ALPHA

Life Experience

One of the highlights in my mission is that; Missionary work will teach you more about life than just missionary work. For example being obedient, not only be it taught me to follow the rules. It taught me to be responsible to my actions. I learn how consequences from our decisions can greatly affect the quality of our life and identity. I learned in the perspective of a missionary, that life is simple, but never easy. Therefore it allowed me to handle situations in the most Christlike way. It taught me to handle my finances, manage my time, develop good habits and avoid bad behaviour. You may say, the mission help me to become a better human being and not just a mere missionary.

Professional Experience

I’m very grateful of the blessing I received before, during and after my mission. Another highlights I learned is that, “The mission does not change you, it reveals you.” the smallest ounce of potential that is projected from 5, 10 and even 50 years beyond of what you are capable of. The professional experience I’ve recieved became my asset in the competitive corporate world, These experiences taught me competence, work-ethic, skillset and character development. In fact, the successes I had in my career are due to the fruit of my mission. Skills like confidence, public speaking, righteous image (branding), English, teach and leadership are all focused, practiced and mastered in my 2 years in the field. and till today, I use these skills in my work, church and family. 

Spiritual Experience

For a long time, this was the only time I truly allowed myself to feel. It was late at night when I awoke in bed, and as my eyes fluttered open, a weight pressed against my chest, expanding with the force of unspoken emotions. I rose, gazing down at the floor, and saw it—water, pooling beneath me. My breaths grew heavier, and there it was—I was finally crying. Weeping, sobbing, letting go in the purest state of lamentation, if only for this fleeting moment. No noise, no distractions, not even thoughts—just feelings. These feelings surged from both body and soul, an overwhelming flood of exhaustion, melancholy, euphoria, and relief. In the end, I am still human—limited, vulnerable, fragile. And to embrace that humanity is like tasting the dew from the heavens, for which I am profoundly grateful. My heart is full.

Seeing my parents board their first flight, walking all day without suffering from the heat or the journey, only growing stronger in their determination to savour every moment of their vacation—these are the memories that fill me with gratitude. I thank Heavenly Father for granting me the perfect timing to fulfil this dream. Watching them not just witness, but experience life with vigour, has been one of the most comforting aspects of this trip. I am so thankful I was just in time.

I’ve been racing against time, aware that both of them are showing signs of decline, especially my mother. I’m beginning to understand her more, recognizing the shifts in her behaviour. I see her as she is, and I hope others can show her the grace and patience she deserves as she enters this new stage of life. I’m halfway there now—this is my testament to honouring my parents. My joy for my in-laws is just as deep, even if the dream isn’t the same, I still want them to be part of it. Especially now, as he experiences a new country for the first time.

This is also a testament to my father. I want him to see that success isn’t reserved for returned missionaries alone. I have been blessed through my mission, in both spiritual and temporal ways, and I want him to understand that. The boy who once sacrificed to serve God, following a path that seemed impractical, wasteful, and risky for the future, is the same one who now opens doors for him to step on foreign soil as he always dreamed of as a child. The same goes for my siblings—secular skills alone aren’t enough; you need something more, something divine. You need God.

As I write this, my nose is runny, and my eyes are wet. The floor is starting to have a small puddle. I’ve been crying, and it feels so good. Finally, I can feel my emotions again. I feel so alive.

My dreams for my wife and our child are even grander. But this—this was one of my biggest dreams since I was a missionary. I once vowed that I would take my parents to places without them needing to leave our country because I believed we are in the "promised land." I am grateful for this experience—every single bit of it. My heart is full. Now that this dream is fulfilled, I can turn to the next one, perhaps the final one: taking them to America. Hahaha, I know we don’t see it the same way, but for them, it remains their "favourite country," a place they’ve seen in movies and heard about from missionaries. Their curiosity runs deep, and I promise to make that happen.

If I were to describe Hong Kong as a place here in the Philippines, it would definitely be Binondo on steroids (literally). The architecture, the street food, the tight, claustrophobic spaces and especially, the capitalism. It’s a Western Chinatown on a whole different level.

Despite my shallow observation, there are some things that I learned about the place. In terms of culture, rules and how things work. Below are the things that gave me an eye-opener about the place.

