Random | Home Alone! Christmas in the New Normal

 
It's the most wonderful time of the year šŸŽ¶šŸŽµšŸŽ¶

Yes, despite the ongoing pandemic and the many struggles that 2020 has brought to us all, Christmas still remains the most wonderful time of the year. Our current situation (pandemic) may have changed how we usually celebrate Christmas, it may have forced some of us to celebrate it away from our loved ones but Christmas is not about us. It's about the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ so let's still celebrate and be happy. Merry Christmas everyone! šŸ’—šŸ¤¶šŸŽ„

Each of us may have different struggles, struggles that others may not consider as one. But each of us is unique, we are individuals. We do have different levels of tolerance to certain issues. What may have been difficult for me would be easy for some, and vice versa. For me, this year is one of the most difficult one especially in terms of career. For the first time in my life, I was laid off. I lost my job. I haven't been laid off before so it was such a big blow for me, mentally and emotionally. Also, for the first time (except when I was living with my aunt) I am now celebrating Christmas alone, away from my family. We don't celebrate Christmas the way other families do but for the longest time, we are always together (at least, with my parents and sibling in Batangas) on Christmas. This year was not. I'm here in the Metro, in a building where people don't know each other, where I don't know anyone. There are some other struggles I don't know that others are experiencing. This is our situation now. We just have to deal with it. We just have to accept it and move along with it.

Despite all these, Christmas is still a season to be merry and gay! And this Christmas, I am! I'm still happy and grateful. I lost my job but found a new one. My family and my loved ones are safe and we all are healthy. We are struggling financially but we're coping. We still have food on our table, we still can eat 3x a day. So thank you Lord! Thank you for the new job and for sending people who believe in me. Thank you for keeping my loved ones safe and healthy, especially during this pandemic. Thank you for always being there for me, for protecting me, even from myself. Thank you Lord for all the blessings and even the hardships, for they make me (us) stronger. Thank you for everything. Thank you for letting us survive and get through this 2020! With all these things to be thankful for, yes, I am happy and gay!

In a few days, another year would come, a new beginning. May the new year brings all of us all the blessings that we are praying for. May we all be safe and healthy. May we find peace in everything. To everyone, let's not focus on the difficulties of life, on the negativities around us. Let us all look forward to the new year with a positive outlook, with gratefulness, with hope. And let us all be kind to one another. Let's help shape a better world for everyone. Let's share and help each other, even in the smallest way we can. Let us all be each other's hope!

 


Financial Wanders | BDO Securities (BDO Nomura) Trading Platform Review

BDO Nomura
BDO Nomura

I've been using BDO Nomura for several years now, since the start of my stock investment/trading journey. I even wrote how easy it is to apply for BDO Nomura account back in 2017. For the past 3 years, I tried to learn the ins and outs of stock investing and trading. At some point, although I have an 8-5 work before I got retrenched, I tried to do some daily trading. And in those trades, I win some, I lose many. I attributed all of my loses to my being a newbie in the stock market. And it's true! But after 3 years of being in the stock market, I realized it's not just me that is the problem.

In the past, there are trades that I know for a fact is so volatile and could really be a winning or losing trade real quick. But I still joined the herd; bought some and planned to exit just after I got my TP (target price), which I know would only take just a few minutes. I set a GTC (good 'til cancelled) sell on my target price. I also planned my exit, in case it goes against my predicted price. And it happened, it goes downward real quick! I'm logged in so I tried to edit my GTC and set a sell price 2-ticks below the current selling price to make sure that I could sell it at a minimal loss. The platform says my modification was successful so I continue watching while the current price was being consumed. When the selling price hits the price I set, I thought I successfully exited the trade. Unfortunately, it was just a thought! When I checked the View Orders tab to see the status, it's not there. I tried to refresh and check several times but I couldn't really see my sell order. I logged out of the platform and tried logging back in but I couldn't anymore. And that's it, I resigned to the fact that I probably wasn't able to sell my position since I couldn't see it.  Only after the trading hours was I able to log back in again. And it's confirmed, I wasn't able to sell my position.

BDO Nomura platform homepage
this is supposedly BDO Nomura's trading platform homepage; yes I was able to login but I couldn't connect to the trading platform itself; this happened so many times I already lost count of it.
 

I only bought minimal position so I didn't lose that much for the particular trade but this scenario happened several times that in total, a loss of considerable amount. There are other scenarios like not seeing my positions or non-loading of trading platform (see photo above) or not being able to login during trading hours (platform is under maintainance) so I couldn't trade. In part, not being able to log in and trade volatile stocks were okay; at least I didn't lose money but it also means I didn't have the chance to gain some too, a lost opportunity.

BDO Nomura trading platform
sometimes, I was able to connect to the trading platform only for the above instance to happen; i.e., I couldn't select a sector for which the stock I'm supposed to trade belongs
 

I'm not attributing every loses I had with BDO Nomura. I know I made some bad trades, too, but a reliable trading platform is essential in trading the stock market. The trading platform should always be available, especially during trading hours. It shouldn't undergo system maintenance from 9:30AM to 3PM during trading days (9:30AM to 1PM during this pandemic). I worked in the IT industry and our system maintenance was always during non-peak hours, normally during midnight when there are only a few people (if there is any) using our system or, if we really need to deploy some hotfix, to make sure to do it in just a few minutes.

Nowadays, I only use BDO Nomura for medium to long term trades. I don't do daily trading especially those highly volatile trades anymore. If you're planning to be a trader, and by trader, I mean those who want to do buying and selling stocks in just a short period of time, within the day normally, don't go with Nomura. Try other brokers. But search and research thoroughly. Ask people from trading forums and social media who are actually using the platform; list down the pros and cons of the recommended platform/broker, ask for their experiences and how reliable the platform is, and then decide from there.

But if you're a medium to long term investor, you can still try BDO Nomura. It's easy to apply, especially if you have a BDO account; no additional paper requirements. You can do everything online. The funding is also easy and real time, with no transfer fee so yeah, it's not 100% bad at all. Just make sure to know what type of investor/trader you are.

