2023 Roundup

 

2023 Roundup:

This year it’s all about clarity. It’s about moving past the pain and refocusing my energy on myself and enjoying life once again. Last year was tough, it was like trudging through a waist-deep mud…every step was exhausting me, this year I could see the lotus flowers start to bloom in the mud. There was a lot of good news this year, overshadowing the no-so good ones. A lot of health issues revolved around those people close to me, including myself. This year was about a renewal of my urge to start living the best possible life I can provide for myself.

My first out of town trip was at Dumaguete this year. They have a beautiful CBTL branch there!

My Top 2023 Whatevers:

Wow Moment: Seeing the lantern festival at Hoi An. It was one of those movie scene moments that I never knew I’d get to experience. Every full moon they’d celebrate the lantern festival in their town wherein turn off the lights of all shops close to the river and would only have the lanterns and the moon as their source of light. The sight of this reminded me of the town of Lumina from the Legend of Mana game wherein the town is known for its lanterns and moonlight as the town is stuck in an eternal state of night. There at Hoi An they make beautiful lanterns in an array of colors that light up the streets and canoes that pass through the ancient town. On our last night at Hoi An I took the time to just sit by the river and watch as the lantern-lit boats paddled by, its light mirrored in calm flow of the water.   

Our stay in Dauin and trip to Apo Island. I didn't take a lot of photos in the island though.

Our Boracay trip as our first Domeino-sponsored trip.

Heart Pumping: The cable car ride at Ba Na Hills that took us almost 20-minutes of non-stop cable ride overlooking a beautiful but really high landscape. It was half amazing half heart-stopping as it was a little too long than what I deem a comfortable cable car should be. I remember by brother unflinching the entire ride. Passing through the towers that caused the car to shake resulted with a mini heart attack. I remember my knees weaken several times that ride.    

Unexpected: The turn of events and the revelation of how my business partners ended up in a broken friendship.

Most Stressful: Being constantly sick and not seem to be healing as fast as I want to. Getting the news that I would need insulin shots if I didn’t manage to lower my blood sugar to a stable condition. It was a real one-and-a-half month struggle of lowering my glucose levels by a hundred points just in time until my next lab test.

 

A very quick stop in La Union, and that meal we had at Masa was bomb. Seriously good breads!

Most Annoying: The extreme stupidity of the DPWH and contractor of Bacolod city. They have been suddenly destroying roads all over the city without warning, without proper planning, without direction, and most of all without the urgency to work on finishing the road they destroyed. We ended up with a lot of sudden detours, killing off business sales of hundreds of shops where they left the road impassable for several weeks to months on end. Traffic is turning out to be an issue because of this, I hate driving most of the time. That AND the water shortage situation here in Bacolod. It was all fine the first two quarters of the year, then come mid-year I want to leave the city just so I can shower. I am reduced to wait until at least 11pm or 2am onwards in order to fill up my bucket that I’ll try to survive on the following day, this includes flushing my toilet and bathing.   

I spent Good Friday at Vigan this year. We got to drive the dunes in Paoay.

Scariest: When I knew there was something wrong with me because my UTI wasn’t naturally healing for months, and I was getting throbbing pains on my side. I was doing all sorts of natural healing methods and self-medicating since I knew I was in trouble and I didn’t want my illness to get in the way with a lot of my plans. The final straw was right after watching The Corrs because I was ready to face everything after the concert. One of my greatest fears this year was not being able to watch the concert as it’s been one of my biggest childhood goals to watch them live; my kidney and liver could wait. Kidding aside, it was scary waiting for the lab results and anticipating the doctor’s diagnosis after bearing the obvious symptoms of a disease. Turned out I really was ill, but I’m glad I managed to improve my situation by making better life choices.   

A quick overnight stay in Baguio, we spent our time eating at Laperal there.

