MILLENNIAL MULTIHYPHENATE

If you were to ask me - my idea of the perfect catch up (or getaway) with my friends would be an out-of-town trip to the beach or in other words, travelling to some place else. But given the fact that we’re all busy adults just trying to make it, staying in busy Manila and looking for fun activities to do isn’t exactly a bad idea either. 

In case you haven’t heard, it hasn’t been so long since City of Dreams Manila launched ‘The Garage’ - the country’s first ever food park that features a VR zone, too. Good food + a couple of fun games to try out? Sounds like the perfect weekend activity for me! 

With El Chupacabra, Little Flour and Katsusora among the delectable food options - having a good munch is already a given. With that, let’s talk more about the VR zone - which, as I have just mentioned, the FIRST in the country. 

In partnership with Bandai Namco, The Garage features some classic favourites like  Mario Kart Arcade GP VR, Ski Rodeo and Hospital Escape Terror. Now, they’re bringing in new games which can be the perfect activities for you and your barkada. 

Celebrating its 38th anniversary, “Galaga” is considered a classic video game masterpiece and one of the most popular arcade video games since it was first released in the 1980s. Taking on a new and exhilarating format as “VR Swarm Shooting Galaga Fever,” the game is set to deliver an action-packed, multi-sensory, and startling hyper-realistic experience through the top-of-class VR technology of Bandai Namco group.

Up to two participants can play the latest VR attraction. Players will be provided with VR goggles and a VR gun, as they play atop an elevator that will take them 150 meters into the atmosphere, where they have to shoot down as many swarming alien attackers from Galaga as they can. The battle ends if the elevator crashes down or if the players fail to evade and be hit even once by the Giant Galaga’s beam.

The Garage also features another new thrilling VR experience, the Winged Bicycle. Winged Bicycle, which can be played by up to four individuals, enables players to experience the thrill of flight through riding the pedal-powered Winged Bicycle. Players have to pedal with their legs, and fly over soaring mountain surfaces, plunge through waterfalls, and dodge rocky cliffs along the way in order to reach the floating castle within a certain time limit to win. 

On Sundays to Thursdays, the VR Zone is open from 12 p.m. to 11 p.m., food outlets at 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., and The Roaster at 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.; and on Fridays to Saturdays from 12 p.m. to 12 a.m., the food outlets at 10 a.m. to 12 a.m., and The Roaster at 8 a.m. to 12 a.m.

Single VR activity ticket is at Php 380; while packages are available for those playing in pairs or groups: Php 700 for two persons playing Ski Rodeo or Galaga Fever; and Php 1, 300 for a group of four playing Mario Kart Arcade GP VR, Hospital Escape Terror or Winged Bicycle. For those who want to avail of three or five activities, the ticket prices are Php 1, 300 and Php 1, 650 respectively.

I’ll let you in on a little secret. For a limited period of time, you can get a FREE family computer for every purchase of five (5) games at The Garage! Just don’t forget to use my code : 5VRFREEFCMC. 

For inquiries, call 800-8080 or e-mail [email protected] or visit www.cityofdreamsmanila.com.

Trying to do well in school, trying to excel in my career and having to think of my day-to-day needs from running errands, to getting my laundry done, to preparing my meals. Yup, you can tell that there’s definitely a lot going on inside my mind. Sometimes, way more than I could handle. Juggling the role of a writer, a community manager and a student entails that I take on multiple roles all at once. All for the dream, I guess.

During the last 2 months, my days have been extra busy. Late nights, early mornings, unending to-do lists. Staying in and lounging around in my Avon Body Illusion has become my idea of luxury.

Avon Body Illusion is Avon’s newest addition to their renowned underwear line. As always, it lives up to Avon’s commitment to empowering women by helping conquer things that get in their way - including underwear woes. Combining comfort and flexibility - Avon Body illusion utilizes the proprietary invisilite which makes it fade-resistant and stretches perfectly well up to twice its original size. AMAZING, right?

Being the glow getter that I aspire to be, I know for a fact that the best way to conquer everyday is to look great while I’m at it. You know what they say : Get up. Show up. Dress up and never give up.

Remember, the most basic rule in fashion :  Great style starts with underwear that fits you well. Bras that always have to be adjusted every so often, straps or wires that hurt or bras that don’t fit well may seem like super small details. But come to think of it, won’t it be so much better if you don’t have to worry about small things like this that throw you off your rhythm anymore?

Avon Body Illusion is light. It’s seamless. While I find it perfect for lounging around in the comfort of my room, it’s also the perfect inner wear that helps me conquer the challenges that come with being a multi hyphenate. From long classes, meetings to parties - it’s my secret in pulling off any outfit with confidence.

It comes in two seamless and comfortable options :

The CHARLENE Underwire Seamless Bra (P899) and Panty (P299). With its laser cut edges, you won’t have to worry about marks even with tight clothing. It’s also available in a wide range of sizes.

SONIA Non-Wire Seamless Pull-on Bra (P899) and Panty (P299) offers even more flexibility with its pull-on form factor, complete with ultra soft fabric and moulded cups.  Its sizes range from S to XL.

Avon Body Illusion is available through your favourite Avon reps, the Avon Website and on Zalora.

If there’s anything I’ve learned from our favourite girl bosses, it’s that the secret to getting ahead is taking the smallest worries out of your mind. Whether it’s getting involved with pressing social issues, building your empire or slaying everyday at work that you’re passionate about, choosing the right underwear will give you one less thing to worry about - so you can focus more on the things that matter.

A simple dinner with good friends (whom I consider my family too!) would suffice but I’m not one to turn down copious amounts of exquisite eats.

Just as any Lunar New Year celebration - the festivities started with a traditional dragon dance, no less.

We were served with some of my favourites from Gloria Maris’ menu : Peking Duck, Salted Fish Fried Rice, Sweet and Sour Pork and of course — Mango Sago & Taho for desert. THE FOOD WAS JUST TOO GOOD I HAD TO DIG IN, I DIDN’T EVEN GET THE CHANCE TO TAKE PHOTOS!

And finally, I was able to get first taste on the true star of the night, the HK Poon Choi.