~ oo00oo ~

PS: I'm also trying another investment vehicle which is unit investment trust fund (UITF) but I'm using BPI for this one (and GCASH Invest Money too) ; will talk about UITF next time. Blessed Sunday everyone, stay safe always! šŸ˜Š

Random | Simple Life in Batangas, Pros and Cons of Living in the Province


If you have read one of my previous posts, you know that I recently lost my job. It is such a big blow financially that staying in the Metro and continue renting while looking for a new job is not an option anymore. A week ago, I decided to go back to the province and stay here for a while, at least until I get a new job.

Life in the province, especially in kinda remote barangay like ours, is very simple and laid-back. Community comes to life early in the morning, normally around 5AM (as early as 4AM for some); and then starts to die down at 6PM. By 7PM, almost everyone is ready for sleep; a stark contrast with life in the Metro where it almost never sleeps.

Pros and Cons of Living in the Province

Batangas is one of the provinces in CALABARZON region. It is only around 1.5-2 hours (depending on traffic situation) away from Metro Manila, going south. It is near Metro Manila but living here in the province, especially in kinda remote barangays like ours, is like living in other provinces; it has its pros and cons.

PROs

Green and Fresh Environment

Less pollution, fresher air, greeneries abound! The only usual pollution here is noise pollution; that is, if you consider dogs’ barking, birds’ chirping and insect sounds as noise. That’s the environment you’ll see and experience in the province. It is usually not densely populated, too, so residential lot areas are usually bigger than in the Metro, with enough space to plant veggies and fruit-bearing trees. If you love nature, you’ll definitely enjoy living in the province.

free fresh fruits and veggies! #probinsyalife

Low Cost of Living

Cost of living in the provinces is usually low. If you are resourceful and hardworking and love veggies, you can live here for around 40-50 pesos per day per person on the average, maybe less; that is, if you have your own vegetable garden. Here in the province, we have malunggay (moringa), camote (sweet potato), eggplant, squash, papaya and other vegetables around the house. We cook it bulanglang-style, using traditional stove, so almost zero cost. Fish and meats are also cheaper here, compared to supermarkets in Metro Manila.

Laid-back Lifestyle

Simple, relaxing, laid-back; this is how living in the province looks and feels like. Closely-knit neighborhood (you know everyone, usually). No Traffic! No such thing as rush hour. Almost everything is easy and uncomplicated! That is, if you love simple life.

CONs

Accessibility, Transportation

One of the cons of living in the province, especially in remote barangays, is the means of transportation and accessibility of social services and infrastructure. If you don’t have your own car, commuting is quite costly and time-consuming. Social services and infrastructures like hospitals, tertiary education, connectivity (telephones and internet) are usually not very accessible. Although mobile phones and cellular networks are available almost nationwide, connection signal is still a problem in far-flung areas. Though I’m quite happy that DSL connection from one of the major internet providers in our country is now available here in our barangay. Yey! šŸ˜„

No Night Life

If you’re one of those who loves the lights and sounds of a busy Metro life, regardless of the time of day, province life is not for you. There is almost always, no night life in the province, especially in remote barangays. As I mentioned above, people in neighborhood like ours, sleeps as early as 7PM. No more life, no more sounds after that, except for sound of geckos. šŸ˜‰

Limited Career Opportunities

Most of the big companies put up their businesses and hold their operations in Metro Manila and big cities as they are usually the center of economic development and infrastructure. As such, there is only limited opportunities, career-wise, in the province. However, due to the on-going pandemic, there are more remote opportunities for career individuals nowadays. Career people, especially in the IT industry, can now work anywhere they want to, even in the province.

There you go, the pros and cons of living life in the province. If you are thinking of settling down in the province, weigh these pros and cons and decide wisely based on your personality and the kind of life you want to live. There's no such thing as perfect life, just choose to be happy and contented and grateful wherever you decided you want to be.

~ oo00oo ~

Happy and blessed Sunday everyone! Stay safe, always! šŸ˜Š

Food Trip | TPW's 5 Best Milk Teas in the Metro

FRNK's cinnamon miruku

I'm not really a fan of tea, especially those hot tea varieties. I usually only have them if it feels like I'm gonna be having a sore throat or if I'm not feeling well. Hot drinks, tea included, sort of make me feel better afterwards. But cold teas and milk teas, for that matter, is a different thing. I've grown to like them as time passes by. Probably because milk teas are more of milk than tea actually. And they're creamy and sweet (hello diabetes šŸ˜€).

Anyway, I've tried several milk teas from several tea shops. Whenever there's a new tea shop nearby my previous work or in the mall, I'll try them at least once. Since it will be my first time to try the new tea shop, I usually order whatever their bestseller is. And I've tried many, so many that I wasn't be able to post everything in my other account. Of the so many shops and milk tea flavors I've tried, here are my top 5 best milk teas in the Metro.

FRNK Milk Bar's Cinnamon Miruku

FRNK's Cinnamon Miruku is my top favorite when it comes to milk tea. Unlike other milk teas that almost always taste the same no matter the brand, cinnamon miruku tastes really different, probably because of the right blend of tea and cinnamon and dark sugar and whatever spice they put into it. I also like the added sinkers (basil drops, a clear jelly-like pearls that looks like bloomed chia seeds) that feels like exploding in your mouth when you chew, not the usual chewy pearls. My only issue with this tea is its size; I find it pricey compared with other milk teas.

Macau's Cheesecake and Pearl Milk Tea

When I first try Macau's cheesecake and pearl milk tea, I was put off by the strong taste of the tea. But I realized now that it's probably because I didn't shake and mix it well that time. Now that I usually buy it for take-out, it somehow got blended/shaken on my walk home that a minor shake before drinking it is okay enough. It still has strong tea taste compared with other brands but it's more tolerable now that it becomes my go-to milk tea whenever I like a bigger size one, as opposed to smaller-sized cinnamon miruku.

BaaBaa's Thai Milk Tea with Cheese

I've been to Bangkok once but because it's almost 2 decades ago, milk tea isn't in my radar yet. When I heard of Baabaa from a colleague last year, I ordered other milk tea flavor that they offer instead of the Thai milk tea. It was just an ordinary milk tea for me so I forgot about it. But I few weeks ago, I was able to try Baabaa's Thai milk tea, not the regular one but the premium Thai milk tea with cream cheese in it. And I love it! It's almost like Macau's cheesecake and pearl, only that it's just the right blend of tea and milk and cheese, not with the strong tea taste like Macau's.