Creepiest: It was the night I woke up gasping for air with my hands on my neck after waking up from a nightmare wherein a woman with Egyptian features was choking me to death on my bed. She had a livid expression as she pinned me down with both hands. She had long thick curly hair, tanned skin, and dark ghastly eyes that stared at me with the intention to kill me. Her proximity was so close to my face with such clarity that I couldn’t even remember the events that led up to that moment and I thought it was as real as death. I woke up choking, as if my body alerted me awake in order to regulate my breathing. I scanned the room after I regained composure, and can only be glad that she wasn’t there visible.

I attended 5 weddings this year, 3 of which I had a role, all in a span of 3 months.

Worst: Hearing the news that one of my dearest friends has a terminal illness and was given only a few months left to live. When it finally sunk in two days after, I felt the worst heartbreak…it was an abrupt moment wherein I felt my world fall into deep despair. It broke my heart so much that I felt it pained constantly weeks after the news. I felt constant fear of suddenly just losing him, and it gave me so much anxiety knowing that I might not ever get to see him again. Because even if I have learned how to cope with grief, it doesn’t make it any easier every time there is a permanent loss of a loved one.  

Heartbreaking: Trying to make the most out of the 41^st Pasamalat Festival in La Carlota City. It started with not being able to secure a slot for the booth, so I ended up having to do the setup in front of the house. It was quite a hard sell since I had to incur losses with the limited time and a market that isn’t really right. Another is the difficulty my other businesses is facing due to inflation and a change in market trend.

Siargao is absolutely stunning. It was my first time to set foot on the island this year.

We had to promote Domeino many times this year because we need to boost bookings, seriously.

Funniest: Taking turns driving with my friend on her Jimny. Random moments while on the road, especially when she’s sleeping and wakes up from my horrible driving. One of the funniest statements she said that we love going on roadtrips but hate driving so much that we switch so many times during the trip.

We had a few changes made in Domeino this year.

Un-luckiest Moment: It was during my brother’s 40^th birthday. He wanted to go on a yacht party, so he rented out a yacht and invited friends over at Subic to go and celebrate with him. A lot of mishaps happened that day, starting with him forgetting to wait for one of our companions that we had to take a U-turn less than 10 minutes into our trip. Then another was when he forgot to instruct the driver to pass by another one of our companions that we had to make another U-turn pass the expressway. We were an hour late for our schedule because they closed off the road getting to the port. There was also a typhoon that time, but for some reason we were allowed to set sail, just close to the bay though. For a good amount of time the waves were so bad that we couldn’t stand; it was so windy that we couldn’t cook our food; and we broke several wine glasses because of how rocky everything was. We went home starving, so we went to the bar that our friend recommended and waited for almost an hour for our food on top bad service for mediocre food.

Stupidest: Just that AHA moment when something that I have been so blindly denying and hadn’t been figuring out for years finally got confirmed in front of my face. I remember that moment wherein a was left cursing in my head as I closed my eyes in disbelief…and damned at myself at allowing the situation to just unfurl and constantly cover up for years.

 

Some random memories of this year. Tako's a big boy now! And mom's finally back to normal.

Regretful: Waiting for myself to get very sick…I saw this one coming years ago, but refusing a lifestyle change has now forced me to needing a couple of lifestyle changes. This including giving up a lot of the best things in life…sugar, salt, fat, a maintenance-free life, and that constant fear of succumbing to the complications of the chronic decease that I have to live with now. Now I have to start taking meds to maintain my blood pressure and sugar levels. If anything, I’m just grateful that my body didn’t give up from the time I started feeling symptoms until I finished everything that I had scheduled this year. 

 

These are the products that I released this year, juices under Garnet 403 and Adobo Flakes under Remedios Farms.

It's been years since I last celebrated the Pasalamat Festival in La Carlota.