POON CHOI

Poon Choi (Pehn Chui or Pen Cai in Pinyin), literally translating into ‘Big Bowl of Feast’ is a traditional dish usually served for special occasions. Filled with mouthwatering ingredients, the Poon Choi holds a special place in the hearts of both the Hakka and Cantonese communities all over the world.

Initially, Poon Choi first made its way to the walled villages in the new territories, the rest of Hong Kong and thankfully, the rest of the world for us to enjoy.

But what is it with Poon Choi that makes it so special? What exactly is in it?

It’s actually quite simple. But also quite complex. The traditional HK Poon Choi contains beef, chicken, pata (pork hind leg), mushrooms, shrimps and more. After being cooked separately, it’s smothered in a glorious gravy-like sauce, giving flavor to its already mouth-watering ingredients.

Living up to the reputation it has built throughout the years, Gloria Maris served us with the best Poon Choi we could possibly find in the city.

Apart from chicken, pork belly, hind leg, beef fat, mushrooms and shrimp, among its mouthwatering contents is the abalone seafood. It was my first time trying Poon Choi and my experience at Gloria Maris could not have been better elsewhere for sure!

Apart from the sauce not being too thick and heavy, the flavor did not overpower the meat and the rest of the ingredients. It also went perfectly well with my favourite salted fish fried rice. I bet it would go well with noodles too!

But what really made this gastronomic experience special was this : I am very much allergic to unfresh seafood. I’m pretty sure I devoured gigantic proportions of this dish and ALL of its contents but I didn’t feel that annoying, itchy feeling in my throat. Only proved that Gloria Maris only makes use of FRESH sea food and the BEST QUALITY ingredients.

Would I want to come back and have more of this dish? YES.

Will I recommend it to my family and friends? ABSOLUTELY.

6/5. Must try!

The HK Poon Choi is available at Gloria Maris Gateway Mall and Gloria Maris Eastwood until the end of the month. Make sure to follow them on social media to stay on the loop with the latest updates :

Gloria Maris Gateway Mall 

Level 4 Gateway Mall Araneta Center Cubao Q.CCubao, Quezon City, Philippines

Call (02) 332 5067

Gloria Maris Eastwood 

Joms Antonio, whom I fondly call Dadi Joms, is a visionary and an art prodigy in his own right. I still remember so vividly — walking into their 3-storey home and ultimately being stunned by the wide array of toys set on display : collectibles from Star Wars, rare POP figurines and an overwhelming human-sized Superman standee on display. I thought to myself : perhaps, this explains his edgy and avant-garde-but-never-tacky-or-too-flashy aesthetic.

Always Out of The Box

Plan. Solve. Escape. If these three words ring a bell, you’ve probably been to BREAKOUT, the country’s premier escape room game. Perhaps, you’ve experienced (or have been wanting to) arguably the country’s best (and to date, the most successful) zombie run – Outbreak Manila. Joms has been heavily involved in both – initially as one of the zombie talents and later on, as one of the minds that brought to life a game changer in the leisure and entertainment industry. His designs have brought numerous ‘crazy’ ideas to life – and continues to do so. The first thing I’ve learned from him is to always stay out of the box because to begin with the box exists because you allow it. The magic always happens outside the box.

Stay Ahead But Stay Grounded

When people think of design (or even art, as a whole), they sometimes think it’s absolute freedom : no limits and no rules. Perhaps, in principle, this is true.

But also not true. Great artists are the ones who know the rules by heart. Or the ones who break them to create new ones to stay at par with the changing times ; innovating the classics, dictating the trends and creating powerful statements while staying relevant through timelessness.

Being the true artist that he is, Joms always made it a point to create future-proof designs that still speaks volumes of who he is as an artist. I’ve seen this first hand when I got the chance to work with Dermcare – one of their flagship brands.

In 2016, Joms spearheaded the #DermcareInBloom campaign – utilizing soft colors and elements of nature to convey the message of beauty and youthfulness. 2 years later, the same concept is being used by some of the giants in the skincare and beauty industry.

And even in real life, this much is true :  Deviate, do not conform but never ever stray too far away from your values.

Nothing Beats Experience

2018 marks his 20th year in the field of design. Having worked with both big and small brands alike, in the Philippines and abroad – things are only bound to go uphill for Joms. Leading his own team of visionaries and artists, Joms stands as the president of Counting Sheep Studio – a design and marketing firm, who’s proven in such a short span of time, that they are well capable of building not only brands, but success stories.

Impressed? You may get in touch with Joms Antonio directly through Counting Sheep Studio. Cheers!

If you’ve been following my social media accounts for quite a while now, it’s an open secret that I’ve tried quite possibly every side gig there is out there ; from ghost writing, to transcribing thesis for burned out college students to face-to-face fundraising. Name it, I’ve probably done it.

Just as we’re programmed to think, I welcomed 2018 with so much hopes and dreams - travel plans, fitness goals, career milestones and (*i cringe*) smitten and hoping my 7-year-singlehood streak would finally be broken.

Didn’t take long for me to figure out that joke was on me. Shortly after a very promising start of January (my first interview on EagleNews TV & a talk at THE Ateneo), I found myself  involved in a drug controversy. My name was mistakenly and maliciously included in a drug list in the Barangay where I was previously residing. I have gone through so much at a young age. I take pride in being brave, in being strong, in being a fighter - but this incident, being involved and threatened by the horrors of tokhang knowing full well that I am innocent- crushed my spirits to the core. I almost caved. I almost gave up. I almost ended my life.

But I didn’t. And my struggles didn’t end either. Fall outs with people who matter, barely making it through my second semester in school, failing miserably in all my gigs, my dog almost dying, experiencing my worst heartbreak, banking on promising opportunities that never materialized. I don’t think I’ve ever lost as much in a year as I did in 2018.

Sis, di ko na mabilang ilang times ako napaasa at nasaktan this year. Quotang quota na ako.

But to be fair, I also don’t think I’ve gained this much in a year either.

While I  was struggling, hanging by a thin thread, dragging my beat up ass to face every single day, I didn’t realize I was writing proud stories of survival I can cling on to when the going gets tough again. 

