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May 13, 2025 A coffee, A smile, and some Korean Chicken I didn't like

Just Another Quiet Day (But Her Smile Was Something Else)

Today felt like one of those “I just want to be alone” days which, to be fair, happens pretty often with me. I didn’t have much money left, but I still had this craving for coffee. So I went to a small, cheap coffee shop somewhere in Baguio. Nothing fancy, just something warm to sit with while I tried to escape my thoughts.

While I was sipping my cup, she walked in. A girl with a smile I swear I won’t forget for a while.

She looked like she just got off from work still in uniform, probably from SM Baguio. I think we’re around the same age. She didn’t notice me, of course, but the moment she smiled at someone (maybe the barista), I caught it. You couldn’t even see her eyes when she smiled, and those dimples? Man, they were perfect. Her movements were soft, effortless like she wasn’t trying to impress anyone, and that made her even more magnetic.

I couldn’t help but stare for a bit (discreetly, I hope lol). But at the same time, I knew she’s not mine. Probably never will be. And that’s okay. Sometimes, people enter your day for just a moment, and it’s enough. So I quietly wished her all the best, wherever life takes her. I hope she finds happiness, real and deep. I hope she gets everything she’s working hard for.

After that brief moment of admiration, I decided to grab something to eat before heading home. I tried this Korean chicken with cheese and ugh, I really didn’t like it 😩. The sauce was weird, and the cheese felt out of place. But you know how it is when you're broke you still eat it anyway because you paid for it and every peso counts. So yeah, I finished the meal, even though it was kind of sad haha.

May 12, 2025 Voting, Shawarma, and a Quiet walk alone

Election Day: A Vote, A Meal, and Some Thoughts

Today was election day here in the Philippines, and like many others, I took the time to cast my vote in the 2025 senatorial elections. But this time, I really made it a point to vote wisely.

In the past, I’ll admit I didn’t always do deep research. But this year felt different. I went through the list of candidates one by one, reading about their background, their past decisions, their platforms. It took a bit of effort, but it mattered. I wanted my vote to mean something more than just checking a name.

While I was in line, I overheard someone mention they voted for a candidate I personally couldn’t support. I knew that person’s background, the controversies, the red flags… and I couldn’t help but feel disappointed. It reminded me how different our perspectives can be, even when we’re all hoping for a better country. But I stayed quiet. After all, that’s democracy we all get a say.

Once I was done voting, I treated myself to a solo meal: shawarma rice. Nothing fancy, just something quick and filling. But wow—it was so tasty. That kind of flavor that hits just right when you're tired and slightly emotional from the events of the day. It was the kind of meal that doesn’t need company to be enjoyed. I just sat there, quietly eating, reflecting on the weight of what I did today.

May 11, 2025 A rainy walk and ice cream in this cold weather

Just Me, the Rain, and an Ice Cream Cone

Today didn’t go according to any plan and honestly, I’m glad it didn’t.

I ended up at Burnham Park in Baguio City, right in the middle of a quiet drizzle. Not the heavy, thunder-filled kind of rain just soft, steady drops that made everything feel slower and more peaceful. The park was almost empty. It felt like I had the whole place to myself.

I walked for a while. No music, no phone distractions. Just the sound of rain on leaves, the occasional splash of my footsteps, and that cool Baguio air that makes you want to breathe a little deeper. It was... calming. For a moment, I couldn’t think of anythin and it felt so good. No noise in my head, no pressure to be anywhere or do anything.

And then, because why not, I bought ice cream. Yes, in the middle of the rain, and yes, it was cold. But it hit the spot in the weirdest, most comforting way. Like doing something that makes no sense but somehow feels completely right. I just stood there with my cone, under the grey sky, rain falling all around me, eating ice cream like it was the most natural thing in the world.