Coolest: Driving with my friends all the way up to Ilocos Norte and go in the sand dunes of Paoay. The feeling is always liberating to be somewhere so far away from the house without a specific return date. This was another Holy Week weekend trip, one that started from Taguig to La Union to pick up a friend, then straight Vigan. We also got to watch the sunset at Pangil beach over a cold can of beer. But probably one of the coolest things about this trip was that we were able to eat breakfast at one of Baguio’s most haunted house the Laperal White House. I was there a year before and I could still remember that eerie energy I felt as I stood at the gate a 11pm, staring at the house looking to spot something paranormal. This year they turned it into a fine dining restaurant, and it was beautiful after being restored and refurbished.

Heart Warming: Being asked to be the flower girl for one of my closest friend’s wedding. I personally don’t like to get involved with weddings other than to help in coordinating for the event since it takes extra effort and discomfort in dressing up to be part of any formal occasion. This was an exemption as I fully wanted to embody my role because other than the bride being one of my most loved friends, I was giddy with the idea of being a flower girl more than being a bridesmaid or maid of honor. It is ultimately more fun to have a role of filling the aisle with petals for the bride to walk on than just be this sidekick maid of the bride. Unfortunately the very windy outdoor garden setup spoiled by grand plan of showering the entire aisle with all the petals in my basket.

 

My brother's 40th birthday in Subic was fun but tiring. 

I celebrated my birthday in Ho Chi Minh this year. It was just my brother and I, plus the city. I was exactly on the plane bound for HCM when the clock struck 12 on August 24.

Proudest Moment: Finding Doméino listed on Spot.ph as one of the “10 Most Instagrammable Glamping Domes in the Philippines” 

Cutest: Carrying and playing with my baby nephew Vino at 3 months old. He is the youngest of my close family circle after about almost 20-years since the last one was born. The son of my second cousin, and will probably the one who will be my child’s circle of cousins if I do get the chance to bear one or decide on having one. My first encounter with him he was quite sluggish and was not in the mood to entertain, but the second time he was handed to me he never cried. It took less than five minutes though before I realized I couldn’t carry him standing up. I sat on the chair while I let him sat on my lap, absorbing his adorable baby-fullness and that baby smell that I really love. He wasn’t doing much except babble gargled sounds and move his weak limbs around, but I was enjoying the spectacle of his tiny humanness being in my presence…until he pooped and cried and got tired of being awake. Still, that baby milky-powder smell that stuck to my shirt was priceless.  

 

This was in Da Nang where I experienced the hottest day of my life! The heat was so unbearable we had to retreat in our Airbnb and waited until the afternoon before we headed out to explore.

This was in Ba Na Hills where I enjoyed taking photos of their theme park.

Most Fun: Boracay trip with my Doméino business partners plus my loud cousin. It’s one thing to have business partners turn to friends, it’s another to have friends and family who become business partners and share your success.

Wildest: Exploring parts on Hoi An and Da Nang on my own. There’s something wonderful about doing a solo tour in a strange place for the first time, it revitalizes my soul.

Most Challenging: Needing to recalibrate my entire mindset with my addiction with sugar, readjust my appetite for all things sinful in order to maintain a better quality of life.

 

This is Hoi An where I felt like I was in a setting of a movie or a videogame with all the lanterns illuminating the town. I love heritage towns, and this was truly magical.

Magical Moment: The time I went snorkeling at Apo Island. It took six years and four attempts before I finally got to step foot on the island. I wish I could have went there sooner. The last time I snorkeled was waaaaay back in 2010 at Guimaras, and so to be back deep water was quite scary at first, but the moment I started seeing the marine life below the surface it calmed me. If I had no problem with drowning my mouth would be agape throughout the dive. Although the corals were not as colorful as other areas, finding it alive with all sort of species was a truly magical site.  

Awe-Inspiring: My 8-day Vietnam trip with my brother. It was the vacation I knew that I needed to keep me in check with how beautiful the world is beyond the boundaries of my everyday routine.