I didn’t get to travel as much as I wanted to but I got to experience raw and genuine moments that were just as breathtaking and beautiful. I have come across so many amazing people and was shown love and kindness by so many - far beyond what I think I deserve. 

I didn’t get to lose as much weight as I initially wanted but I finally got out of the trap that is believing you have to fit in to unrealistic beauty standards to have a life that’s worth living. 

I didn’t achieve some of the career milestones I set for myself but the last 12 months have prepared me to be the higher version of myself that my higher goals entail. 

Most importantly, I didn’t get the guy but I did gain a lifetime friend and I still got my plot twist. 

My plot twist came in the form of liberation - liberation from all the things that happened in the past that was still haunting me. Realizing that second chances are just as beautiful as the first one, which I believe I messed up and beat myself up for. 

My plot twist came in the form or reignited spark that reminded me of who I was, what I believed in and what my dreams were before the bills and the burnout consumed my soul. 

My plot twist came in the form of 29 brilliant minds who, in a short span of time, gifted me with a genuine sense of belongingness and purpose. Pushing me in all the best ways possible in the pursuit of my dreams. 

My plot twist came in the form of a sash and a crown. Of a crowd cheering and believing in what I stood for. A title that will provide me a platform to speak and act in ways that can change the lives of many - even if it’s just in my university. 

No, being the first ever student to win Ms. LPU+ did not magically make my life better. Nor did it solve all my problems in one go. But in the brief moment of ecstasy, everything suddenly started to make sense. I’ve lived through seasons of blur but now that I look back - the chaos has been cleared and it’s all in 20/20 HD.  It is my ability to good for others that makes me worthy of my place in the world. I am here for a reason and I have yet to live out my purpose. 

Sometimes, your ‘plot twist’ doesn’t come in the form of a new lover, or a new job or anything new, for that matter. Sometimes, your plot twist is finding that version of yourself that surprises ayou and makes you realize that your ability to endure is limitless and that you’ve always been enough. 

It’s that moment you realize you don’t need to keep waiting for the light at the end of the tunnel because YOU are that light. 

 ESPECIALLY XIAO LONG BAO. Man, i love Xiao Long Bao! I am never not craving for Xiao Long Bao. 

Since its opening in 2016, Paradise Dynasty has gained recognition for their splurge-worthy Xiao Long Bao. Aside from the usual, typical xiao long bao we all love, Paradise Dynasty also offers this crowd-favourite in many different flavors - which I would be sharing with everyone later on. 

Sure, it’s good. Great, even. But if you think it’s all Paradise Dynasty has to offer, you’ve got it all wrong. Luckily for me, I got invited to an exclusive lunch that gave me first taste of the restaurant’s newest food offerings. 

What’s a trip to Paradise Dynasty without geting some of their Xiao Long Bao, right? 

As I’ve mentioned earlier on, they offer Xiao Long Bao in many different flavors, namely : Ginseng, Garlic, Black Truffle, Crab Roe, Foie Gras, Szechuan and Cheese. Personally, my top two favourites aside from Original are Cheese and Black Truffle. 

Now, on to the much awaited, part : their newest dishes. 

New Dish #1 : Shanghai Style Braised Pork Belly 

Super soft, not too salty and also not to sweet. Very flavorful. The Pechay goes well with it too! The perfect pairing to go with rice. 

New Dish #2 : Salted Egg Prawns 

This one looked really, really, really good but I didn’t get to try it because I’m allergic to certain seafood such as this one. Based off the reactions of my lunch maters, however - it’s a must try! 

New Dish #3: Grilled Grouper with Tofu in Mapu Tofu Style 

I couldn’t really describe its exact taste but if you’re a fan of spicy food and love putting your taste buds to the test - this dish is something you will enjoy. It’s not the type of dish you get to try everyday. 

New Dish #4 : Grouper with Pine Nuts and Fruits 

Just like the sweet and sour dishes we all love - BUT BETTER. Despite it being super saucy, the flavor doesn’t overpower the freshness of the fish used. Perfect for barkadas of families of 4 to 5 people. 

New Dish #5 : Deep Fried Duck and Steamed Buns 

Chronologically speaking, this dish was the one served right after the Xiao Long Bao. However, I decided to talk about it last because while all the dishes were really good - this is the one I would order again, given the chance. 

I had my first taste of fried duck the first time I stepped foot in HK back in 2017. I’ve tried it in some other restaurants here but so far, this dish from Paradise Dynasty is the best one yet! 

If you think about it - it’s actually a super simple dish but with the right amount of crisp, the juicy (and suprisingly, not oily!) you’ll be wanting more. 

Special shoutout to Ms. Chosa for having me over for lunch that day :) 

(Photo from Eugene Araneta via Facebook) 

(photos from : Ken Ortega | @ken.ortega )

The event took place at the 2nd floor of Estancia, Capitol Commons in Pasig. I was feeling a little drained out and sick that weekend so I arrived after lunch already. Even then - I still got to do A LOT of activities. I could just imagine how much more fun I would’ve had if I arrived much earlier.

First stop : Instagram Photography 101 by Kenneth Amparo

As someone who’s aiming to thrive in the digital scene, it’s important to at the very least, have a good eye for what is or what isn’t instagrammable. Kenneth Amparo taught us simple but very, very often overlooked significant tips and tricks in slaying that photo -- all for the gram. 

Second stop : Canvas Bag Stamping

I’m not exactly gifted when it comes to ~ahrt~ but I find DIY activities very very therapeutic. The BDJ team prepared a lot of stamp options for everyone - letters, iconic symbols and even horoscope-related designs. Quite fitting since a lot of us are becoming more and more into astrology and understanding the different signs of the zodiac. 

Third stop : Fun, Fearless and Forward talk by Jillian Gatcheco Cantada 

Since the day I realized I could actually write, it’s been quite the dream to contribute for Summit Media - more specifically, Cosmo. Candy and Total Girl -during my younger years. Jillian mentioned a lot of things which were very much on point, but these were the words that really struck me in so many ways -- (quoting her professor from Ateneo) : “Love has three stages. The first stage is where everything is sparkly and magical. Where everything is fun. The second stage is where you start seeing the flaws, ultimately, you fall out of love. The third stage is when you decide and when you commit to love. You see, it’s also like that when it comes to your dream job. You’ll fall in love and you’ll fall out of love. It’s whether or not you commit that matters.”