Alishan at The Alley's Brown Sugar Boba Milk Tea with Cheese BrulƩe

My first try of Alishan is their brown sugar boba milk with cheese brulƩe. It's too sweet that I think I didn't get dinner that day that I had it for merienda. The next time, I tried their brown sugar boba milk tea with cheese brulƩe. This one I like better because of the tea contrast, unlike brown sugar boba milk that somehow has "umay" factor as you drink it.

Tiger Sugar Brown Sugar Boba with Cream Mousse/Dakasi's Creme Hokkaido

When brown sugar milk tea becomes a hit, Tiger Sugar is my first try. Originally, this is my top pick for milk tea but I realized that what I'm having from Tiger Sugar is not really a milk tea but rather just a milk-based brown sugar drink. But even if this isn't a milk tea, I still love it. It was of the right blend with the right sweetness to it. And their bobas are sweet and chewy, which I love!

Another milk-based drink that I came to love is Dakasi's Creme Hokkaido. The thick and rich creamy blend of milk, brown sugar, salted cream cheese and oreo in creme hokkaido will make you feel full even with just half of the drink. It is so filling that you'll skip next meal or forget that you haven't had a meal yet. It is a very filling drink and has bigger size that I consider this drink worth my money. Creme Hokkaido is also one of Dakasi's bestsellers.

 

~ oo00oo ~

There you go, my list of 5 best milk teas in the metro. If you'll notice, except for cinnamon miruku, all else has cream cheese or similar item on their ingredients. I love milk teas with cream cheese because it makes the milk tea more flavorful and creamier. I like the contrast that cream cheese or mousse or brulĆ©e (or whatever they call it) gives to the sweet milk tea. How about you dear readers? What are your 5 best milk teas? Share your list in the comment box below. šŸ˜Š

 

~ oo00oo ~

Our government loosen its rules on public transportation but be safe still my fellow Pinoys, keep your face shield and face mask on. And don't forget to always clean/sanitize your hands. Keep safe everyone. šŸ˜Š

Random | I am one of the 45% Jobless Filipinos

rain drops
"Be strong and don't be afraid! God is coming to your rescue." ~Isaiah 35:4

Last August 16, I became officially part of the 45% jobless Filipinos, a number that one government official finds as something to be "joyful" about (what a remark from a ranking government official šŸ˜ž). But life must go on, like they say. So here I am now, trying to be strong and finding my way out of this unfortunate situation.

Losing a job gives a person anxiety and a feeling of worthlessness. Also of betrayal. And these are what I felt after knowing that I would be laid off. I tried to be strong during the convo with my boss and good thing it was done via phone call (because of this pandemic) so somehow, I think I was able to fake strength. But right after I put down the phone, I cried. And I cried a bucket! When my brother called me to comfort me the day I was officially notified, I cried even more. It was my first time showing helplessness and weakness to him. And it sucks! I consider myself the face of strength for my family but that time, I felt so weak and helpless.

Feeling anxious and worthless and helpless right after losing a job is okay, but wallowing in that situation is not. So here I am now, trying to rise up from the situation. I'm now working on improving my craft and learning something new in the hopes that I would soon find a new job. To people like me who recently lost a job, let's make use of our "free" time on something useful and of value. Let us be productive despite being jobless. And let us not lose hope! If we can't find a job related or similar to what we used to do, then maybe it's time for us to find something else. Maybe we should give thoughts on some other passions or interests that we may have put on hold because we thought we got a good job. I got some other interests that I'm putting on hold because my line of work gives me financial security but maybe, it's time for me to work on it, too.

When I left a job that offers security and tenure 7 years ago, one of my bosses told me to think it over a million times because it's an unknown future I'm walking into. And I know that but here's my reply to him (not exactly the same words but the same thoughts), "I'm not afraid of the future because I'm not a one-skill-only person. If I couldn't find a job related to my current interest, I could find and learn and do something else. There will always be something else out there." I am a "Jill of several trades", not of all trades of course, and not a master but enough for me to survive. I will find and learn and work on a new trade, if need be. With all the trials I've been through in life, losing a job is just another trial I have to go through and overcome. I know I can survive this, just as how I survived the many trials I had before. I did it 7 years ago, I can do it again now. 

I'm positive I can find a new job eventually, if not soon. So for everyone like me who's reading this post, let's have faith in our dear Lord, He is our refuge and our provider. He will help us get through this. Happy and blessed Sunday everyone! šŸ˜Š

~oo00oo~

PS: I know I said to be productive and improve yourself and all but don’t forget to relax also. It’s okay too, to sit and do nothing, once in a while. Or just play games, if you’re into it (I am! šŸ˜›). Just don’t forget to always be in control of yourself. Remember, anything  too much is bad! Stay safe everyone. šŸ’›

Guest Post | One Hundred Days of Summer

I will always be grateful to The Pinay Wanderer for this opportunity as a guest blogger. I have my own blog, ofliea.com, yet, I need to collaborate with other blogger to expand my blogging experience.





In October last year, we were blessed to buy our own car. When the rest of my family are planning for a road trip to Tablas Island then to Boracay, I was excited to drive from Marilao in Bulacan to Legazpi City in Albay, where my in-laws live. Then, I started checking AirBnB. I looked for hotels and resorts in the province of Sorsogon for a night of stay or two. I started plotting the itinerary. We are bound to leave on April 8. But we stayed at home.


At the onset of the enhanced community quarantine, I had headaches. I keep on thinking about what will become of us with this situation. I decided to divert my attention and started planning to travel from Marilao, Bulacan going around the Philippines. The last destination on my itinerary is Palawan where I can no longer travel with my 1996 Honda Accord.


I had so much fun doing research. Among the facts that I looked for are where to stay, travel time from one province to another, and how many days should I stay to enjoy the place. The most challenging to look for on the internet is the schedule of ferries that cross one island to another.


When I was about to end the whole itinerary, I realized I can actually go around the Philippines in 100 days. Then I also realized that I missed most areas of Mindanao. It is because of the remoteness of each provinces. I needed to pass by Batanes Island too. I guess I won't be able to bring my car to the island.


It must have been fun to start traveling right now, as it is summertime. I would love to feel the wind while on a long drive from Pangasinan to Zambales. It would have been great to meet new friends, see new views, and sleep on different beds.