Strong Order

One thing I noticed while visiting Hong Kong was that there were no beggars or homeless people. It was the first time I saw a place where nobody was sleeping on the streets or begging. Another notable aspect is the safety. I guess the main factor is the extensive CCTV surveillance. Cameras are everywhere—on the streets, in the trains, and even in housing areas. Surveillance is highly utilized, making it very easy to track someone who has committed a crime.

Of course, the place isn't perfect. You can still see trash here and there and mischievous people doing things they shouldn't (both locals and foreigners). But the sense of order is strong. You don’t see many policemen patrolling, but if they do need to respond, they are quick—usually within 5-10 minutes.

The Cold

One thing is for sure when I came to Hong Kong: just because it's not snowing doesn't mean the cold is bearable. To give you context, I've dealt with cold temperatures before in the Philippines (around 20°C). When I heard and saw that Hong Kong doesn't have any snow and the temperature was only between 14°C-16°C, I thought, "I'll just bring a thick jacket then."

Boy, was I wrong. The first time I went outside the airport, it was freezing cold. Even with my jacket on, I was still cold. It was so cold that I had to turn off the air conditioner in our room because it was too much. It was so cold that I had to turn on the hot shower and wait for the room to steam up while drying myself, just to get warm. I thank the heavens for my wife buying heat tech garments.

Kabayan

If you go to Central Square, you'll find a place where a lot of Filipinos are chilling on the street with their cardboard boxes as floor padding. They sing videoke on their smartphones, play bingo or card games, and even trade goods. These are our "kabayans"—Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) spending their time on the weekend. They're very warm and welcoming whenever they meet a fellow Filipino. The first time you see them, you'll definitely feel like you're at home.

To be honest, I wish I had more time to spend with them on those streets, listening to their stories, hearing about their families, and learning about their experiences as OFWs. There was even a time when we met an OFW while walking in the subway station. She shared her story about her experiences and how life has been going for her in the Philippines. The only words I spoke to her were, "Kabayan! Kumusta?" and the conversation just flowed from there until she directed us to the correct station. You can tell they want someone to talk to and listen. I believe that being heard in your own language has a profound impact on making someone feel better and comforted.

Disney Land

The happiest place on earth. This was the second time I went to a theme park, but this one was different for me. It wasn’t just a place for excitement and laughter. This theme park somehow brought us to tears. The inner child in me came alive when I experienced it. It’s just different. The happiness, joy, and imagination of becoming a part of a magical place are so surreal. I wish I could express more of that in words, but it’s just magical.

EA vs SEA

Traveling in Southeast Asia is really different from traveling in East Asia. Although Singapore also has a strong sense of order, extensive surveillance, and beautiful theme parks, Hong Kong and Macau have very distinct environments that differ greatly from Southeast Asia. East Asians tend to be more reserved, with people minding their own business and maintaining a quiet dignity. In contrast, Southeast Asians are warm, welcoming, and interactive.

I could even tell this because most of the noisy ones in the place were either Filipinos or other Southeast Asians. Of course, you also have some East Asians being loud and extroverted, but when I saw that street performance in Central Harbour, the ones who gave the craziest cheers were from SEA.

Macau

If Hong Kong was Binondo, Macau is Intramuros. The place has a strong Spanish/Portuguese vibe, which is evident in its architecture. They have a street that looks like a little Lisbon. The buildings and pavements resemble those in Latin Europe. Of course, the place is dominated by casinos. But they offer free rides, luggage drop-offs, and tours of tourist sites. If given the chance to go back again, I am confident I could tour Macau for less than Php 1000.

Thoughts

I just learned that Balian is a name in the Philippines. Mainly in the bikol

I remember the time when I could still buy a candy called "Dilimon". It was a sugar drop with different colors and flavors that took a while to melt in your mouth. Kids like me used to buy that kind of candy for sharing with our friends like edible marbles. Unfortunately, you don't see that kind of candy anymore here.