Fourth Stop : Tarot Reading

While I definitely enjoyed all the activities, tarot reading was the one that I found most interesting. I’m amazed at how eveyrthing seemed so accurate despite me divulging very little information about myself. I wouldn’t go into detail about how it went but it’s worth sharing that IT actually IS possible to predict the future, after all - the future is the sum total of all our previous actions. As such, the only way to future is to create it. To make it magical. 

I first got my hands on a Belle De Jour planner when I was about 14. It served as my diary - the keeper of my secrets, my confidante, the friend who I first told everything I aspire to be and it’s quite an honor to have been part of this event 8 years later. Who would’ve thought?

As part of our GOLD PR ticket - I was lucky enough to have been gifted by the amazing Belle De Jour team with one item each of nearly everything in their 2019 product line! 

People always ask me : ‘How do you do it? Juggling so many things all at once?’ and I usually respond with a laugh or a smile. The truth is, I literally do not know.  But I can tell you how it feels - endless to-do lists, tons of pressure, late nights, (attempted) early mornings and a very, very intimate relationship with my laptop and my phones.

For starters, here’s what my usual day looks like : I (try to) wake up by 7 am (which usually ends up never happening). Shower. Drink water. Squeeze in some work. If it’s a Monday then I try to send updates on all my Viber groups, if there are any. Try to leave for school 2 hours prior (which also, very rarely, happens). Sit in class. Grab lunch real quick and go up to the library. Squeeze in some work again. Sit in class again. Then rush off to an event, a meeting or rush home in hopes that I get home immediately and just try and get as much work done as possible. Every single day. Sobrang #pagoda, besh. Nakakaloka. It doesn’t make it any easier that I am living alone and so everything else is my responsibility - laundry, food, what have you. It’s a never ending battle between “sis, you gotta step up” and “bakit kasi ang dami mong gusto in life”.  It’s mentally, physically and more importantly, emotionally exhausting.

Even then, it’s also worth noting that I live in a time where full-time jobs are slowly becoming a thing of the past. Working two, three or even for jobs or more is becoming the norm. Flexi-time is the new nine to five. Time in what? Time out who? Despite the struggle that comes with being a multihyphenate, I am grateful for two things and these are (1) the mobility of work and (2) the supercharged power of our cellphones to do most things our laptops can, during moments I couldn’t take my laptop with me.

My phone(s) is probably the most important part of my job and one of the things that really stresses me out is when its battery level falls below 50%. While it’s also a perk to be able to work anywhere, ‘anywhere’ doesn’t always have functioning or readily available plugs for me to plug in my phone. Hence, regardless of where I go, I always make it a point to bring with me my trusty powerbank : Romoss Polymos 20 20000 mah Li Powerbank.

NOT ALL POWERBANKS ARE CREATED EQUAL

While it’s undeniably a little big - it’s definitely worth the space it takes up in your bag. Personally, I’ve experienced having to bring five ‘little’ powerbanks everyday because I knew having just one wasn’t enough. 

This changed when the Romoss Polymos 20 2000 mah Li Powerbank came into my life. I don’t have to worry about my powerbank dying on me because charging it once every week is already enough. It has a dual port - so I can share it with a friend in need. It doesn’t overheat like some of the powerbanks I’ve used. 

In case you missed that heck of an important fact about the Romoss Polymos 20 2000 mah Li Powerbank : I charge it once and it lasts for about an entire week. Around 8 to 9 full charges at a time. For reference - I’m using a Huawei P20 & and an iPhone 6+. 

The best part? Romoss offers a WIDE range of powerbanks so you’re sure to find something that best fits your lifestyle. Romoss Powerbanks are definitely a must have for multihyphenates like me. Next up : I’ll be sharing with you the wonders of the  Romoss Sense 6+, Sense 8, Sense 8+,KN20, and LT20.

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This is where online shopping comes in. Online shopping allows you to purchase whatever it is that you need with just a few clicks of a button.  Thankfully, there’s  Hataw.ph - the newest e-commerce platform is finally here to serve you!

Hataw.ph is the answer to your budget problems. From clothing, faucet parts, personal care needs and even baby items - it’s all here. The best part? they offer the lowest prices in the market. They’re in partnership with some of the country’s most well-loved houseware and personal care brands too so the authenticity and quality of the products you’re purchasing are guaranteed.

Looking to shop without a credit card? As early as now, cash on delivery is already available! You can opt to secure your payments through any Cebuana Lhuillier branch.

Last and definitely not the least - if you’re an entrepreneur interested in making your products available in an online platform with a wide reach (and reasonable payment arrangements), all you have to do is head on over to the seller center to sign up. Agree to the terms and conditions, upload your products and voila! You’re good to go.

I had just resigned from my fundraising job at an NGO after a 3-day suspension for non-compliance to the company protocol. Looking back at it now : it was my fault, I left my team leader hanging but in my defense, leaving was the next best step to take in order to save the meaningful relationships I’ve built there.

I was only starting out with my freelancing career. My “”consulting”” stint with a then-renowned start up was failing. Juggling 2 part-time jobs wasn’t enough to make ends meet. The major problem : I was attempting to freelance without having any ~actual~ skill to bank on.  My writing is mediocre, I am not artistically gifted and I couldn’t interpret numbers to save my life. Worst of all, I do not have a diploma to at least save my ass. Perhaps, the most bankable experience I had was a short internship with an award-winning website which also closed down eventually.

With an impulsively pre-scheduled trip to Boracay and my 20th birthday fast approaching which I was determined to make the best one yet - my cash inflow was way below what my lifestyle entailed  and I had to find a way to keep up with all the expenses.

I would always talk about my journey as a non-graduate, ~multihyphenating~ my way through adulting as if I always knew what I was doing. If you believed me, I hate to break it  to you and I’m really sorry to disappoint but the truth is : I don’t know what the hell I’m doing.

If anything, perhaps, my only REAL redeeming quality is my unparalleled authenticity coupled with the will to keep going through hell and high water. Call it what you would but there are only two things I’m 100% sure I’m good at : selling myself and building relationships.