Unfortunately, we need to stay at home today to travel tomorrow.


Let's connect on Twitter. Let's share photos on Instagram. Contact me on Facebook to know more about me.  

Random | Work From Home, Life During Lock down, 6 Things to Keep Your COVID-19 Anxiety at Bay

fortunate to be able to work from home
The Philippines (and the whole world) is going through very trying times. COVID-19 outbreak that has started in one country has now spread to so many countries in the whole world. The COVID-19 positive cases is now above 2 million and still counting, death toll is rising, lots of patients in critical conditions. Every government is trying to control and curb the spread of the virus, issuing lock downs and restricting movements of its people. The Philippines is one of the countries affected by this pandemic and our government and the people are struggling to to get through it. We are a third-world country and our resources are limited so the people are panicking, getting more anxious as the days go by.

The pandemic and lock down has caused lost of jobs for many. But I'm glad I still have mine, for now. I'm one of the few fortunate members of Metro Manila workforce that can do work from home during these crazy times. And I'm very grateful for it. I was supposed to terminate my internet connection last January (see this post for the reason) but my provider gave me a 6-month discounted rate so I didn't terminate it. Glad I didn't; otherwise, it would be very hard for me to work from home since my mobile connection is very slow. I was able to control and discipline myself anyway, so I probably am not terminating my DSL connection, even after the 6-month discounted rate is over.

Anyway, going through this crisis emphasizes some of the realizations I listed in this post. I'm glad I started eating and drinking right again. Also glad that I started doing some fitness exercises once again. Even though I'm staying home, just like everyone else, I still do some indoor cardio workouts. And I'm happy to say I didn't gain weight (lost a few pounds, actually), even after more than a month of just staying home. I still do struggle financially, but I still can manage it, for now. I'm thankful and grateful always, especially to our Lord Almighty because He is always there for me, for my loved ones; thank you very much dear God!

But there are times that I can't help but get anxious. I can't help and wonder what the future holds for me, for my family, for everyone. Because I'm scared, just like everyone else.

During the first week of the lock down, I'm so anxious I cried almost everyday. On the very first day of the lock down, I felt body pains. I had stuffy nose, too. So every few minutes, I took my temperature. And one time, I got a reading of 38°C! OMG, I don't know what to do. I don't want to go to the hospital because I know that most hospitals have COVID cases. So I just read and researched a lot about the disease. The articles I've read just compounded my anxiety and I got scared even more, actually. Then I found an article comparing the symptoms of COVID-19, influenza and common cold (see photo below). This list calmed me somehow but I still slept that night anxious. The next day, my anxiety made me automatically reach out for the thermometer as soon as I woke up; glad to see a normal reading once again. My body pain is milder, too. (The pain is probably because I did a workout 2 days before the lock down.) So I'm somehow relieved, I'm okay, I said to myself. But I know I'm not 100% okay. I still cry up to now, mostly when I'm saw sick and death posts related to COVID-19. But I'm better now, compared to the first 2 weeks of the lock down.

I forgot the site where I got this, I hope it's okay to post it here.

So how did I overcome my anxiety?  What are the things that kept me sane during this lock down period? Here they are dearies, the 6 things I did (and still doing) to keep my sanity and overcome anxiety brought about by the on-going health crisis.

STOP reading COVID-19-related articles

I'd like to think that I'm the kind of person that doesn't get affected by the negativities around me. So I read a lot! I read about the disease, I watched videos that discusses corona virus. I even read and watched stories of people who have gone through with the disease. I listened intently on the symptoms they felt. And then unconsciously, I will make an inventory of the symptoms myself, checking if I do have one or more of their symptoms. Crazy, isn't it? And then I remembered my doctors' reaction during one of my check-ups before this lock down started. One of them said "you are not sick, do you want me to say you are?". The other one said "I think you have fibromyalgia", sort of saying the pain I'm relating to them is just in my head. Prior to my check ups, I read a lot of articles related to the symptoms I felt, those are what prompted me to make consultations with them. And then it hit me! When it comes to health-related issues, I am affected by what I'm reading (or watching), without realizing I'm actually affected by them. So I stopped! I stopped reading all and every posts I saw on Facebook that are related to corona virus and COVID-19. I still do read some COVID-related articles but the ones I read were just those DOH updates, just so I am aware of what is happening around me.

Boost immune system by eating and drinking right

Eating and drinking right, these are the two things that I tried to do everyday but especially now that we are in a health crisis. I don't have anything against those who are engaging on a very focused diet but for my self, I believe on a balanced one. I eat and drink mostly everything, as long as I do it in moderation. Of course, I do stay away with junk foods and sodas, as much as possible . They aren't good for the health, anyway. This habit keeps me sane, too, because I know I'm doing my part to keep myself, my body, strong and healthy.

Exercise

Before the lock down, I always make sure to do 10K steps a day. There are some days I wasn't able to do it but on the average, it's 10K steps per day. Also, every weekend (since January), I do around 30-40 minutes of walking-jogging-walking at the park; a total of around 1 hour of cardio exercise including the walk to and fro my place (my place is just around 1.4 kilometers away from the park). But now that we are in a lock down, I cannot do it anymore. So every other day, I try to do a 15-20 minute indoor cardio workout and then a 30-minute workout on weekends. These workouts keep me sane, too, as the workouts assure me that I don't have breathing issues (I am that praning hehe).

Watch inspiring and/or funny videos

When it comes to watching, I used to enjoy only spy/military/police-related movies and series. But nowadays, I enjoyed watching short and funny FB and/or YT videos, too. I like watching Smile Squad by Markian and his friends (search them on FB, if you're interested). I also like watching videos of The Hungry Syrian Wanderer on YT; they are inspiring videos. Basel (the vlogger) is a funny guy, too; I don't get bored watching his videos. I don't even click 'skip ads' on his videos so I could somehow help him do his good deeds. Surprisingly, I enjoyed Camille Co's YT videos, too. I'm not into fashion and make-up stuff but I still watch her videos. I like her personality and the way she presented her content; she's kinda funny, too. I also like watching her videos where her hubs is present; such a lovely couple.

