trip. Exclusive of airfare, of course.

On our last day in Bagan, we hopped on a van that’ll take us to one of the most popular tourist sites there–Mt. Popa! Our group stopped by a weekend market where we had locals apply thanaka on our faces which kept us a little refreshed throughout the day. Several meters later and we found ourselves at the Popa Taungkalat monastery atop the famous mountain.

I love my outfit and how much of a traveler it makes me look like. It’s not something that I would put on back in Manila, but here it looks perfect together with the setting. The moss green cargo pants from Dockers are now my favorite pair! Paired with a checkered button down shirt from Dockers and and a basic undershirt, it was a light and easy ensemble that didn’t hinder me from the thousand steps.

Photographed by Dong Ho and Jerome with a Canon 650D.

We woke up at 4:00 in the morning and biked around in darkness only to catch the sunrise at one of the temples in Bagan. Unlike during daylight, it was quite chilly in the morning but pedaling our way to Buala Thi temple was enough to keep us warm.

After sunrise, a few of us still wanted to continue our D.I.Y. bike tour in Bagan to visit whatever temples can be reached before heading back to our hotel for the buffet breakfast.

Bagan was so scenic and every angle is worth a photograph. Bet na bet! If only I brought the rest of my clothes with me, nakapag-photoshoot na sana ako.

With my trusty Bench undershirt and my favorite button down shirt from Mint, paired with a periwinkle pants from Dockers.

Photographed by Dong Ho and Jerome with a Canon 650D.

It was always almost 40 degrees in Myanmar but it didn’t stop us from biking around to see the thousands of temples and pagodas scattered all over. When travelling under extreme weather, one would prioritize function over fashion, but of course it had to be an equal concern for me.

Since I knew we would be biking for hours, I picked to wear my khaki cargo shorts from Dockers. Being able to freely move my legs around had to be my priority and it’s a good thing that it was an easy color to match with the rest of the clothes I brought with me.

My cargo shorts was perfect for backpacking because it had that look you’ll see in other travelers. Plus, with all the pockets, you can put anything you find on the road which you might find interesting. Also, the color matched with all the dust and sand that we had to cross throughout the day.

Normally, I’d stick with just wearing a tanktop but I didn’t want sunburn all over my shoulders so I opted for this checkered long sleeved shirt that I got from Dockers as well. In fairness, presko and light!

Honestly, I loved how light my shirt was. It sheltered me from getting sunburnt without me even noticing it. And with a little pop of bubblegum color for my undershirt, it somehow made things a little cooler under the heat of Bagan.

It’s important to always look good but also think about where you’re travelling to and the activities you will be doing so you can properly plan out each look. Actually, the night before this trip, I have already picked out all the pieces carefully so that I’ll know how to match things up for every occasion.

Photographed by Dong Ho and Jerome with a Canon 650D.

And so I finally took a step forward and started my month-long backpacking trip across two countries. With limited clothes inside a couple of bags that should last me for several days, I tried to capture some of the looks during the first few days of my stay in Melaka, Malaysia.

The clothes I packed were light and actually looked perfect for travelling. Despite the hot weather in Melaka, I didn’t sweat that much. I also like the fact how I am able to spruce up my travelling wardrobe with colors and prints which is not the usual backpacker fashion you see around.

1. Pike short-sleeved button down shirt from The Flying Dutchman, 2. 3-Way travel bag from The School of Satchel, 3. Local bracelets from Central Market, Kuala Lumpur, 4. Khaki cargo shorts from Dockers, 5. Purple suede slip-ons from Mundo

1. Cap from SM Accessories, 2. Plaid button down shirt from Dockers, 3. Teal tanktop from Uniqlo, 4. Navy blue shorts from Dockers, 5. Shoes from Uniqlo

In a small and artsy town that is considered as one of UNESCO’s World Heritage sites, I think my look blended in with the colors of Melaka.

Photographed by Riz with a Canon 650D.