Occasional Ramblings

Naoshima Island and Yayoi Kusama

2026-08-31T18:57:42.545+08:00

Yellow Pumpkin. Naoshima Island. August 2012I am fortunate to have visited the original Yellow Pumpkin by Yayoi Kusama on Naoshima Island before it was swept to sea during a typhoon (I do not know if the original was ever retrieved, but I'd like to imagine an unsuspecting diver getting the surprise of his life when he sees a bright yellow pumpkin perched on the seabed). It has since been replaced

Ghost Tablet scare (or that time when I thought a parasite was living inside my body)

2026-08-24T18:04:19.737+08:00

I don't know about the rest of you, but I have this habit of looking at my stool after taking a dump to appreciate what I have brought out into the world. You can imagine my surprise when I noticed what I thought looked like a reptilian egg floating alongside my stool. I tried to splash some water on it to separate it from the main stool, and it just floated there while the rest of the stool

Father's Day Reflections

2026-06-23T04:15:07.892+08:00

Last Sunday was Father's Day.The earliest memories I have of my late father when I was growing up were waking up on a weekend to the sound of the turntable resonating through the house. It will be a Broadway musical or some recordings of Placido Domingo or Mario Lanza. He would eagerly wake me up from sleep, so he would ask me to be his assistant for whatever project he was doing at the

That time my parents were scammed... well, almost.

2026-06-18T17:44:52.178+08:00

Almost more than a decade ago, I was out of the country on an overseas assignment, spending most of the day doing fieldwork. Because I worked in an environment with a risk of explosions, I couldn’t carry my mobile phone since any non-intrinsically safe electronics were strictly prohibited lest it becomes an ignition source. When I finally returned to my desk, I saw a string of

Battling the Summer Fly Invasion

2026-05-12T16:15:00.001+08:00

Every summer, like clockwork, our house becomes a battlefield swarmed by hundreds of flies. They slip past doors and windows, invading even the most guarded corners indoors. That’s when I reach for my trusty fly zapper (my weapon of choice) and imagine myself as a sword‑wielding anime hero. (Though I admit, “Fly Breathing Technique” doesn’t quite have the same ring as the ones in the anime.) Each

A Legacy in Pages: My Mother’s Bookshelf and Our Shared Love for Reading

2025-09-20T22:42:00.002+08:00

Bookshelf. Flickr/JepI stare at the overstuffed, floor-to-ceiling bookshelf in the bedroom. This used to be my mother’s bedroom. One wall is lined with a custom-built shelf she specifically requested when we were constructing this house all those years ago. Now, some of the shelves bow slightly under the weight of two tightly packed rows of books. I’ve been contemplating what to do with them.

Watch Recommendation: Takopi's Original Sin

2025-07-25T18:49:00.001+08:00

These are not your kid’s cartoons.Takopi’s Original Sin, or simply Takopi, may visually present itself with a childish and cheerful art style, but don’t let that fool you. Rated 17+ in some regions, the series takes the familiar "magical friend" trope (think Fairly OddParents) and subverts it with dark, emotionally charged themes. In fact, this cognitive dissonance on the art style and the type

My Chili Pepper Garden

2025-07-25T17:09:00.000+08:00

Siling labuyo. Jep | FlickrSiling pansigang.siling haba. Jep | FlickrI've been expanding the varieties in my pepper plant garden. So far, I have the following in my garden.Siling labuyo (Capsicum frutescens) Siling pansigang or siling haba, as it is locally called (Capsicum annuum var. longum)Purple chili pepper (also belonging to Capsicum annuum)Bird's eye chili peppers (

Audiobooks: A Different Way to Enjoy Literary Works

2025-06-11T17:00:00.003+08:00

Audiobooks: A Different Way to Enjoy Literary WorksAudiobooks offer a more passive way of consuming media, making them a completely different experience from reading a physical book. They allow your imagination to run free while you engage in routine activities. I often listen while multitasking - whether on long drives, walks, or public transportation commutes. However, depending on the

Rainy Season Begins: Looking Back at a Scorching Summer

2025-06-09T17:04:00.002+08:00

Swimming Pool. Jep | FlickrThe local weather bureau officially announced last week the start of the rainy season in the Philippines. Fortunately, summer this year wasn’t too unbearable, though I was mainly concerned about the deep well drying up again, as it did last year. That, and the inconvenience of my air-conditioning unit breaking down for a few days last month. I remember the city’s

Fried Steamed Pork Buns

2025-06-05T18:34:00.005+08:00

Chowking's Fried Siopao. Photos by Jep | FlickrI must admit that I'm a little late in realizing this, but does anybody else think these fried asado siopao from Chowking are so good? I also like the size, just enough for a couple of bites. Ordered a few boxes of 4 for snacking later. 😅

Mulberries and Mayhem: A Wasp Attack

2025-05-24T03:14:00.000+08:00

Earlier today, my peaceful mulberry foraging in the backyard took an unexpected turn. I was happily gathering ripe fruits when I felt a sharp pain, then another, and another, on my hand. A faint buzzing sound, which I initially mistook for bees, filled my ears. Panic set in, and I bolted towards the safety of my house. It must have been quite a sight: wide-eyed, clutching my hand, which,

Celebrating My Late Father's Birthday and Remembering His Love for Baking

2025-05-14T19:55:00.006+08:00

Last Saturday marked my late father's birthday. Though he is no longer with us, my siblings and I make it a point to honor these special dates, no matter where we are. Baking something from scratch would have been the most fitting tribute, considering my father’s love for baking after retirement. But at that moment, I wasn't quite up to the task. Instead, I ordered a lovely carrot cake from a

Revisiting my favorite macro shots: Young fern leaf or tentacled creature?

