• Buko Buko Sa Anay, Bohol: The Truth About Chasing Success
    Travel

    Buko Buko Sa Anay, Bohol: The Truth About Chasing Success

    The most dangerous lie I ever believed was that I’d be happy when I got “there”. The problem is, “there” doesn’t exist. It keeps moving. I kept chasing goals, milestones, mountains, and books. Always the next thing. And the whole time, Buko Buko Sa Anay, one of the most beautiful hikes I’ve ever done, was sitting on the island right next to mine. I found out about it the way I find out about most things these days. A random post on Facebook. Someone shared photos of a hike in Duero, Bohol, and I thought, where the hell is that? So I joined the group hike with no research and…

  • Travel

    Dinadiawan Beach: Why Laziness Is The Ultimate Form of Self-Respect

    When was the last time you did nothing and didn’t feel guilty about it? Can’t remember? Honestly, neither could I. Most of us can’t remember the last time we took a break without guilt creeping in. We were all raised to believe that doing nothing is a sin. Recently, I spent a couple of hours in Dinadiawan Beach, Aurora.  And you know what happened there? Nothing. I mean that in a literal sense. I stood around, walked along the shore, and took a few photos. That’s it. And strangely, that nothing became the most important part of the trip. Dinadiawan Beach wasn’t the type of beach you see on typical…

  • Quirino Province: What Happens When You Stop Fighting Time
    Travel

    Quirino Province: What Happens When You Stop Fighting Time

    What would you do differently if you knew you had ten years left? What would you do if you knew tomorrow was your last day? These questions have been lingering inside my head for the past few years. And every time I asked myself these questions, I end up in a place that I’ve never been to. This time, it was Quirino Province. An overlooked province with no claims to fame and Instagram-worthy hotspots. And like always, the place I’d never been to taught me something I wasn’t looking for. It even gave me answers to questions I’ve never asked.  So, what can an underrated province teach you about life…

  • Bauko 7 Peaks: The Truth About Illusions And Limits
    Travel

    Bauko 7 Peaks: The Truth About Illusions And Limits

    How many times can you question your life choices in a single morning? I counted seven in the first hour of my Bauko 7 Peaks hike. Question one came when I realized I hadn’t slept well in two weeks and my body was demanding payment. Question seven came when my left calf suddenly tightened and screamed hijo de puta in Tagalog. Yet even with the hiccups and the voices screaming to turn back, quitting wasn’t an option. Throughout my life, I’ve learned how to bend reality and shift stubbornness into fuel. Seven peaks meant seven chances to be wrong about my limits. The mountain was real. The pain was real.…