But perhaps the thing I missed about that candy was that it was only worth .25 centavos. That's right. A quarter of a piso (PHP 1.00). Things were so cheap back then that the centavo was an actual daily allowance to school. People use it for gambling, transportation fare, and even groceries. Today, centavos still exist. However, they are not viewed as valuable as before. I'll give you an example, how many times do you see a centavo on the ground or road? Ever attempted picking it up? If it was dirty would you still pick it up?

Unfortunately, you might likely say "Hell no Ballan, that thing is dirty. it's not even worth it." Sadly I agree with you. It's not worth it to pick up a piece of metal that costs .25 pesos and gets the risk of getting your hands dirty, especially for something that doesn't have much value. And that's the point. Value. Money represents a unit of value. And if people don't see your money as valuable it is close to (or is) worthless.

This is what always grinds my gears because the government keeps on minting centavos. And not only .25 ones, they even go as far as .5 centavos. I mean who does that! Why would I carry a .5 centavos in my pocket? i can't buy anything with it? Unless I need to collect 20 more, I can make it into PHP 1.00 but it is not really worth it. Like I believe that the time of a Filipino is now worth more than just 5 centavos per second.

What makes Money, Money?

A country's currency relies on 2 things and that is, Economic Value and Confidence. If the economic value is high the currency becomes more valuable. The same thing goes when people are confident with the currency, they will view it as valuable meaning they are likely to save on it. Now, I believe that if we make people more confident in the currency people will tend to use it more and won't waste the currency.

Proposal 1: Remove the cents and high-denominated bills

One solution that I believe should be implied is to cut the pesky centavos including the high-dominated bills. The dilemma in picking up something that is not worth of value is the same as not being in the position to liquidate into small bills for a transaction to be settled. How many times how you ever went to ride on a jeepney in the morning with a bill (Php 50, Php 100, etc..) that becomes a dilemma to give you change?

I believe an economy should be prioritised on the speed of the transaction that is taking place rather than the degree of value of it. When a denominated bill that is acceptable to the majority and can be easily settled with, the circulation of trade will be much faster making the boost in the economic growth.

Of course, this is not a perfect solution. When a commodity’s price causes a dilemma in settling a transaction* it also gives the same problem. Hence I also give the second proposal which is to expand digitalisation.

Proposal 2: Digitalisation

Like it or not, Money is dirty. Like literally, there’s a disease of holding contaminated cash called Staphylococcus aureus. The other suggestion I believe that could help is digitalisation. Using technology in our financial system makes transactions organised and efficient. It gives a better accuracy on how much money is generated and how much excesses are unused. It also helps keep track of where the money is spent. What I like about digitalisation is that even to the smallest centavo, it is stored, counted, and transferred easily. You don’t have to worry about keeping your coins intact and not losing them. With digitalisation, you get to have your money stored in the digital space. You can use your phone or card to do transactions. No need for the hassle of counting and calculating, it’s all automated and direct. You can even do transactions within your own home and have the goods or service delivered to your door step.

Of course, digitalisation still has its downside, especially when living into country with a vulnerable cyber security. The risk of getting scammed, theft and your data getting compromised is higher than being rob. You also get to suffer with those transactions fees also known as “convenience” fees and other charges. Overall, convenience has its cost and over time we as species will evolve on how to adapt to those kinds of unique challenges.

Proposal 3: A New Currency: Piloncitos 2.0 (₿)

And finally, the last resort. Let's make a new currency! But this time, making it different. This not something new but rather an upgrade on the existing currency. In order to make the currency be more successful, or at least have its confidence and economic value last for a longer time, They need to execute 2 important principles.

The new currency must be linked to something that is hard money (e.g. Gold). If they do this, the currency (whether paper or digital) builds a strong basis of value or wealth. This strengthens the confidence and acceptability which expands the opportunity or being used internally and externally (i.e. Dollar). This way, the printing of money, even to the smallest denomination, will be limited to the value of the hard money to be exchanged with.

The second principle is to increase its sense of decentralization. I’m not saying we need to switch to bitcoin, however, there are valuable things we can learn if we use technology to our advantage. Having a more decentralized currency limits people to spend and borrow because keeps track on how much money is left for circulation. There’s limited control on the wealth, and create certain consequences for hording it.** Inflation is there but not as high as the productivity growth that can keep up.

