Rumblings

#blacklivesmatter #georgefloyd https://www.instagram.com/p/CA76LdunqQlrgnLbobAUh5MTS9Bi0WaL-uPbXA0/?igshid=4226ce6xslgm

May sumobra order ng gulay (at Kaimitoville, Valle Verde 2) https://www.instagram.com/p/B_1e28xnDEqxLjgyyWjf6YuPViBIKoV5xIj2b40/?igshid=u1w3ce3e0jpk

Until tomorrow https://www.instagram.com/p/B-YD1nenxspOyLseCKiAXJl4tV8lICA4BzdVkE0/?igshid=151b1lo5e9za5

I started working in BGC in 2016, and getting my bike tuned posed a problem. Sadly, there really aren't any good bike mechanics or even bike shops that catered to bike-to-work peeps, who just needed their monthly maintenance and tuning needs in the area. My regular tuner was in Marikina, a tad too far since I moved to Pasig. Luckily, R.O.X. in High Street had tuning services, and I tried them out 4 years ago, hoping that they'd be able to at least keep my bike from breaking. It was then that I found my tuner (tuners, really). Kuya Allyn and Kuya Jun are heaven-sent, competent mechanics, coming in their soft-spoken glory with meticulous hands, armed with practical and technical skills that not only kept my bike from breaking, but for 4 years my bike hasn't broken down (except when my bike was tuned by other people. More on that in a bit). These angels didn't tell me what I needed to do with my bike, they asked me what I wanted from it, and worked from there. The trust you put in a clean, well-oiled, soundly-tuned, warpath-ing, 2-wheeled machine of savings, exercise & traffic-avoidance is glorious. My bike felt like freedom incarnate. I tried other tuners near my home, just so that I can see if I have other options, but these bike mechanics clearly lacked the very holistic approach that Kuya Allyn and Kuya Jun had. In certain instances, they masqueraded as experts, and turned out to be salesmen trying to fake their way by telling me how much my bike needed an upgrade (looking at your pathetic cast of tuners, Decathlon). Just last week, I had my bike tuned by an idiot who twiddled something and charged me P50. Going home, my gear shift was worse. In 2016, R.O.X. had a small space for the tuners. Earlier today, I had Kuya Allyn tune my bike as I sat in a comfortable waiting area, along with other bikers having their machines tuned by younger, Allyn/Jun-trained mechanics. How far we've come. This is a bit long, but I realized as I cruised home in my good-as-new ride how lucky I was in 2016 that I found really good tuners for my bike, and I'd just like to give credit where credit is due. (at R.O.X. Philippines) https://www.instagram.com/p/B9Tw2a1HyoDYWkPQ_uU5trC1j3swRGcUax52fI0/?igshid=hiefpd67b3ty

at Van Gogh Alive - the Experience Manila https://www.instagram.com/p/B5X1Cq3nbKWxDYfPetrs7FCeIDTX_ljzBlwjYw0/?igshid=6fxwikeqe98e

at Van Gogh Alive - the Experience Manila https://www.instagram.com/p/B5X1Cq3nbKWxDYfPetrs7FCeIDTX_ljzBlwjYw0/?igshid=1mtw3ct3xs54k

Toe (at Samsung Hall) https://www.instagram.com/p/B5X0ZnnHlC_J8Ujb_UpYm7dyXoZZxuKzK-CE4w0/?igshid=898lvn410le0

Yamazaki Hirokazu, Yamane Satoshi (at Samsung Hall) https://www.instagram.com/p/B5Xz-0zHnN16Uz-oiwuYgDYe9_TyH1rw_cb5pg0/?igshid=1pygc3mxmc65y

New digs, same good ol' Pad Thai (at Som's Authentic Thai Cuisine "Little Bangkok") https://www.instagram.com/p/B4xJkQynFt_SHlyHwX5dBQTLiOH3Yq5rBL_blY0/?igshid=1nmoje1aq7lmq

Maddie probably got too comfortable https://www.instagram.com/p/B4ivOCQn0dhS8pctRikex-VI0b8GUNEEHoT3Fg0/?igshid=lbnnzedmgccx

Great wedding with the best barxx (see what I did there). From Manila Cathedral to Sofitel, nice people, meaningful conversations, at ang kawalan ng ambag ni Erysse. #salompazz (at Manila Cathedral Basilica) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3b-dqznkHhCx28JNOzO4G3dKIXPv3LrengC_k0/?igshid=lxw2lcuvf2p4

Scrolled through my phone's pictures and this is the most recent instagrammable picture of mom. We boarded a bus heading to West Harlem, and mom was paying in cash. She had $1.50 in change and $2 in bills. So, buses in New York don't take bills. They had this receptacle for taking coins and that was it. Mom put in the $1.50 and started giving the $2 to the driver. The driver looked at her. She wasn't speaking, but she just continually tried to give the driver the money. At some point, she gave the driver a look, saying, "Take it, come on, you're delaying everyone." The driver kinda said, "fine, it's okay, don't worry about it, get on," but mom wasn't hearing it and kept shoving the bills in the driver's hand. We ended up pulling her inside the bus, as she whispered phrases about how incredulous the driver was for not getting her fare. Never change, ma. Labshu. Happy Birthday ❤️ (at East Harlem) https://www.instagram.com/p/B21ApRnnRYH0GArV6iaIJZOca2EuBaExebv1js0/?igshid=6x807sythd4u