With only that to offer I, once again, after several attempts,  sent an e-mail expressing my interest to work for BLOGAPALOOZA and the rest was history.  It’s been two years since and it may or may not have been (just kidding!) - the B E S T (and occasionally, the worst) choice I have made as an adult.

BLOGAPALOOZA became a household name because it’s arguably the biggest business-to-social media personality annual gathering. Influencers from all parts of the Philippines fly in to join us and some of the country’s best and most sought-after brands opt in. I stepped in at a time where BLOGAPALOOZA was transitioning from a mere business-to-influencer event to an influencer marketing company. With the two (if I may say) LONG years I have spent here - I have witnessed and took part in solving, I’d like to believe, some of its most significant growing pains.

What was meant to be just another side gig eventually took over my life and I mean this in the best way possible. Sure, I still work on a couple of personal projects  here and there but my work as Blogapalooza’s Community Manager makes up majority of who I am. I am no longer just MADDIE. For a lot of people, I’ve become MADDIE of BLOGAPALOOZA.

With that, there are FIVE things, I, as MADDIE of BLOGAPALOOZA would like to share a couple of things I have learned along the way.

When you’ve become the right person for it, it’ll come.

Just a side story :  Although I was hired officially in August 2016, I was already in touch with Ace Gapuz, the company’s managing director at the time exactly a year prior. I’ve exchanged e-mails with Ace, expressing my interest to be part of her team several times. Funnily enough, my e-mails (as well as my resume) would always someway, somehow, end up getting lost. Our meetings just never pushed through.

And I’m grateful it didn’t. Otherwise, I would have wasted such a wonderful opportunity simply because I wasn’t the right person for it yet.

It sounds cheesy and it sounds like the type of advice I would come across on a cheesy Thought Catalog article but it’s true - we can’t force what’s not (yet) meant for us. Good things come to those who go out and look for opportunities. Good things come to those who hustle. But there is also good that comes with learning how to wait, with trusting the process and enduring the discomfort that working on ourselves bring.

Sometimes “going out there” and “hustle” mean being honest with ourselves - what we’re really good at, what our weaknesses are and what needs to be worked on. There are still moments when I get too overwhelmed with the tasks being given to me like having to face clients who happen to be industry giants or getting in touch with influencers I used to just stalk on Instagram. It’s a lot of pressure. I’ve lost count of the times I felt like I was pushed too hard I just wanted to cry or quit altogether.

But I reckon that I will never be completely ready for this job - or any other goal, or a relationship or anything else, really. And that perhaps, being the “right person for it” doesn’t depend on the stars finally aligning or me being close to perfect. Being the “right person for it” equates to  being willing to put in the work,  being willing to endure the discomfort and being willing to fight for it whatever it takes.

Choose a good boss first - the money and the titles can follow after.

From being the company’s managing director, my boss, Ace is now our Chief Executive Officer - and an excellent one at that.

But it doesn’t mean we’re always on the same page. Or that we never argue. On the contrary, in fact. There are things about her that tick me off and I’m pretty sure if you ask her, she could come up with a much longer list of things about me.

And yet, I can say with all sincerity that I will always have her back. I will always have respect for her. I would even go as far as saying I  would trust her with my life.

My boss has been there with me during some of the most exciting and not-so-exciting times of my life. So much so, that I didn’t realize I started picking up on some of her habits : coming on time, making sure all my bills are paid religiously and a few other trade secrets that have worked wonders for me. :P

Because that is what a good boss is - someone who looks at us beyond time charts, work e-mail threads or even  work performance at large.

A good boss is someone who will push you to your limit for your own good ; someone who will influence you to make better choices and ultimately, a better person. Ask yourself : If it so happens that you stray away from your goals, would you be completely okay with ending up to be the person that your boss is? If the answer is YES then stick with them. You’re going the right place.

Every single time I would feel as if my boss is throwing me under the bus, I would realize it’s because she knows I’ll just crawl my way out of the freaking bus and come out wiser, stronger and ready to fight. And I always do. She had to do it in order for me to see what I’m capable of doing and really, there is nothing quite like finding out you are much much better than you think.

The money, the titles - these are things that will come inevitably with time so long as we put in the work. But having a good boss, someone you can consider a mentor, will put us in a much better place that goes beyond fortune or prestige.

“You will never get to where you are if you stop and throw stones at every dog that barks along the way.”

Everything worth fighting for WILL unbalance our lives and as such, we must be willing to make sacrifices.

Distractions aren’t always bad things. However, anything that comes with too little good that it takes us farther from things that matter is a distraction that must be avoided.

Case in point : There is absolutely nothing wrong with making time for your friends, grabbing a bite or maybe a drink.

What if, you reckon you’re on a tight budget for that week and excessive spending on food, drink and transportation would mean it’ll ruin your budget entirely, taking a toll on other important things?

What if you had something big coming up that week and you just know spending x number of hours hanging out wouldn’t exactly be helpful and your gut tells you it can wait? Would you still go?

2016 Maddie would still go in a heartbeat. Maddie of Blogapalooza would  say : “ Let’s reschedule. It’s really not a good time. I’m sorry and I really will make it up to you.”

One important thing our generation seems to have forgotten is delayed gratification, always justifying impulsive decision making with the impermanence of life. Sure, life is short but isn’t that all the more reason to try and make our time here count? Things that matter entail sacrifice and we can’t just keep saying yes to everything. The same way we can’t keep reacting to every single thing or fighting every single battle.

Spreading ourselves too thinly never brings any good. Trust me, it’s a lesson I had to learn the hard way a hundred times over.

I’ve lost time, money, opportunities and even relationships that meant the world to me just because I didn’t have my priorities set in place.

Our energy is limited so it should be spent wisely. No one can ever be everything to everyone so really, there’s no point in trying. Choose well, choose wisely.

The best opportunities are the ones that allow you to create opportunities for others too.

While I take credit in being self-made and all, there is just no denying I wouldn’t have gotten to the places I’ve been without Blogapalooza. 