2025-05-09T16:41:00.003+08:00

I am pleased that the Flickr community has started a monthly challenge. This allows me to review my old photos that belong to the assigned category for the month, since they do not require that the pictures submitted be taken recently. This month's subject is "Up Close & Macro."I call this one "Young Fern Leaf? Or Tentacled Creature?"Photos are from Flickr/Jep.It was taken at La Mesa Eco Park

Mulberries in the Summer: A Journey Through Memory Lane

2025-04-27T02:32:00.003+08:00

A mulberry fruit. Photos by Flickr/Jep.It's the height of summer, and the mulberry tree at the back of our house is filling up with succulent morsels of deep purple goodness. Every morning, I try to harvest all of the ripe ones within arm's reach and leave the ones I can't reach to the birds and to the annoying neighbor's chicken (or should that be the neighbor's annoying chicken - think I am

Hot summer days in Iloilo

2025-04-25T15:21:00.002+08:00

I like to monitor these room temperature and humidity sensors I placed around the house. Photos by Flickr/JepIt was the Lenten season last week, and it would seem that traditional wisdom holds true for being regarded as the warmest time of the year in the Philippines. True enough, temperatures in Iloilo have been soaring to as high as 35 degrees Celsius in the afternoon over the past

Panay's Liberation Day: Honoring Heroes and Sacrifices

2025-03-18T15:41:00.002+08:00

The Liberation of Panay Holiday, observed every March 18, commemorates the successful liberation of Panay Island from Japanese forces during World War II. This pivotal event honors the courage and sacrifices of Filipino guerrillas and Allied forces who fought tirelessly to free Panay and its neighboring islands. The day not only marks the triumph of resistance and unity but also serves as a

I've created a SubStack account!

2025-03-09T03:22:00.000+08:00

If you want to be able to read all of my posts conveniently delivered to your inbox, consider subscribing to my email list. For now, I am alternating between sending out my current posts and selected past posts that I think are interesting enough (I will not be sending everything).Check out my SubStack account in the following link: Occasional Ramblings | SubstackAlso, what do you

Happy Valentines!

2025-02-13T02:58:00.001+08:00

The new ball sack choco-butternut from Dunkin Donuts. 🫣

Dinagyang Festival - Iloilo City: Respectful Representation or Cultural Appropriation

2025-01-27T04:24:00.001+08:00

Dinagyang Festival. Photo by JVTaiza via Flickr (with permission) Dinagyang Festival 2025 is finally winding down, marking the end of three exhilarating days of celebration in Iloilo City, Philippines. Running from January 24 to 26, 2025, this vibrant festival, held on the fourth weekend of January, showcases the rich cultural heritage of the region. With events like the ILOmination and Parade

Statues of the Sto. Niño in indigenous garb for Dinagyang 2025

2025-01-23T23:19:00.001+08:00

Statues of the Sto. Niño in Indigenous garb for Dinagyang 2025. Photo by Jep c/o Flickr.With the Dinagyang 2025 festival fast approaching in Iloilo City, Philippines, displays such as this are common at shopping malls and other areas with heavy foot traffic.

New Year Resolutions (2025 edition)

2025-01-03T15:54:00.007+08:00

It's the start of a brand-new year and it's the perfect time to take a bit of a pause and reflect on what to do for the rest of the year. Now is the best time to do this while you're feeling all fresh and optimistic, ready to conquer all obstacles that come your way. You've got big dreams, grand plans, and maybe even a few resolutions floating around. But here's the thing: without a plan, those

Pinoy Baiting

2023-11-19T14:36:00.000+08:00

An image that is meant to represent "Pinoy Baiting" - image was generated with the assistance of Dall-E3. Over several years, we have seen the popularity of so-called Pinoy-baiting videos. It may start innocently enough, in which certain social media influences would just happen to feature something Philippines-related in their videos and they would be surprised by the sudden surge in

Grocery store-bought Maki

2023-11-14T23:25:00.000+08:00

A tray of Maki bought from the supermarket. Flickr/JepI was at a local grocery store earlier today to buy some kibbles for my cats and I noticed that they were selling these near the fresh produce section. It doesn't have any raw fish or anything easily perishable like that and consists mostly of cucumber, seaweed, rice, mango, and kani. They looked nice so I thought I'd buy a tray. Big

Duolingo quietly got rid of community discussions on individual exercises

2023-11-08T22:16:00.000+08:00

A green owl holding a knife while gesturing to be quiet by holding a finger to his mouth. Image generated with the assistance of Dall-E3. In a Reddit announcement posted about 3 months ago, Duolingo announced that they are dropping the community discussions on individual exercises. I admit that this was only brought to my attention recently and not while using the app but in a