..actually putting in a title for the blog post. Haha!

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Anyway, while I was reading through Seth Godin's blog I read that you should blog consistently to develop your sense of opinion. To have a sense of knowing what to say and knowing something about a lot of stuff - and being able to express it in creative writing.

So I will try to write more about things - mundane and intellectual - and not hide them in text files with obscure file names.

I should write more often. Even short but sweet blog posts will make me a better opinionated person - one small blog post at a time.

So, what do you think? If you have thoughts about my blog (or about anything, really), let's talk. I love talking about ideas.

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I made this artwork for my girlfriend but I haven't had the chance to show her yet. It's an edit of a photo I took of her when we were in Palawan, I think.

Hello everyone!

Looks like a fucking painting, doesn't it? DOESN'T IT?

You must've thought that I've abandoned this blog already. Well, I have not, and I don't think I ever will. It's got my fucking name on it so why should I?

I should blog about when me and Beth went to Bohol. It was a dream. The whole stretch of soft white sand and pristine waters is such a wonderful sight to behold. The islands are just as majestic and unspoiled (yet). The Chocolate Hills are nostalgic, reminiscent of the old postcards I used to look at when I was a kid. The 2-centuries-old Baclayon Church, sadly, is half-destroyed by the earthquake last year that hit Bohol. Do you believe that there's not one SM mall in Bohol? They've effectively passed laws that promote local commerce instead of bringing in industry giants. I think it's a must-visit should anyone want to explore the different sights and sites in the country.

We also went to Corregidor, and were moved by the stories of World War II in that historic place. It's a remnant of a violent past, and a reminder of how ravaged the Philippines has been during the war. It's also a shrine to the heroes that fought and died to defend the country against its oppressors.

This is my favorite place in Corregidor. Not the ruins. Not the blasted buildings. But this.

Anyway, a few months back I was already thinking about what to write about as another grand entrance to the realm of blogging. I've done some traveling since the last time I blogged, but my travels aren't enough to cover a "going-back-to-blogging" blogpost.

Well, fast forward a few weeks back, something happened that changed my life. Possibly for as long as I live.

I was diagnosed with an illness that makes me dizzy with strenuous or sudden movement. Vertigo. Caused by displaced calcium crystals inside the ear canals, causing the feeling of imbalance. But never to worry, doc said as long as I take my pills I'll be fine.

Let me tell you about my first attack. It was one morning as I was just waking up and about to rise from the bed when suddenly everything around me is moving to the right. When I try to look at my left it would be so just for a few seconds then it would spin back to the opposite direction, It's like the feeling you get after you spin around; except for me at that time I felt it the whole fucking day.

Even though I haven't been advised to not do the usual things that I do (except for rigorous activities), I stay away from the things that I worry that will make me dizzy. It's like a normal feeling now. I've bid Muay Thai good bye, I certainly can no longer ride the insane rides in amusement and theme parks, I can't even run anymore without feeling a slight discomfort.

Have I learned something from it? Yeah. A lot. One of them is taking care of oneself. Honestly, I used to think that I'll never be sick (except for occasional fevers and cases of runny nose). I think I've pushed my physical shell to its limits. Now I'm taking care of myself. I've also realized that my life isn't only mine to live for, but for those whom I love and those that I want to look out for.


I hope this post makes up for the long time I haven't been here.

I will not go straight to the point on this blog. I will go to lengths in its exposition and you'll know when the point has already been explained.

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Living through the shit that I should call human interaction, I have come to observe some facts that are essential to keeping functional relationships with other people. Here are some:

1. There are different schools of thought when it comes to sharing your shit through social media. Some may abhor the fact that you're airing your dirty laundry in public, while some may claim that if you do not like what you see then GTFO. I think we should choose sides among these two and carry on.

2. People in social media (and in real life) tend to project a better image of themselves towards other people - especially towards other people they don't have the luxury of sharing their shit to (yet). I say let them be and that the truth always looks glittery from the outside.

3. People will only remember you when they need something from you. It's a society where people strive to survive and do whatever it takes, so there's nothing wrong with that. But don't expect to maintain a sincere relationship after giving them what they need, for they only need you for what you have and nothing more.

4. You can have different circle of friends, or have a basic set of people you can count on support from - what matters is the trust you can give and expect from them.

5. You need trust - trust other people and win their trust - and nurture it.

6. You cannot flirt with every person you see in Instagram or Facebook. Yes, not everyone sees liking every self portrait photo of a person that he/she posts as harmless. Liking a self portrait means you like the photo that person shared; liking every self portrait of the same person means you like the same person.

7. I have learned the concept of rebooting. A new version of yourself, so to speak. A version 2, deprived of bugs and errors from the previous version. And apparently, from what I've been going through these past months, doing a reboot of one's life is fairly easy - especially if you have the reasons for doing so.

8. This is a world where you can only nurture human relationships if you understand and if you emphatize with how others think. Recognize other people's opinions and always believe that there will always be people better than you.

9. Walking through life and your own pursuit of happiness devoid of the light of rules in human relationships means you're going to be stepping on other people's toes. Be wary of those toes you step on and choose whose toes to step on.

Here's a potato. You're welcome.