I’ve crossed out quite a number of items on my bucketlist through the perks that came with this job : I’ve travelled to Hong Kong. I’ve been to Palawan. Both all-expense paid. I got to stay in a 5-star hotel and eat all the amazing food in their buffet without spending a single peso (Take note : NOT ONCE. At least, like, 5 times).  I met Gary Vaynerchuk, a true legend. 

Most importantly, I have met so many amazing people. Luckily, some of them, I can call my friends. These are people who inspire me, who teach me new things everyday - people, who simply put, make me a better person. 

And while all of these sound like a dream come true and everything a 21-year-old could ever ask for, the best part is that, as much as I get to enjoy all these perks that come with the job - I get to open doors for other dreamers like me.

If you asked me 4 years ago what my ultimate dream is, I would tell you want to be a pro-bono human rights lawyer or a politician. But if you ask me now, all I really wanna do is create opportunities for other people - fund their dreams, have them fairly compensated for their work and help ease their financial burdens through whatever extent. 

My work as the Community Manager of Blogapalooza allows me to do just that. I get to give content creators projects that help them really pursue whatever niche it is they’re passionate about. Whether it’s helping them fund that dream vacation, being able to help them put more food on their table or buy that outfit they’ve been eyeing since last month. The bottom line is : these are additional opportunities being created. 

It’s true - next to human trafficking, hunger or poverty - influencer marketing sounds superficial and pointless. Nonetheless, there are problems that need to be solved. 

We’ve seen it over and over in the last, say, 5 years - the power of the internet, specifically social media has been shaping our lives in unimaginable ways. 

and if it changes how people think, speak or even eat, then perhaps, it’s an industry that’s worth putting your time into. Someone has to do the work, right? 

As morbid as it sounds : life is all about picking your poison and so, pick your poison wisely.

This post is already long as it is and I feel that I’ve already poured my heart into it enough. Hence, allow me to end it with a series of tweets I posted a few months back : 

Thank you for taking the time to read this post and I hope to see you the the Philippines’ most awaited annual social media gathering  : ConnecteD by Blogapalooza is happening on October 27 at City of Dreams, Manila. don’t forget to sign up at letsbuzzin.com to secure your slot. :-) 

Love, 

It’s puto bumbong, bibingka, simbang gabi season once again! 

Because it’s all about giving, I’ve come up with a list of simple gift ideas that will surely put a smile on the faces of your loved ones! You know what they say - it’s the though that counts. 

1. A photo album with your memories for the year

2. A modern-day mixtape in the form of a flash drive that contains all the songs that makes the person think of you. Awow?!?! Sobrang cheesy. 

3. A personalized Christmas card made specifically for the person! 

4. Last but not the least, let’s make your life easier bes : head on over to gcregalo.com and just send them Sodexo gift passes that are accepted in over 10,000 merchants nationwide! For sure, they’ll find something they’ll really love.

 How about you? What’s your best Christmas gift idea? Share it through a blog post for a chance to win up to 40k worth of GCs from Sodexo. :) 

We’ve all heard of stories of a girl (or a boy) falling in love, only to be sent into the friendzone. Or of the girl who was having the time of her life, exploring one city to the other, meeting so many people with not the littlest intent of falling in love - only to run into a boy who was bound to change everything. Or you know, plain and simple : the girl who fell in love with the other and just knowing straight up that he will never be able to love her back.

These are just some of the oldest stories in the book - stories we hear and learn from everyday. These are the type of stories we hear over and over.  The ‘Almost’ - so close but so far.

And yet, when we find ourselves living out these stories, somehow already knowing how it’s bound to pan out - we still keep at it, we still try and we still jump in.

You know how they say the worst type of ‘moving on’ is moving on from a relationship that never happened in the first place? It’s true. It’s overrated and it’s been said a million times over but really, there’s nothing quite like living with the fact that the person you want the most will never want you back.

Moving on from an ‘almost’ is the hardest because it leaves you with questions that lead to even more questions. Were there things I could have done more? Were there things I should have done less? Would they have made much of a difference? Did I ever stand a chance? What made me think I had a chance?

Some of these questions, I know I’ll never have the chance to ask. Some of the answers, I know I am not entitled to. With each question I face, I find myself wanting to just hold you close but the space between us continued to grow with each passing day and now you’re out of reach.

Four months. It’s been four months.

FOUR MONTHS LATER, YOU’RE OUT OF SIGHT BUT NOT OUT OF MY MIND. I WISH I COULD SAY I WANT YOU LESS. I WISH I COULD SAY I LOVE YOU LESS. BUT THE TRUTH IS,  I DON’T. I WANT YOU JUST AS MUCH, IF NOT MORE AND IT’S TIME FOR ME TO GO.

And so, here’s me, writing about you one last time. Giving the possibility of us and what could have been one last look. It was beautiful. It was magic. It could have been everything I’ve ever asked for. I was sure. You were enough.

But it is what it is and the truth is that it never was and I should go.

I have hoped one too many times for a better ending for this story only to realize that rewriting it is no longer up to me.

For the last time, allow me to say –

You are the fall that was worth the jump. You are worth the pain and the risk. You are my favourite heartbreak.

And while you were never mine, I hope you know that at one point, my heart was yours.

Aside from the icky, stinky feeling I get whenever I’m sweating after a long walk, another thing I dread is the threat it imposes on my skin. A tan would be great, yes please! But dark spots? No thanks. Especially not on my face. 

Growing up, I never really had much problems with my skin aside from rare episodes of skin asthma. That said, I’m trying to be a bit more mindful of my skincare habits. Aside from avoiding oiliness, open pores and pimples, another (not to mention, trickier!) skin problem I’m trying to avoid is melasma.

What is Melasma? Where does it come from? How do you get it?

Melasma (sometimes referred to as ‘pekas’ in the Filipino context’) is a common skin problem that causes gray to dark brown patches on the face, usually on the nose bridge, on the cheeks and above the upper lip. The most common cause of Melasma is sun exposure. In other cases, hormonal changes brought about by pregnancy and contraceptives. While it does not necessarily impose any serious threats to your health - let’s face it, having discolored patches can take a toll on your self-esteem. 