Reach out to Family and Friends

I'm used to living alone since my younger years. But with this on-going health crisis, I suddenly felt the need to be with my family. Of course, I can't as my work is here in the Metro. Although I can do work from home in the province, telco signal and internet availability there is not that reliable. Besides, I was traveling to and from work using mass transportation (MRT) so I'm afraid I might have caught the disease unknowingly and I don't want to infect them so I stayed here, alone. Thankfully, we now have cellphones to communicate with our loved ones so I just called them from time to time, making sure that they are all okay and reminding them to stay at home and to always practice good hygiene habits. 

PRAY

I do like to think I am a strong person. But this COVID-19 pandemic made me realize I am not. There are times I suddenly cried and I don't even know why I'm crying. When these crying bouts happen, I pray. I pray to the Lord for my family's safety, for my BFF's safety, for my relatives' and friends' safety, for my self and for everyone else's safety. I surrender to Him all my worries, all my fears, and pray that He gives us all the strength we need to go through with this crisis and come out alive, strong and healthy. This is the most important thing that's keeping me sane these days, even when I'm just alone here in the Metro.

~ oo00oo ~

Oh wow, I made a lengthy post today. šŸ˜€ I hope you read it through, learn something from it and get inspired with it. Let's all pray that this COVID-19 pandemic ends soon so we can all go back to our normal lives; though this "normal" might be different from the "normal" we have, before the crisis and the lock down. Stay healthy,  stay safe, stay home everyone! Blessed Sunday to all! šŸ™

Random | Ala Eh! Interesting and/or Funny BatangueƱo Words and Expressions

Batangas: Lalawigan ng Magigiting
photo source: Google street view

Updated: 2020 November 3
 
As I have mentioned in my About page, I am a BatangueƱa, though I was born in Pangasinan (my mother is a Pangasinense). My father is a full-blooded BatangueƱo and I was raised there. When I first started my work here in Manila, my officemates usually kid me with "ala eh, batangueƱa ka pala" (translated as "oh, you're from Batangas") imitating how BatangueƱos say "ala eh". Batangan or Batangas Tagalog is a dialect of the Tagalog language and is used mainly in the province of Batangas, though neighboring provinces like Cavite, Laguna and Quezon sometimes used it, too. It has strong accent placed normally on the last syllable of the word. The sentences usually end with the word "eh", too. Batangan also has this characteristic of separating and changing the vowel of the last syllable of the word, making the vowel the last syllable. For example, in Batangas, gabi (night) is pronounced as "gab-e" rather than "ga-bi".

Batangan or Batangas Tagalog usually elicit laughter and/or shock from other Tagalog speakers. Listed below are some of the interesting Batangan words you may have heard from BatangueƱos out there.

  • Ala eh - the most common Batangan expression stereotyped with BatangueƱos. This phrase normally signifies hesitation or disagreement to something and is usually present at the beginning of the sentence. For example, BatangueƱos would say "Ala eh, ikaw na la-ang mag-isa." which means "Go, just do it by yourself."
  • Are - pronounced as "a-re", which means "in this place" or "here". This word is normally used when pointing out misplaced thing that is usually nearby. For example, BatangueƱos would say "Are ga o, di mo ga makita? Ikaw ga'y bulag?!" which means, "Here it is, can't you see it? Are you blind?".
  • Bahite - meaning broke or with no money. During this quarantine time (because of COVID-19) here in the Philippines, I would normally see BatangueƱos post saying "Bahite na ako eh" which means "I have no money" or "I'm already broke".
  • Banas - meaning "hot" or "humid" though ManileƱos associate this word with trouble or displeasure. For example, BatangueƱos say "Kabanas naman ngay-on ah" which means "It's so hot today".
  • Barek - which means "to drink alcoholic beverages".  A common expression in Batangas: "sinsay muna dine at tayo'y makabarek" which means "come here, let's drink (liquor)".
  • Basaysay - which means "bahay" in Tagalog or "house or home" in English. I didn't know this term actually, I just got the meaning based on the context of the sentence it was used. I saw this on a BatangueƱo post in FB about the government's call on COVID-19 that says "Tumimo sa basaysay" which means "Stay at home".
  • Gulamot - another term I usually see on BatangueƱo posts nowadays (again, because of the quarantine) which means "kamay" in Tagalog or "hands" in English. So the famous COVID-19 pandemic expression "always wash your hands" when spoken in Batangan is "ika'y pirmeng maghugas ng iyong gulamot"
  • Hikap - which means "gala" in Tagalog or "to wander or go around" in English. See Tumimo below for the sample usage.
  • Laywan - which means "bubuyog" in Tagalog or "bee" in English. I recently saw my cousin's post about getting honey from a beehive near his house and this is what triggers its inclusion here. An example usage of this word: "Ika'y mag-iingat sa laywan" which means "Be careful with the bees". 
  • Liban - which means "tawid" in Tagalog or "to cross (the street)" in English. BatangueƱo students who are studying in Manila: "Liban na tayo" or "Tayo ng lumiban"; ManileƱo friends: (staring); BatangueƱo: interpreting his own words then say "Tawid na tayo" or "Tayo ng tumawid" which means "let's cross the street". ManileƱos or other Tagalog speakers stares because they thought "liban" means "to skip classes".
  • Mamay - a Batangan word for "lolo" or "grandfather", it's also used to refer to elderly male BatangueƱos. This is one of the famous Batangan words too because normally, BatangueƱos use mamay when they want to prove or confirm something. For example, BatangueƱos say "Ay totoo yu-on, itanong mo pa sa mamay" which means "It's true, you can ask grandpa about it".
  • Papagayo - which means "saranggola" in Tagalog or "kite" in English. I normally see this word nowadays too because in Batangas, summer season is associated with kite flying, especially with male teenagers. And adults too, actually. An example use of this word: "Tatayog ga naman ya-ang papagayo mo?" which means "Will that kite fly high?".
  • Pirme - which means "lagi" in Tagalog or "always" in English. See example usage of pirme in the gulamot entry above.
  • Pumirme - another Batangan word for "tumimo". See definition and example of tumimo below.
  • Sakol - which means "to eat with bare hands".  An example use of this word: "Kasarap namang kumain nang nakasakol eh" which means "It's good to eat with our bare hands".
  • Tugso - which means "sira" or "bagsak" in Tagalog or "destroyed" or "collapsed" in English. I heard this word from my niece recently while watching videos in YT wherein she saw a man standing on rocks that seems unstable. She said "pag iyon ay natugso" which means "when that collapsed" referring to stacked stones/rocks that in her eyes were unstable. 
  • Tumimo - which means "tumigil" in Tagalog or "to stay (in one place)" in English. This is normally used to tell the children to stay in one place or inside the house. For example, BatangueƱo parents say "Hikap ka ng hikap, ika'y tumimo/pumirme sa bahay" which means, "You're always moving (or going) around, stay at home". 
  • Ulaga/Usbaw - a Batangan derogatory word which means "stupid" or "foolish". Though a derogatory term, this word is usually used as an expression between friends joking around so is usually taken lightly. For example, BatangueƱos say "ika'y ulaga" to a friend which means "you are foolish".
  • Utay-utay - which means "dahan-dahan" in Tagalog or "take it slow or little by little" in English. For example, BatangueƱos say "Utay-utay la-ang, pasasaan baga't matatapos din ya-an" which means "Just take it slow, in time, it will be finished".
  • Yayao - which means "aalis" in Tagalog or "leaving" in English. This word usually elicit a shocked expression from non-BatangueƱos because they thought the person is bidding farewell because he is dying. BatangueƱos normally use this word as follows: "Ako'y yayao na" which means "I'm leaving".
I hope you've learn something about Batangas and BatangueƱos from this random post of mine. If you have BatangueƱo friends, ask them to read the samples to you in a true BatangueƱo way. Enjoy and have fun!