 

One of year-ender trip was to Lake Mapanuepe in Zambales. I was with my college core group and it was like the good old times, just a little less rugged this time.

Best Feeling: It was on my birthday. I was sitting by the window on a plane bound for Ho Chi Minh when the clock struck 12MN. It was my first out of the country trip in three years, and to be having this kind of celebration of life gave me all sorts of positive vibes, the greatest of which was peace. There was anticipation, excitement, joy, freedom, a sense of being in that child-like state of wonder, and at that point the only thing that matter was living in the present. That’s when I feel most alive, when I am being in my truest most in-the-moment self. It’s when everything else gets left behind and I am somewhere

OMG Moment: When I had a tarot reading session at Ho Chi Minh. There was always this question sticking out of my mind that I cannot seem to find the answer. It was a question that needed a third-party-unbiased-illogical answer. I had three readings, one palm reading and two tarot reading. Let’s just say that it was the words that I needed to hear that catapulted me back to reality and change my game on life.

I watched 2 concerts this year, the KPop girlgroup Twice and my favorite childhood band The Corrs. The night with The Corrs felt like out of the body experience as it was a childhood dream fulfilled.

Most Rewarding: Seeing The Corrs perform live in concert. I could clearly recall my longing to attend their concert 22 years ago because I was a fan as young as I could remember. It was impossible then considering I was in grade school back in 2001, and my parent’s refusal to spend for a band they never heard of didn’t help in my case. I swore that the next time they returned I’d be in that concert watching, if not here then abroad. So I waited until news broke that they disbanded because they started getting married and having kids…and I was disheartened. I basically gave up many years ago that this moment of watching then live would ever happen…but it did. I remember my hands were shaking as I was able to get my tickets two minutes after they opened sale. It wasn’t VIP, but I’m glad I was able enough to decide that I would be sitting a little bit closer than most of the patrons, just close enough to see features of their faces. I got goosebumps and a sense of fulfillment as I listened to their raw music, unrecorded. There are a few artists I dream of watching live and for several years The Corrs was on the top of my list. Having that 1hr45mins with them was worth every single second and money spent last October 22.

UL: Yawaragi at Hotel Okura; UR: Terraza Martinez; LL: Casa Buenas; LR: Mitsukoshi grocery

UL: Lusso; UR: Casa Jardin; LL: Cev; LR: Masa

Best Discovery: The combination of coconut cream and coffee is an amazing cold dessert drink.

Favorite 2023 Drink: Cold Brew from Artisanos; Coconut Coffee from Lacaph; Lavender White Chocolate from Tiffany’s

Favorite 2023 Food: Yogurt Soft Serve with Biscoff Sauce; Pancit Molo from Gracia’s and Monfort Eats; Poke Bowl from Keeka; Spinach Soup from Hot Pot Kitchen; Salads, the one made with romaine lettuce, fruits and nuts; Spinach Pizza

Best Thing I Ate: Carpaccio de Trucha Antartica from Terraza Martinez; Chilled Royal Anger Hair from Lusso; Salmon Sashimi from The Golden Catch; Banh Mi from Hyunh Hoa; Fried Rice from a street stall at HCM; that Sausage Spring Roll at Secret Garden

I ate a lot of salad this year in my effort to make healthier life choices. UL: Souv! UR: Casita de Val; LL: Gorda; LR: Cev

Favorite 2023 Dessert: Matcha soft serve from The Matcha Tokyo; Tres Leches from Wildflour

Favorite 2023 Restaurant: Masa Bakehouse at La Union; XBar and Grill

Unforgettable Meal: That chicken and fried rice we ate at a roadside stall in Ho Chi Minh. That was the best fried rice I had in my life! I tried other fried rice throughout the trip, but nothing compared to it by a mile.

Worst thing I Ate: The nganga that I bought from Baguio. I had it before in Bontoc, it wasn’t the worst, but the one I got in Baguio was horrible. I guess the betel nut was smellier this time around. I felt my mouth numb a little more this time, and the taste was more…nasty, less fresh.