If this a problem you’re already facing (or you don’t wanna deal with in the future, because well, prevention is always better than cure) - worry not because the answer is here. Pynocare is an anti-melasma skin depigmentation capsule that helps you achieve the brighter, clearer skin you’ve always wanted. 

Manufactured by MegaLife Sciences, a renowned Thai beauty pharamaceuticals company, Pynocare is a dermatologist-proven effective to combat dark spots and melasma. Each capsule is packed with vitamins and nutrients that are good for your skin such as Betacarotene and Ascorbic acid.

Additionally, Pynocare contains MSCC Complex (Melasma Skin Clear Complexion) which is a patented combination of powerful antioxidants. By taking it twice a day after meals, you’ll see results in as early as two months.

While it’s almost safe to assume that pynocare works, here are a few things to take note of :

- Pynocare is NOT a whitening capsule. 

-Pynocare is NOT suitable for women under the age of 18. 

-Pynocare MUST NOT be taken simultaneously with any contraceptives. 

-Pynocare MUST NOT be taken by pregnant women without consulting with their doctors. 

A dive in a pool filled with ice. The first sip of coffee you take in the morning. The anticipation that comes with waiting for the next episode of your favourite Netflix series. The butterflies that fill your stomach knowing you're up for a grand adventure. A long, peaceful sleep after a very tiring day. These are a few things I could use to describe how it felt when you came along  - comforting, familiar but also electrifying. All at once.

It works that way, doesn't it? It's as if our hearts come with metal detectors - alerting us through an unignorable beep when we meet someone who's about to take an irretrievable piece of our lives. It's unexplainable. It’s like magic. It’s unquestionable uncertainty. When you know, you know. 

and I just knew. 

I knew when I saw your eyes light up while talking about the things you’re passionate about. 

I knew when we were laughing like idiots at a shallow, overused joke.

 I knew when you smiled at me while we were walking back to your car. 

I knew when you thanked me for coming to your performance. 

I knew when I saw your reaction the night I mustered up the courage to tell you how I feel.

I knew you didn’t feel the same way. I knew you were just too kind not to say it straight to my face.  

Most importantly, I knew when you looked at her the way I wish you’d look at me. I knew when I saw you talking with smiles twice as wide as ours. 

Sometimes, answers don’t come in the form of words.

 Sometimes, they come in the form of actions.I’ve learned to listen to words that are not being said because often - those are the ones that carry the most weight. 

I hear it. I hear you. I hear a clear, resounding “no”. 

And it hurts. It’s the type of pain that seems to want to eat you up alive. The type of pain that makes it hard to get out of bed in the morning. The type that makes listening to a LANY or Sam Smith song twice as hard. 

It’s funny because I never thought I’d be feeling this way again. That I’d be listening to a sawi playlist on Spotify in an uber ride back home while fighting back tears. 

The tables have turned. The walls are crumbling down and it’s high time I take my own advice : move on, move forward.

A heartbreak is just a speed bump. It’s not the end of the ride. It’s not the main event. 

One day, someone will want me the way I want you.  

And I’ll be enough for him. Enough for him to get out of this game we’re all playing. Enough for him to stop settling for counterfeit intimacy. Enough for him to try, even if  he’s scared shitless. Even if we’re both scared shitless. Just as you were enough for me. 

And I will give him everything that my flawed self can give. All the things that I wanted  so bad to give you.  When that time comes, it’ll make perfect sense why it didn’t work out with you. Even if I wanted so bad for it to be you. 

It’s a childish thing to antagonize people who don’t love you back, especially when the only thing that went wrong was them not feeling the same way. 

I look at you and I see the same beautiful person I met that night. 

I look at you and I feel the same amount of respect and admiration. 

I look at you and I see the friend who patiently listened to my slurred words the night my life was falling apart. 

I look at you and I am reminded that despite all the nonchalance and cynicism I carry on the surface - I am not entirely numb.

I look at you and I see a dreamer who would stop at nothing to make his dreams come true. 

I look at you and I can tell myself without a single bit of hypocrisy that you were worth taking the risk for. Even if I wish things turned out differently. 

I had the right to talk about how I felt. You, on the other hand, have the right to set the boundaries.  Clearly, this is as far as it goes. 

I have a life and  dreams that demand more of me. So do you. 

As much as it breaks my heart to deal with the fact that I may not be the right person for you to share your ups and downs with, I don’t doubt that you’ll make it far. 

We both swore we won’t let that confession come between us and yet here are ; growing farther and farther apart. 

Wherever life takes you, I hope you’re happy because that’s all I’ve ever wanted for you. 

During my  freshman year in college, I came across these lyrics and it easily became my favourite. Now, more than ever, it speaks to me in volumes : 

“I would choose to be with you, that’s if the choice were mine to make. But you can make decisions too, and you have this heart to break”. 

I’m sure we’ve set different milestones for ourselves this year. Regardless, any goal requires a concrete action plan. That said - here’s how I intend to conquer 2018 while working towards becoming my “best me” ever : 

Let Go of What’s Unnecessary 

Whenever I travel, I usually just bring one backpack and one shoulder bag with me. “Packing light” does not only apply to traveling. Packing light can also mean getting rid of unnecessary emotional baggages that drag you down; things that hinder you from moving forward. 

2017 taught me to let go when it’s time to let go. Hence, I’ve been unapologetically cutting everything half-assed whether it’s people or things. Remember : half-assed is no good. 

Make Time for People and Things That Matter 

With less things occupying your head you’ll have more time to pay attention to the things that are value-adding, things that are more important. After all - life IS short and whether it’s a minute, an hour or a year, the time we put into the things we involve ourselves with is time we’ll never be able to get back. 

Get Active

I started 2017 with so many fitness goals and unfortunately, I was not able to follow through. This year - I’m going to try again. Baby steps. I started attending dance classes last week and I’m set to try out cycling. I’m also going back to my gym too. 

I know I’m not the most athletic or active person out there but I’ve seen it for myself - WORKING OUT ACTUALLY DOES WONDERS FOR YOUR MIND AND BODY. That said, I promised myself that I’ll devote my extra money to trying out different fitness activities and making healthier choices. 

A photo of me and some of my friends during my first workout for the year. 