~ oo00oo ~

Because of this COVID-19 pandemic and the Luzon lock down, I now have more time browsing through FB posts of my BatangueƱo relatives and friends. Reading through their posts make me smile somehow, despite the fears and worries brought about by this COVID-19 disease. I imagine hearing them say these words and phrases with true and legit BatangueƱo accent to non-BatangueƱos and how non-BatangueƱos would react to them. Anyway, this is what happens when boredom strikes, you write random post haha.


~ oo00oo ~

This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad! Jesus died for us because He loves us and He has risen to fulfill His promises to us. He will always be there for us, moreso during these trying times. Let us all rejoice and be grateful to Him for the gift of life and for saving us all from our sins. Let us also pray for His guidance and protection to us all and let's pray that this COVID-19 pandemic ends soon. God bless and Happy Easter everyone. #StayHealthy #StaySafe #StayHome please.

Zambales | Mt. Pinatubo Day Hike in Photos: The Crater

the beautiful Mt. Pinatubo crater
It was almost 29 years ago when one of the world's largest and most explosive volcanic eruption happened. I was then a part-time sewer in a small garment sub-contractor in my hometown. I, together with my co-workers, were stay-in sewers; that is, we live in the same building where we work. The night before June 15, we slept leaving our windows open, just as we normally do. In the morning of June 15, we woke up having sands (ashes) in our mouth. I looked out the window and saw thick ashes in our window sill and on the streets below.

There's no cellphones (smartphones) back then so we don't know what's happening. We went down and check out newspapers. Then we found out that Mt. Pinatubo, a stratovolcano located in the mountains of Zambales erupted. This hometown of mine is in Bauan, Batangas; around 172 kilometers from Mt. Pinatubo. Imagine that! Actually, it reached as far as the Indian Ocean (source), that's how explosive Mt. Pinatubo eruption was.  This wrath from Mt. Pinatubo and the Baguio earthquake (earthquake was felt in Batangas, too) are the two most unforgettable disasters I've experienced in my teenage life.

Mt. Pinatubo crater, at another angle
Fast forward 2015, I was with friends who are into mountain climbing, when I finally saw with my own eyes Mt. Pinatubo, a magnificent beauty created by a catastrophic disaster. It's such a beauty that it lures many tourists, both local and international alike. With the onset of dry season here in the Philippines, I'm quite sure Mt. Pinatubo will again be one of the top tourist destination in Northern Luzon. Most likely, blogs and IG posts will again be flooded with Mt. Pinatubo photos.

For those who are into nature tripping and photography, Mt. Pinatubo is a place to be. Going here is kinda pricey but it's all worth it. It's also quite an adventure riding a 4x4 along lahar-laden field surrounded by ash/sand walls and then concluded with a 2-hour trek to the crater. Come and see this beauty that is Mt. Pinatubo. 

By the way, in this post are various Mt. Pinatubo crater shots I took during our 2015 adventure. I hope these photos inspire you to go visit and see Mt. Pinatubo, too.

Welcome to Mt. Pinatubo
Mt. Pinatubo crater and my hiking buddy
foreign tourists, enticed by Mt. Pinatubo beauty

Photo Wanders | Chasing Sunset in San Jose, Tarlac

Sunset at San Jose, Tarlac

“Because the sunset, like survival, exists only on the verge of its own disappearing. To be gorgeous, you must first be seen, but to be seen allows you to be hunted.” ~Ocean Vuong



These photos where also taken during our Monasterio de Tarlac roadtrip last 2015. These were taken, if I'm not mistaken, along Lubigan Road in San Jose, Tarlac. We were passing by a road with empty open field everywhere when I saw the beautiful sunset. It's kinda late so we're literally chasing sunsets here. Shortly after we stopped, a truck came by with men aboard that somehow made me a bit nervous. We're in the middle of nowhere with no houses nor people nearby so I can't help but feel a bit scared. Thankfully, nothing happened and we reached home safe.

If you're going to Monasterio de Tarlac, make time for sunset photography in Lubigan Road, it's really beautiful (not my photos, though :P). It's worth the stop, just be careful and be mindful of the environment around you. If you're alone, be in a hurry if you still wanna stop and take photos; or better yet, don't stop at all. Don't take unnecessary risks. :)


Photo Wanders | Monasterio de Tarlac: Statue of the Risen Christ

Photo Wanders will be a new section of this blog. It will consist of photos I took during my travels that I haven't posted in this blog yet. It may contain a short description of the photo and the place where I took it. I'll try to do this weekly, whenever I don't have a full-blown article to post. I hope you'll still enjoy it.


