Santolan: Barangay Election + Street Food Trip, 10/30

I wasn't supposed to vote but our friend told me that skipping one election could mean I could be deactivated for the next one. So, bumoto na lang ako. It was quick and I surprisingly enjoyed the day, ang daming street food! Waaaaaaaaaahhhh I missed eating all of these. Before I could ever afford fast food chains or Starbucks, these were our childhood meriendas. Cheap, yummy, and uniquely Pinoys.

Cubao

Aside from Manila, Cubao comes second to my favorite cities in the Philippines. There's something very Pinoy about it that I love. I realize that I love places that transport me and flawsome. :)

Nono's

I come from a family of foodies and dining out and trying out restos is a staple in the family. The most recent favorite resto that I truly enjoy is Nono's. I'm glad that they have a new branch in Gateway Mall and I love that it's spacious and nearer.

 

Barrio Weekends

My day-to-day is fast-paced so I've begun planning overnight stays at our other property that I consider a 'metro' province. It's a province but only 1 hour away from the city. :) 

This practice enables me to be transported back to the days when people weren't too glued to cellphones yet. I get to slow down, literally do nothing, and restore my energy by eating simple real food, breathing fresh air, and being with loved ones.

Nature love

I love nature. Trees and being surrounded by them restore me. I am fortunate to have found this property. :)

From DXB with Love

Unmasked: Taken last year by my friends during the pandemic and almost every person there wasn't wearing a mask anymore. I felt free and back to normal.

I never want to forget the time I set foot in Dubai again. It was October 2023. It's a beautiful very warm place where I truly got the opportunity to know my father as a beautiful person. It was where I met the friends I'd have for the rest of my life. It was where I understood what "home" truly means.

I'll be back in July 2024, this time with my sister and my mother. 

Who am I, really?

Yesterday, one Saturday afternoon, I opened my computer and did something productive besides watching Netflix. I know that it is a time waster and yet I get so addicted to it. I read short training courses on psychological safety, goal setting, and effective communication then I stumbled upon the story of Shonda Rhimes. Shonda's the woman behind the series I enjoyed, How to Get Away with Murder. She said, "Stop dreaming, start doing." 

I didn't stop. One topic led to another until I discovered LinkedIn Learning. Aha! What's supposed to be a warm-up to build an upskilling habit turned 10 hours. I subscribed to a month-long trial of LinkedIn so I could get access to training courses on marketing and entrepreneurship. 

In college, I was supposed to take BS Entrepreneurship but I changed course. Entrepreneurship interests me and seems challenging but when I saw that LinkedIn categorized it as a skill, my perspective about it changed. It's made me feel, Oh okay it's a skill, I can learn this! 

What's more, I started following Louis Vuitton, Jessica Alba, Virgin Company, and Ryan Reynolds plus I updated my work title headline to Marketer | Modiste | Maker.

I think I still know who I am or at least who I want to be. I am a marketer, modiste, and maker.

Outside of work, I enjoy learning new skills and making pretty things.