Feed Your Mind With Quality Thoughts

Apart from working out, taking the time to immerse yourself in self-help materials can do wonders for you too. I’ve been taking the time to take courses on MindValley, reading up inspiring pieces from various websites and spending some time with a good book. 

Understandably, certain materials can be intimidating especially when reading and taking online courses isn’t exactly your ~thing~. There are a certain books you can start with. One of them is #BestMeEver : Of Positivity and Possibilities.  

Written by business man and advertising extraordinaire Myke Celis, this book is a light but thought-provoking read. Consisting of short feel-good messages, #BestMeEver is the perfect morning pick me upper or bedside read.  

One thing I love to do is opening this book at a random page during times of the day when I feel down or distracted. Whenever I do, I am reminded that there are countless possibilities that are mine for the taking. A single negative thought or circumstance shouldn’t define my day. 

Sure, reading or watching self-help materials alone does not guarantee you a prosperous year ahead. Nonetheless, do know that people who refuse to open their minds to learning are much more prone to negativity, burn out and even sickness. 

While Korean stars are absolutely adorable and Korean drama is highly addictive (basing on my friends’ reaction at least!), My favourite Korean thing has to be food! Their famed desert, to be exact - the Bingsu. 

I guess it’s safe to say that the Bingsu (sometimes called Patbingsu or Bingsoo) is like the Korean counterpart of our very own Halo-Halo. It’s made up of extra fine shaved ice, milk and topped with different fruits, ice cream, cookies or flavoured syrup. 

Over the past couple of months, stores and cafes offering Bingsu have been appearing left and right. But for me, Snowbing is the best one so far! 

Let me share with you the reasons: its price, its taste and the quality of the ice used.  

Snowbing offers 12 different Bingsu flavors and all of them are priced below 200 pesos. Aside from Bingsu, Snowbing also offers mouthwatering toasts with prices ranging from P210 - P250 already good for sharing.

I’ve had Bingsu from other stores and what I’ve observed is that it’s either too sweet or too icy. This is not the case with Snowbing, despite the Bingsu consisting of 90% ice, it’s not too cold nor to sweet! The ice used was shaved very finely that you can taste the flavor until the very last scoop.

The next time you find yourself craving for a sweet treat - get your fix at Snowbing’s Trinoma branch! 

I’ve been meaning to write about how life has been since I got discharged from the hospital. Yes, for the second time. However, I wanted to make sure first that I wasn’t headed there again for a third round. It’s funny because the last time I talked about getting sick and taking care of yourself ( SEE : You’re young, Not Invincble), I was rushed back to the hospital that same weekend. Just when I thought getting sick with Dengue was the worst, the universe apparently had more lessons to teach me. 

WHAT HAPPENED? 

After I got back from my trip to Hong Kong, I felt lethargic. As days passed, I was becoming more feverish and sickly. Two weeks later, rashes started appearing and I begged to be rushed to the hospital. . My fever was a consistent 39 degrees for about a week and a half and my platelets went down to about 10,000. I was feeling better though so after discharge, my immediate goal was to get back on track and went on with life like I did prior to getting sick.

It was also my birthday season at the time and I already booked for a solo trip to Malaysia. But since I got discharged on a Monday and my flight was on Wednesday that week - I had to pass on that trip. I was frustrated. Being the brat that I was, I tried to compensate for the 'missed adventure' by going shopping and going to an amusement park. BAD MOVE. On October 15, my dad had to rush me to the hospital again because I had difficulty breathing, experiencing persistent chills and coughing out and vomiting blood-tinged sputum.

The 5 hours we spent in the emergency room felt like the longest 5 hours of my life. They had to run all sorts of tests to rule out the possibility of stroke, tuberculosis and heart attack. My numbers were so bad and they had to put me in an isolation room. What I thought to be normal cough turned out to be pneumonia. Thankfully, the test results showed that I had water in my lungs but everything else, including my heart, was in A-Okay condition. 

RECOVERY 

While being in the hospital was hell, what’s even more difficult is getting back to work without pushing myself too hard. Being sick for more than a month and being isolated for nearly two weeks in total definitely took its toll on me. 

I’m having a hard time focusing. The tasks that I  used to accomplish in less than 30-minutes now take me hours to finish - if I even finish at all. In fact, writing this took me about 3 days. I seem to have run out of ideas and I feel lost. 

Suffice to say, I don’t feel like myself and I feel out of touch with reality. I feel useless and I feel deeply unhappy. Because I’m not as productive as I feel I should be - unhealthy thoughts have been kicking in. Getting up in the morning has been quite difficult. Truth be told - ending it all has been constantly lingering in my head. But I refuse to give in. 

PUTTING IN THE WORK AND MOVING FORWARD 

On this day, two years ago, I left home with literally nothing but a made up mind. 2016 was the best year of my life to date and I really wanted 2017 to top that off. 

Unlike the first year of living alone where everything was new and exciting despite a couple of sticky situations here and there, 2017 was about facing non-negotiable truths and inevitable growing pains. I’ve seen more of the world this year than I did in the last 20 years. In the same way that I’ve spent more time in the hospital this year than I did in the last 20 years. 

Which reminds me of the most important lesson being faced with the risk of losing my life has taught me -- it all boils down to strength of character because 95% of the battles we face happen inside our heads.  The only way is through. By courageously making the conscious choice not to give in, half the battle is already won. 

Burning bridges. Cutting ties. Sudden death of someone who once meant so much to me. Losing a job I was fully invested in. Maxing out my savings. Being revisited by feelings I thought I’ve forgotten. Messing up big time. Finding myself back at square one. 

I wish I could say that 2 years into this whole adulting thing - it’s gotten easier, but it didn’t. Life hasn’t gotten better. I’d like to believe - it’s me who got better. 

I know better now. I know that there is no ‘rock bottom’ in the same way that the strength and resolve we unknowingly possess is immeasurable. I know that I will make it out of this chaos and I know I’ll be faced with it again. I know that the battle just never ends. 

As sad and tiring as that sounds, it’s comforting too. Because knowing that you’ve made it out alive a hundred times over means there’s absolutely no reason you won’t make it through this time or in the days to come. 

Even on my worst days, this still holds true -- it’s the the struggle that makes good things worth having.