~ oo00oo ~

The Risen Christ at Monasterio de Tarlac
The Risen Christ at Monasterio de Tarlac
Monasterio de Tarlac, Church of the Risen Christ
The Risen Christ at the Monasterio de Tarlac
tourists admiring the view at Monasterio de Tarlac

These photos were taken during our road trip to Monasterio de Tarlac in San Jose, Tarlac last 2015. I just started my new job then so I wasn't able to create a post about it. Anyways, in the photos is a 30-foot statue of The Risen Christ, the most-photographed part of the Monasterio de Tarlac and the view around the Monastery. Aside from the famed colossal statue, Monasterio de Tarlac houses the Relic of the True Cross, a remnant of the physical cross where Jesus was crucified. Monasterio de Tarlac, located on a hill overlooking Tarlac, surrounded by greens and hills, is a beautiful and peaceful place to be. I hope to be back here again, someday.

What about you dear readers, have you been to Monasterio de Tarlac? Share your thoughts in the comment section below. I'll be waiting... ^_^

Financial Wanders | Easy Investing For As Low 50 Pesos with GCASH Invest

GCASH Invest
from GCASH Invest

My GCASH journey started as a game with office friends last year (2019). Although I'm a GCASH subscriber years ago, I didn't actually use it. Last March 2019, we chanced upon this GCASH promo wherein you just have to send 1 peso to 2 of your GCASH friends and you could win a cash prize (currently on-going Ang Pao promo has 202,000 Php as major prize). Actually, every subscriber who joined this promo is already a winner because GCASH gives you 3 pesos as the minimum prize for every successful Ang Pao transaction. Anyway, my GCASH investment journey started that way. 

Since then, I continued using GCASH and availed most of its services, mostly those that would give me savings and/or investment. One of the services I availed of is the GCASH Invest facility. GCASH Invest is a GCASH feature that allows its subscribers to make an investment with its partner provider for as low as 50 Php. By the way, GCASH and ATRAM (investment product provider) are both authorized/supervised by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to offer financial investments. In case you're interested to start your investment journey, too, download the GCASH app, available on IOS App and Android Play stores.

In order to avail the GCASH Invest facility, GCASH subscribers MUST BE a fully verified subscriber. In case your account isn't fully verified yet, follow this instruction from GCASH on how to make your account fully verified. Once your account is fully verified, you may now start using GCASH Invest. To start GCASH Invest, look for the Invest Money icon/button on your GCASH app and register.

How to Register to GCASH Invest

1. Click the Invest Money icon/button to register. You will then be prompted to confirm your personal details (extracted from GCASH profile). Confirm and submit your details.

2. After confirming your personal details, you will then be asked to answer a survey/questions regarding your risk profile. This step is a must. Your answers to this questionnaire will determine what type of investor you are - conservative, moderate or aggressive. Conservative investors are those who prioritize security and liquidity of their investments. Conservative types of investment are low risks but poses lower returns. Moderate and aggressive investments poses higher risks (possibility of losing money) but also has the greater chance of earning more from the investments. Currently though, GCASH Invest only offers conservative type of investment which is ATRAM Peso Money Market Fund.

Once done with step 2 above, please wait for the approval of your GCASH Invest registration. You will be notified via SMS and email when registration is approved. Once approved, you may now start funding your GCASH Invest.

How to Fund GCASH Invest

1. Click the 'Invest Money' icon.
2. Click 'View Investment Products' button (currently, it only has one product available which is the ATRAM Peso Money Market Fund).
3. Click 'View Details' of your chosen product.
4. Click 'Subscribe' button.
5. Enter amount (50 Php minimum) to be invested then click 'Next'.
6. You will then be prompted to confirm your agreement on the product's Terms and Conditions. Click the checkbox beside 'I agree' then click 'Confirm'. You will then receive a text message confirming your subscription transaction.

I haven't yet done withdrawal or redemption of my investments but in case you want to redeem or withdraw your money, choose and click 'Redeem' instead of 'Subscribe' and then follow the app instructions. 

As of this date, my GCASH Invest money earning is around 1.4% of my investment, better than bank savings which is usually around 0.25%. Considering that I only made small investments every payday, 1.4% is already a good return for me. ATRAM's rate of return on Peso Money Market Fund is 3.2%, year on year.


~ oo00oo ~

This post was triggered by a gift I received from GCASH last Wednesday. Earlier that day, I got a text message from Entrego (a logistics company) informing me that my package will be delivered that same day. I've never purchased or ordered anything so I'm not expecting any package to be delivered to me. I then called Entrego and inquired them about the text message. The CSR told me I got the correct message and that I do have a package for delivery. I asked who the sender was but the CSR couldn't provide me an answer. I went out that same day and when I got back, the guard handed me the package, no sender information outside. When I opened it, I was surprised it came from GCASH. A simple gift; but it encourages me more to continue saving/investing and work my way towards my dream of financial freedom. Thank you GCASH! 

2020 GCASH Invest gift
2020 GCASH Invest gift,
yes, I'm a certified GCASH investor! :)

Gadgets | Garmin Venu: Thoughts/Opinions/Review

Garmin Venu
Garmin Venu, black/slate

I'm not an athlete or a sports-minded person. In fact, I'm a couch potato. But recent developments in my health prompted me to go out and move more. This 2020, I renewed my #sitlessmovemore mantra once again. And my companion in this endeavor is my new Garmin Venu smartwatch. Thanks to my very dear BFF who sponsored it. Otherwise, I would have to be contented with my phone's fitness app. BFF knows that I like smartwatch with fitness tracker so instead of buying some other gift last Christmas, he gave me the money to buy the wearable that I want.

I initially wanted to have Samsung Galaxy Fit but reading through lots of reviews made me end up with considering a full-blown smartwatch rather than just fitness tracker. Last December, I checked out and read and viewed lots of reviews about the 4 smartwatches (Samsung Active 2, Fitbit Versa 2, Apple Watch 3 and Garmin Vivoactive 3 element) I'm considering. I'm an iPhone user so Apple Watch is really recommended but they're really not my type, not because of anything but more so because of its shape. I'm not a fan of square/rectangular shape watches. Fitbit Versa 2 was also eliminated from consideration because of its shape. Also, Fitbit Versa doesn't have a GPS so it does not fit with my requirements. So there, it's Samsung Active 2 vs Garmin Vivoactive 3.

