Technically, there is no summer in the Philippines because it’s perpetually summer here. What we have is dry season and wet season. However, since we were an American colony, we adopted the term “summer” to call the dry season when school children are on a three-month break (March – May).

So here we are, my children lounging the days away. Twin I is bored out of her skull and finds ways to disturb my peace. Twin A, being a creative person and somewhat of an introvert, can find things to do on her own.

Maybe we should go back to Anilao next week.

Right now I’m sitting on my balcony, being serenaded by cicadas and morning birds. I remember the endless summers I had here in this same spot when I was my children’s age. I never thought I would be enjoying this again. It has been exactly three years this month since I moved back in my hometown, my kids in tow. It was short of a miracle that I was able to build my house without debt, how smooth everything was, from the construction down to the big move.

If it’s in God’s plan for you, He will make it happen.

I didn’t know I had that much money tucked away to make it possible. I thought home ownership was out of reach for me, considering I’m a solo parent.

I treasure these cicada-filled mornings. I never thought I would have them again in my life. We didn’t have this in the city. Whenever I had the opportunity to hear them in the city (mostly in UP Diliman), my heart ached for home.

So however small my house is, I always try to make it beautiful and cozy. I brought my kids to Ikea last week (when I attended a company briefing around the MoA complex) and let them choose a shower curtain to replace/be a substitute for the plain blue one we had the last 3 years.

I also stuck the Malang tray on my kitchen wall with the help of Command strips.

Life it short. Make every moment beautiful. Make it all count.

Yep, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, typhoons, floods…just another day in the Philippines.

Mayon Volcano just erupted today and the whole of Albay is covered with ashfall. Kanlaon is also rumbling while Taal is restless.

And they say Filipinos are always sunny and happy. You know why? Because we eat death and destruction for breakfast. We know how hard and fleeting life is so we just choose to be happy with every little thing that makes us smile instead of being morose and be perpetually cold like northern Europeans and Germans.

Yes, everybody has been waxing lyrical about BINI’s debut at Coachella 2026 and Justin Bieber’s supposed stripped-down performance there.

But no one is talking about Jack White and his audience that made Coachella appear like a true music festival. He never fails to deliver.

His audience there may not have been born yet when this song first came out in 2003.

Jack White is always lit. At my age, I no longer have the stamina for music festivals but Jack White’s performance here makes me wanna goooooooooo.

Meanwhile, Billy Corgan is at Coachella 2026! I mean, I never thought he would even think about going there. But here we are, Billy vibing with a new generation of kids who may be hearing this 30-year-old song for the first time.

And he’s actually smiling.

However, this number could have been better. I wish he played Tonight Tonight, which is having its resurgence on TikTok.

How about Vanessa Carlton’s first performance at Coachella?

Where is my Vanessa Carlton cd??? Actually, I lost a lot of my cd collection during our move here. I can’t seem to find them.

I just checked out of our hotel at 11 because I don’t want to fight my way at the concierge at 12 noon because everybody is checking out as well.

I have lots of time to kill.

Where do I go?

The mall.

It’s the default place to wait for my kids, whom I will pick up at DLSU at 6 pm. So what do I do here for 6 hours. I cannot eat all the time just to be able to sit down. I don’t want to watch a movie because Twin A wants to watch Project Hail Mary with me. She will kill me if I watch it without her.

I’m not a shopaholic and if I were, I don’t have a place to shove them in my house. Maybe I can check out gaming rigs? I’m kinda frustrated that I can’t play WRC on my mini pc because its graphics card is mehhh so it lags. I can only play it on my laptop…

Oh wait, I have WRC 10 on our PS5. 😬

The original controller for our PS5 got fried and I don’t know why so I was forced to buy a new one. 😑 I need to find a shop that repairs PS5 controllers… But they’re in Greenhills and Quiapo. 😭

Yesterday, I received a corporate gift. They’re Malang prints (Mauro Malang Santos)! They’re actually trinket trays but I can hang them on my walls as artwork.

Oh geez, I still have 5 hrs to go…

Well, well, well, Twin I won an award again. Best position paper. Takes after mommy. 😁

After I fetched them from DLSU, we drove to SM North because that’s where my kids’ friend will be picked up by her parents plus they will be meeting with another gradeschool friend.

So now I’m stuck again in another mall. 😑

What am I to do? I can only have one massage a day. 😶

So while we were on exile (anti-termite fumigation), my kids and I went to Manila on 18 April to indulge Twin I’s obsession with SB19 last weekend. We checked in at Red Planet Aseana, which was near the open concert venue (SMDC concert grounds).

It was estimated that around 100k fans attended the concert. In the morning, many of them waited it out at Parqall Mall along Aseana because if you’re not an SVIP ticketholder, you have to queue to get a good view.

While a friend (a faculty member at my undergrad college) and her sister were at Red Planet to rest before the concert, my bff, Twin A and I went shopping at SM MoA. Twin I joined after I fetched her from Parqall Mall. I sent Twin I to my friend at Red Planet via Grab car so they can all go to the concert at the same time. For safety.

The next day, my kids were picked up by their dad to attend a family reunion while bff, another friend, and I went to MoA for more shopping. Our concert-going friends left earlier to queue for SB19 merch at MoA but left their bags in my car that they can pick up later when we arrive in our hometown.

You should never underestimate the tenacity of superfans. 🤣

Later, Twin I joined us (they didn’t linger at the reunion because she said it was boring) while Twin A watched a UAAP volleyball game (DLSU vs NU) at MoA Arena. It’s her latest obsession.

It was already 8 pm when we got back to our hometown. However, we still couldn’t sleep at my house but the cats can (I brought them back after 48 hrs of fumigation). We had to head back to the resort to sleep there.

We finally got back to our house after a week in the resort. However, we had to leave again and hire my nephew to feed the cats and clean the cat litter boxes because we need to stay in Manila for my kids’ DLSU Model United Nations program.

Twin I won awards in the last Ateneo MUN a few months ago so she was inspired to join the DLSU one.

Twin A and their elementary school bff joined the DLSU MUN because they thought it would be fun. Friend is staying with us.

We checked in at Orchid Hotel along Pablo Ocampo because that’s cheap enough for a four-day stay and near DLSU. While they debate world issues at the mock UN Council, I worked at the hotel. Internet is spotty but what can I do?

Ok, I need to get ready for a presscon later.

My mom’s household is renting this private hotspring resort for a week because my mom is having her house fumigated against termites and everyone needs to be off the premises for a week. It’s so toxic that it needs a few days for the chemicals to settle.

But since we’re just neighbors and it’s not our house that’s being treated, the cats could be brought back home tomorrow, after 48 hrs. I brought back Gorilla at 1:30 am today (that’s why I’m still floating, lack of sleep) because she’s so restless and not used to travel. I just let her outside my yard and left her and Socks food and water at my front door. They’re outdoor-indoor cats anyway so she’s happier that way.

My two cats, Sushi and Kimchi, have already moved houses so they were more chill.

The two cats explored the resort at midnight last night and they weren’t stressed or anything. They’re just happy that they’re spoiled with wet food and refused to eat their usual kibbles.

Internet is pffft but functional. However, I have a Zoom interview tomorrow so I need to go back to my home office to do it at 4 pm.

And look how chill she is!

Aggggh! The audacity of this cat! It’s already morning and she still wants to chill outside!

Hahahahahaha! Trump asks Europe to join, he got a cold shoulder. Ignored. Then China totally disregarded the US blockade at the Strait of Hormuz! 🤣

No one listens to the US anymore. HAHAHAHAHAHA!