Thoughts

Once again, this is not a perfect solution; however, I believe it is a better alternative to our current currency (fiat). In this day and age, we must learn from the mistakes of history and find ways to innovate and break the cycle of excessive debt and borrowing. We need to value economic growth based on productivity, not on stimulus. When people have limited resources, they tend to work harder and be more patient for growth. They also consider others to maintain existing peace and help lift everyone up, so everyone benefits from prosperity regardless of inequality. This won’t be a utopia, but it will be a world better than the previous one.

**When the distribution of wealth is decentralized hording too much wealth becomes painful as the driver of economic growth is spending. Therefore, the amount of money necessary for savings will be healthy along with the inequality gap. 

I am a big believer in the patriarchy. I believe men must be at the highest standard of their manhood to make their families successful in this imperfect world. They need to be wise, revered and charitable to their wives, children and to all men. I believe that men must be able to provide for and protect their wives and children while maintaining a consecrated vision that moves them to a better position in life.

There's a throne that only a few will sit on.

In this family, leadership is anchored in service, compassion, and an unshakeable sense of duty. A leader earns trust not through words alone, but through years of action—by showing up when others falter, by giving when others withdraw, and by carrying heavy burdens even when no one sees. The essential qualities of a leader are strength of character, wisdom tempered by humility, patience to endure long struggles, and the moral courage to make hard choices that may not bring immediate praise. While we value integrity above all, there are times—especially in moments of crisis or when protecting loved ones—when a leader must act with strategy, discretion, and even a degree of calculated firmness. This is not about seeking power, but about safeguarding the family’s future and preventing greater harm. In these rare moments, a leader must walk a fine line between compassion and resolve, using every tool at their disposal to shield and hold the family together.

Not everyone wants the Crown of Ballan because it demands a lifetime of sacrifice, patience, and vigilance. It means setting aside personal ambitions to focus on the welfare of the family, often enduring blame and hardship in silence. We keep this tradition alive because it has proven to be a stabilizing force: it tempers ambition with accountability, brings the family together in moments of success so that no one is left behind, and preserves unity when crises threaten to tear us apart. This way of thinking comes from generations of deeply held oriental values, where honor is not an abstract ideal but a lived commitment, where duty to family is the highest calling, and where the family is seen as the core foundation of society. It is a philosophy born from centuries of struggle, where the survival and dignity of the group outweigh the needs of the individual, forging a collective resilience that passes from parent to child.

Alpha and Saint

The wind swept over the cliff, carrying the salt and chill of the sea. Below, waves broke again and again, a steady rhythm against the rocks. The sky glowed with fading orange light, bleeding into deep purple as night approached.

Saint sat near the edge, his shoulders heavy, staring out at the endless ocean. The grass around him moved gently in the breeze, whispering secrets he no longer cared to hear.

Alpha came up behind him, hands behind his back, holding his left arm like he always did when words failed him. He let out a quiet, dry laugh as he looked out over the water. “And here we are again,” he said softly. “Doing it alone.”

Saint smirked at the horizon, the last line of sun catching his tired eyes. He leaned back, fingers brushing the grass. “Yeah,” he murmured. “Just like always.”

They sat in silence, the ocean roaring below, as the sun sank and the stars began to blink awake overhead.

I grew up in a community where tribal loyalties prevailed. Loyalty to family was paramount, and defending one’s kin was a duty, regardless of right or wrong. My father once explicitly instructed me to always stand by my siblings, irrespective of their guilt. This tribal mindset not only offered certain privileges but also brought its challenges.

For instance, during curfews, if I was caught outside late, the village police, familiar with my family, would merely offer me a ride home instead of a reprimand. This leniency was partly because my grandmother had been a respected “Kagawad” for 20 years, and our family was known for being non-violent and generally well-regarded in the village. The mention of the ‘Mendoza’ name carried a reputation for kindness, though we were far from perfect.

Woman,

It's been a while since I've written you the things in my head. These past few weeks I have been tired and stressed to the point I was just excited to die. One time you said to me to not leave you made me think. I really don't want to leave you. And you gave me more reason to continue and push harder while being able to take things slow so that I won't kill myself. You help me in my sleepless nights and drowsy days. You made me love mortality more than I loved it before. I appreciated our journey in this life and am still enjoying it with you by my side.