Samsung Active 2 is not available in most stores I checked until early January this year. Same with Garmin Vivoactive 3, it's out-of-stock and sales clerk don't know if and when they will have it. Besides, she said Vivoactive 3 is an old version and will not be released anymore, though they have the updated version Vivoactive 3 Element and Music. I went to several stores of both Samsung and Garmin several times to try the models that I'm considering just to decide which one I should buy. In the end, I bought Garmin Venu, one of Garmin's newest smart/sports watch. Following are my opinions/thoughts/review on my new Garmin Venu.

Garmin Venu Sleep Tracker

Of the many features of Garmin Venu, its sleep tracking is the most inaccurate in my experience. I set my usual sleep and wake-up time at 12MN-6AM but I usually am in bed before 12MN browsing and reading  online. The next morning, when I wake up and sync my watch with my phone, Garmin Venu registered my sleep time way too early than my actual sleep time. Since I'm just lying in bed reading and not actively moving, Venu misinterpreted my activity and included my reading time as sleep time. Even when I woke up in the middle of my sleep and couldn't get back to sleep at once, tossing and turning in bed for minutes, sometimes hours, Venu still registers it as sleep time. Another thing, Venu shows very little deep sleep time, normally less than an hour, which I think is not correct since I usually wake up well-rested and energized. Garmin, in their forum site, mentioned to correct and set the correct sleep time through the phone app and it will eventually learn from it. So far, my Venu hasn't learned from it, yet.

Garmin Venu Heart Rate and Respiration

In terms of heart rate and respiration, I couldn't compare Venu with other wearables out there but I have a BP monitor which I usually use every morning to check my BP and the readings are not that diverted, just a few points difference so I guess it's somehow accurate.

Respiration on the other hand, registers a pretty normal range except when I was doing exercises and while I'm sleeping. By the way, although my Venu doesn't report my actual sleep time accurately, I find my respiration data quite right. (I wouldn't say "accurate" since I've no other basis but the normal range I read online.) During sleep time, my respiration goes below normal range, which I guess is correct, since I normally snore loudly during sleep causing my breathing to go slow or stop maybe. During the day, the respiration readings are within normal range again except on times that I'm active and doing my exercises when respiration shoots up.

Garmin Venu Smart Notification

Venu's smart notification feature is a handy feature specially during busy times when I couldn't always check my phone or when I accidentally left my phone's sound alert turned off or when it's in my bag or pocket. With this feature, I could immediately get on to my phone when there is emergency. But actually, the best thing for me is that I could read the messages and ignore or delay responding to them without letting the sender know I've read his/her message. Sorry peeps, I'm just quite busy sometimes. But I eventually turned off this feature after a few days as it eats up on Venu's battery life. My Venu lasts only for about 2 days when smart notification is turned on. Please note that my notifications get pretty crazy during work days as my work (and work mates) uses online communication pretty much.

Garmin Venu Fitness Tracking/Steps Tracking

For health reasons, I'd like to track my movements/steps on a daily basis. My goal is to at least do 8K steps a day and eventually get it to at least 10K a day. And this is one of the reason why I bought a smartwatch or sports watch. Although I can use my phone to track my steps, I couldn't always bring my phone wherever I am so a wearable is my best option to keep track of my movements. Based on my phone's data (using a different app), I could say it's pretty correct. I also like that this watch alerted me to "move" every time it detects that I'm not moving in quite a while.

Garmin Venu VO2 Max Estimates

Last September, I had a check-up in a clinic because of chest pains. I'm quite a worrier when it comes to my health so the doctor ordered a full cardiovascular check-up which include ECG, 2D-Echo and treadmill stress test. Thankfully, the results are all okay except for my stress test which pretty much shows how poor my fitness level is. I actually was able to reach maximum heart rate for my age and gender without a hitch. The thing is, I reached it just after 3 minutes of treadmill workout, just a few seconds after the warm-up stage. I felt like a weakling that time haha.

Good thing that this Garmin Venu has this VO2 max estimates which shows the fitness level of its users. For me, this is the best feature that Garmin Venu has. Venu's VO2 max is just estimates, but it helps me in my fitness journey and it somehow encourages me to continue improving my fitness level. So what does Venu tells me about my fitness? Venu told me my fitness age is 58 and that I'm at the bottom 25% of people of the same age and gender. Gosh, it's so shocking! I really need to move, and keep on moving. Anyway, I'm doing this sort of VO2 max training (my version) so hopefully, my fitness level will eventually improve.

Garmin Venu VO2 Max estimates

Garmin Venu Battery Life

Garmin website says that Venu battery could go as long as 5 days on smartwatch mode. And this is one of the reasons why I bought this watch, the longer battery life compared with Samsung Active 2's 2 days. I intend to use it 24/7, at least during the first few weeks or months of use to establish data accuracy. However, in my experience, the battery only lasts for about 2 days with 24/7 heart rate monitoring on and smart notification turned on (as I said above, I get lots of notifications during work days). I also noticed that the Venu battery drains pretty quickly after using on GPS-tracked activity even though I'm actually done with it. I searched online and found a recommendation to turn it off and reset the watch. So now, every time I'm done with my GPS-based activities, I turned it off for a while to reset (I don't know how to reset it without turning off, didn't do some googling yet) and then continue to use it, as usual. 

Connectivity, Watch Face, Etc.

I'm glad that Garmin watches, Venu in particular, can be used with either iPhone or android phone so it's a plus feature for me. It can also be connected to other third-party apps like MyFitnessPal and Strava. I'm not using Strava but I track my calorie intake using MFP so this is another plus feature. I also like that there are so many third-party developers supporting Garmin that you have an array of watch faces to choose from. Just download Connect IQ and look for the watch face that matches your style and personality. Another thing, if you like to share your stats on social media like instagram and facebook, you can use any of your photos as background of your statistics. Overall, though there some features that need improvements, I would say I'm quite happy and satisfied with my Garmin Venu; and this is now my everyday watch.

Garmin Venue Watch Face
my everyday watch face
Garmin Venue Watch Face
Valentine Watch Face
Garmin Photo Stats, for social media sharing


There you go, my personal thoughts and opinions on Garmin Venu after using it for more than 2 weeks. Take note, I'm no expert in smartwatch and I don't have other smartwatch to compare it with, I just want to share my thoughts and opinion on Garmin Venu as an ordinary user, that's it. 'Til next time... (hopefully, I can post more articles this year).

ShareThisWidget