Favorite 2023 Hang Out: CasaMia Makati, Misukoshi Mall’s Grocery area

 

UL: Tiffany's Confections; UR: Paquito's; LL: Artisanos; LR: OCD Coffee Shop

Favorite 2023 Songs: What Was I Made For? By Billie Eilish; Oh My God by Adele; If I Ain’t Got You (Orchestral) by Alicia Keys; Keep Still by Clara Benin

Favorite 2023 Movies: Beef (the Netflix Series); Legend of Mana: The Teardrop Crystal for sheer nostalgia; One Piece Live Action because of Taz Skylar; The Mission (1986 film) because of Ennio Morricone’s soundtrack; Castlevania: Nocturne;

Favorite 2023 People: Taz Skylar…his laugh and his affectionate kindness is infectious, makes the world a little bit better. My parents who have been so patient with me this year, especially when I got very sick.

Will Be Most Missed in 2023: Drinking coffee everyday…I had to give it up after being so acidic. Freely eating sweets as much as I want without feeling guilty or without having any serious repercussions.

 

UL: The Golden Catch; UR: Tomatito; LL: Mitsukoshi; LR: Casa San Miguel...they have really good Mango Jam and Polvoron!

Achievement Unlocked this 2023:

1.    Go snorkeling with the sea turtles at Apo Island.

2.    Got left behind by the plane bound for Cebu

3.    Foodtrip at Siargao

4.    Drive all the way to Ilocos Norte

5.    Sign as a witness to a civil wedding

6.    Paint a wall mural at Chicken Studio

7.    Witness the blessing and baptism of the church in Taloc

8.    Release my first bottled drinks series for Garnet 403

9.    Attend a yacht party

10.  Learn to play golf

11.  Be a flower girl for a friend’s wedding

12.  Go café hopping around Ho Chi Minh

13.  Celebrate my birthday with just two people

14.  Witness the lantern festival at Hoi An

15.  Ride the World Record 5801-meter long cable car of Ba Na Hills

16.  Watch TWICE live in concert

17.  Harvest the first coffee cherries bore from the coffee tree that I planted

18.  Become a Principal Sponsor for a niece’s wedding

19.  Drive on the river of lahar terrain of San Marcelino Zambales

20.  Watch The Corrs live in concert

21.  Create an Adobo Flakes product for Remedios Farm from my brother’s poultry

22.  Learning to eat low sugar food.

UL: Wildflour; UR: Buckingham Palace; LL: Brick Hotel; LR: The Matcha Tokyo

First Time Places I Went to this 2023: Siargao, Apo Island, Mapanuepe Lake, San Marcelino, Ho Chi Minh, Da Nang, Hoi An

 2023 Realization:

Health (physical and mental) is everything; it is the maker and breaker of life.

Lesson Learned for 2023:

When you’ve made plans in your head for years and you suddenly realize that those plans cannot possibly happen, that’s when you will feel most lost and vulnerable at first…but the process of acceptance and moving forward will liberate you from a lot of inhibitions that may otherwise limit you from being open to whatever life throws at you. That uncertainty is exactly what will propel you to take in what has been blocked otherwise.

 

Dishes around Ho Chi Minh. The best one was the nameless street food stall I ate at.

2023 Quotes:

“The art of happiness is also the art of suffering well.” -Thich Nhat Hanh

"I think it’s a problem of being so open minded that your brains fall out" -Amala Ekpunobi: Unapologetic

“The Universe out there and the human mind in here that does the science are ultimately the product of the same intelligent divine mind.” –John Lennox

“News by its very nature unfortunately, is often times the reporting of things that have gone wrong.” – Trevor Noah

2023 New Year’s Resolution:

Improve my overall physical health and conquer my illness.

2024 Bucket List:

Go on a solo trip somewhere.