For me, Mortality is a phase where we will live in a world of good or evil and not a world of followers. Where we are free to act on ourselves to do that is ought to be done according to our judgement. And one of those best choices was having you in my life. I have never experienced life so tormenting and yet bearable because it has refined us to be the being we are meant to be. We are not resisting nor fighting the pain but rather enduring it. Carrying all the way, until we can say we're strong enough to ignore it. I have excelled in ways I couldn't imagine. I've suffered ways I couldn't bear. But in the end. I'm happy in ways that I couldn't comprehend.

I like spending mortality with you. In fact, I would stop the world from spinning as Elijah did, to spend a little more time with you.

Singapore. The place that brought my childhood back to life. Everything is extremely efficient. From their transportation system to their land use. Things are allocated productively and efficiently. Although it's not perfect, I would say that they earned to have the title of "developed country". Surely, people in Singapore are lucky to have a country like this.

The Day

We started staying at an old humble hotel called South East Asia Hotel. It's an old Chinese hotel with some of the basic parts of what you expect a hotel has. What I like about it is how the room is really like an old house similar to the one in our grandmother's. I also like the idea of how efficient they are in using the aircon by putting a ceiling fan on top to efficiently spread the cold air. This gave the room a temperature that is not too cold which makes my nose and lips dry, but also not too warm that I might sweat as I tuck myself into the thick blanket.

The Elderly - An asset to the economy?

The first thing I noticed in the morning is how a lot of old people working outside. Street Vendors, Service Crew, Train Station Guards and even the front desk of the hotel were old people. This gives me a mixed feeling of amazement and sadness at the same time as I see the joy of them finding themselves useful and productive which gives them meaning in their lives. The other side, however, is I see how they are already tired but they still need to work as they didn't have anything for retirement. This gives me another impression of Singapore. Most of the homeless are old people as well. You can usually see them sleeping somewhere on the side of a street or selling tissue napkins. Although there are a lot of programs on how to help these elderly some of them chose to be homeless rather than joining in the program. Which was kind of interesting to me.

The Real Hustle Street

This of course why explains their culture. You can tell that everyone needs to keep working and moving to sustain the country. When you even go to their train station. I assure you that not a single person walked less than 10 kph. Like literally you need to stand on the left side of the elevator so that the one who is rushing in can get through. And the elevator? You need to be quick on your feet else you might be catapulted. (That's an exaggeration but you get the idea of how things move in Singapore). The environment of innovation, work and productivity is just so strong in Singapore that even you (a piece of crap) will feel you achieved something in life without doing anything yet. I can understand where this kind of culture comes from. Since Singapore doesn't have any resources its best assets are its people and that made them competitive which sparked a survival culture.

And yet the Beauty of it all.

Despite the orderly chaos, the busy people, the fast-paced systems and just everything related to it, there is so much beauty in this place that I just can't believe a country possesses. The creative use of technology, preserving their ecosystem, fascinating architecture, efficient use of landscape and infrastructure and the marvel of its iconic spots; Universal Studios, Merlion, Marina Bay and the Durian (Fly Eyes). You can appreciate almost everything you see, touch, hear and feel and just marvel at how this was created within only over 50 years. Did I also mention that I've never seen a police officer roaming around? Yes, surprisingly, police are only located in public places such as airports, train stations, etc… They do, however, have stations where you can report, and they will respond quicker than ours. They are well-organized, kind and disciplined. They are not perfect, of course. They have their issues, but as far as making things work, I might say, they kinda nailed it.

Mansion or a Home

Singapore is the best place to hustle, leisure and explore. However, in my humble opinion, I would still prefer the Philippines when it comes to settling in. Singapore is a place to visit for fun and excitement, but I doubt that I will stay to settle down. Even some of our friends in Singapore said that the country is too fast for them. That's why they go to Malaysia to chill and relax. With great prosperity comes great productive responsibility. I can understand why other countries admire their qualities and growth*. Even I dreamed that one day we could experience this kind of living standard in my country.