• Mount Pulag: Chasing The Magical Sunrise
    Travel

    Mount Pulag: Chasing The Awe-Inspiring Sunrise

    Sunrises are a symbol of rebirth, mystery, and new beginnings. An unstoppable force of nature, sunrise is also comforting, giving us a feeling that our problems are small and temporary. And in Mount Pulag National Park, a magical sunrise gave me hope in a world that badly needs a dose of optimism.  Even at our darkest hour, I always believe the sun will rise again.  To me, the return of light after hours of darkness represents hope.  And the awe-inspiring sunrise in Mount Pulag brought a dash of hope to a new day filled with mystery and surprises.  Furthermore, it symbolizes a new beginning for me and an opportunity to…

  • Mount Talinis via Apolong Apolong
    Travel

    Mount Talinis: The Fearless Apolong-Apolong Adventure

    Why does trouble always follow me around? Am I secretly attracting bad luck, or is the world just going on a downward spiral? Will there be an end to this seemingly endless spell of troubles? In the last couple of years, misfortunes have been persistently haunting me. And, today, on our first day in Mount Talinis, I feel like trouble is once again on a mission to wreck our major climb in Negros Oriental.   But, guess what? I really don’t give a shit.  I’m a fearless free spirit, immune to all the stress and adversities life throws at me.  And, even with all the challenges that Mount Talinis is giving…

  • The Enigmatic And Fascinating Stranger On The Bus To Cebu
    Philosophy,  Travel

    The Enigmatic And Fascinating Stranger On The Bus

    They say a different version of you exists in the minds of everyone who knows you. And with the world getting smaller by the day, there are likely a thousand or even a million versions of you today. The annoying workmate, the supportive friend and the stranger you met on a foreign land – everyone you cross paths with sees and paints a different image of you. You can be a cut-throat villain in someone’s world, a harmless sheep in the eyes of your parents, or a symbol of hope to the friends who adore you. Heck, even the woman selling cigarettes on the streets creates a version of you…

  • Philosophy

    How The Mountains Are Secretly Teaching Us Stoicism

    An overactive imagination can be both a blessing and a curse.  On the bright side, my imagination can spin a thousand of beautiful scenarios and visualize infinite possibilities in mere seconds. Even when I’m isolated in a cold and dark room, there’s never a dull or boring moment with my playful imagination.  While it often fills my mind with colors and positive energy, it can also pave the road to over thinking and anxiety. And, I had been dealing with anxiety, my entire life, creating conspiracies and imagining bloody scenarios. But, anxiety vanished slowly when I began traveling and hiking. Then, I learned the ultimate vaccine to anxiety: Stoicism. The…