Category Archives: Personal

Daily Blog #12 – Wrong feelings

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Today at noon, Taal volcano erupted for the first time in 40ish years. As expected, there’s a flood of “Pray for us” tweets and the public advisory retweets showing the meanings of Phivolcs alert warnings.

Most people are afraid of the seemingly imminent eruption, but oddly I am more excited than afraid. If you know me intimately, you’ll know that I’m afraid of things that people would find mundane: like running out of conversation topics while hanging out with a friend, people who sound mildly angry, and other really dumb things. [other examples: tall slides, kiddie roller coasters. I also used to be afraid of riding escalators and elevators (I only managed to get over my fear of elevators when I was already in my 20’s)] …you get the point.

I really find it weird that I’m not afraid of deadly toxic gases coming out of a volcano or deadly loud volcanic explosions (the neighboring Krakatoa volcano killed a lot of people through the sheer loudness of its explosion).

I missed posting a blog and taking a photo yesterday, partly due to the eruption, and partly because I’ve had the bug since Saturday. I attempted to sleep at work (after shift, of course) but my headache bested my desire to rest.

Daily Blog #10 – Denial?

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Today I felt the signs clearer than ever. While on the ride home I can feel my face folding painfully at faintest exposure to sunlight. I didn’t have sunglasses or other means to cover my eyes other than my hands. I’ve never felt this kind of pain before. It’s either I’m getting older and weaker against sleeplessness or I really am no longer enjoying my work.

Daily Blog #8 – Niche

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As the shitty photo implies, yes, I have recovered my oddball camera.

The title of this post is actually completely unrelated to the camera, and more of a reminder to myself to listen more closely to that faint nudge:

– that my personal path does not follow the common trail in photography

– that I don’t belong to that group. I have to pave my own path.

Daily Blog #7 – Adjusted day

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2017 called… he wants his toy back.

I know it’s already the 8th of January, but according to my body clock, the 7th is only about to end the moment I fall asleep.

Good news, someone picked up and surrendered my 360 camera! I lost it sometime last month during the year end party. I’ve already accepted that it was lost, never to be found but there it is!

No deep epiphanies to day, and it’s okay.

Daily Blog #5 – When the tides are turned.

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I am so used to being on the losing end of a battle. On those rare times when I’m on top of things (like today), I’m not sure if I’m doing a great job of being kind to those who need my help.

Panic works on both directions: fearing superiors, frustration on junior/s. I am starting to understand the necessity of stoicism in self improvement.

Daily Blog #4

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There was supposed to be a video, but apparently wordpress does not allow short clips for “safety” reasons. Too bad, it looked nice…

I can sense the desire to buy new stuff weakening as I minimize my exposure to the internet…especially youtube and reddit. It’s still there. In fact, today, after I found out that Star Wars still isn’t showing in the country until January 8 (because of stupid MMFF), I went to the usual shops: the Apple and Sony stores. To be honest, it was the price of the stuff I wanted that made me not want to get upgrades for the coming months.

Perhaps, and most probably, the desire will not ever leave. I think I need that balance again.

Daily Blog #3 – 0.001 is technically not 0

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My screen time for today is still under 2 hours. Three days without reddit and youtube really frees your mind by a surprising lot. I still tend to bring my kindle without actually reading it, but the amount of podcast I am able to listen to has greatly increased.

Today’s photo is still a far cry from my 2017 365 Project, but that is to be expected for a no-zero-days post.

Any movement is better than ZERO movement.

Daily Blog #2 – Things to be thankful for

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Ayala MRT Station, just before midnight.

“Thankful” is not one of the words you could use to describe me. I’m obviously trying to be positive here. Looking back at 2019, I did have some nice stuff to be thankful for:

  • First time to go out of the country—and did it solo. Not a lot of people would dare go out of the country alone, especially on their first time! But I did!
  • I climbed Mount Pulag at the beginning of the year alongside one of the—if not the—best landscape photographers in the country. While I didn’t get to closely mingle with him, (thanks, social anxiety!) it was still nice to be in the same company with some of the best photographers in the PH. (in fact one of the photographers in our group won the Photoworld Manila photographer of the year award for 2019)
  • Improved the few remaining friendships that I have. While I didn’t gain new friends, I’ve learned to trust—and hopefully gained their trust of—current acquaintances.

on the b side of things.

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Everyone has a Vlog these days. Everyone has a podcast, a soundcloud, a twich stream. Hell, even the ultra popular actors are trying to get a slice of that sweet, sweet pie called…you-

-r attention.

Your attention and all the factors that makes you want to get out of whatever you’re supposed to be doing—they want it. Companies are paying a lot of money just to get your attention. Your time.

Youtube is so addicting. According to my iPhone’s screentime feature, I spend, on the average, 5-6 hours daily, browsing nonsense that someone on the other part of the globe has created. I’ve been trying different techniques on how to minimize my phone usage, but the dark side is constantly upping the ante in luring me [/us] into wasteful activities on our devices.

This is attempt number 24523453245. I am attempting to restart my blog in order for me to create something instead of mindlessly consuming other people’s output. I’ll be doing this for myself. Nobody reads blogs anymore, anyway.