Liam Rafael, November 9, 2017

I was recently in Manila for the birth of my BFF’s second son, Liam Rafael (or “Baby Rafa”), as he is known. I’m pretty much present for Ivy’s baby deliveries…only a day late for both.  Her son, Sebastian, was born on September 10, 2015, and I arrived, true to form, one day later. 🙂 She……

Why do I journal?

"The final twist of secrecy; lives hidden from themselves. Memories lost. "I just don't remember anymore, " they say blankly to their children or grandchildren. Lives leaving not a trace, just shadows..."   - Alexandra Johnson ( From Leaving a trace: On keeping a journal, the art of transforming A Life into Stories.) 🙂

Sugba Lagoon, Del Carmen, Siargao

  Was in Siargao, Surigao Del Norte for a week. It was absolutely beautiful over there. The takeaway lesson for this trip was that, if you say yes to an invitation, you just might get the surprise of your life...and a positive experience to change your heart for the better. 🙂

#JusticeForDrey

Dr. Dreyfuss Perlas, 31 years old,  a native of Aklan, was shot to his death while riding his motorcycle from a medical mission held in Lanao del Norte. He was in the Doctors to the Barrios (DTTB) program and he had decided to stay in the area after his tenure. He allegedly came from a…

The rains have come

August 21, 2016. It’s been raining all over the Philippines these past few weeks, but my hometown has only had its share (and it has been quote continuous). It let up a few hours ago, so I was able to test my new GoPro Hero 4 (Silver) outside. I had won it in a raffle,……

Cupid wants his arrow back

When I listen to a  song with this cadence, there is a tendency for me to just sit still and stare off into space. “Lost Stars” is such,and  it  happens to be one of my favorite tracks on the movie, Begin Again. I watched this movie, with a former significant other a year (or two)……

Living forever

“Letters to A Young Poet”,  is a collection of ten letters written by Bohemian-Austrian poet Rainer Maria Rilke (1875–1926) to Franz Xaver Kappus(1883–1966), a 19-year-old officer cadet at the Theresian Military Academy in Germany. It is one of my favorite books. I have read it many times through and it has always been timely. Although it……

Photo: Vintage Cameras

Is film photography dead? I’m sure it is very much alive…just not here, where I’m from. These photos were taken a few years ago, while I was still living in Manila. I had been told that in my hometown, they still had those machines that printed from film negatives. Ironically, they closed down a year……

Video: Never had

I think, someday, we’ll be sorry for the chances we never took…and the things we never said.