A week away

Posted on 02/05/2022 by admin

A week from now, Filipinos will determine if we sink or rise from this disaster. I’m scared. I’m anxious but I’m hopeful.

The surveys that had been coming in are flawed. Several statisticians from UP and the former head of the National Statistics Coordination Board (NSCB, now part of the Philippine Statistics Administration) have already pointed out the methodology flaws of those surveys that they were structured to favor the class D which tended to favor Marcos.

Horror of horrors, in 7 out of the 17 regions, there are more registered voters for May 2022 than the population 18 years or over!!! The percentage of “over-registration” ranged from at least 1 percent to at most 11 percent. How on earth could this have happened?
Dr. Romulo Virola

Pulse Asia (PA) overrepresented those who did not reach college representing more than 78 percent of the PA sample and almost 70 percent of the PSA 2015 Census of Population and consequently underrepresented those who did:
Romulo Virola

*Sampling bias by Pulse Asia, according to Dr. Virola*

Meanwhile, I was arguing on Twitter with a Filipino journo based abroad for his crass words today. He has no idea what it is to be on the ground here. Now.

I can’t keep my words from flowing. The last time I couldn’t, I went viral on social media.

I was talking to my taxi driver this evening about Leni. Just one conversion is already a good one. Doing 10 conversions makes a world of difference.

Because I’m fighting for the future of my children. It’s not just for me or about me, unlike those people who are voting for Marcos who just say, I’m voting for him because I like him better than “lutang” (floating) Leni.

We are doing our best to change the mindset of the majority of the electorate who are not reached by social media and proper education.

Here’s my mom yesterday talking to some rural folk somewhere in the middle of a farming community in the province, campaigning for Leni. Giving a talk and leading focus group discussions. There are millions of her doing this, volunteer on the ground campaigning, house-to-house visits to persuade people, correcting false information and propaganda.

*Bills,* *bills,bills. Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

It’s that time of the month again when I have to record/tally my expenses or trace where my money went. I always pay my credit cards in full every month. I don’t want consumer debt hanging over my head and I always make sure I have savings and petty cash for unexpected stuff like this:

*Eyeglasses for us all. Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

I lost my new eyeglasses. I don’t know where and how but I just couldn’t find it anymore. I had been wearing contact lenses the entire weekend and it’s only yesterday that I discovered my eyeglasses were missing.

Since I couldn’t live with wearing contacts full-time, I immediately went to my optometrist to have new eyeglasses made. I also had my girls’ and Ate C’s eyes checked. It’s not surprising they have astigmatism because of the amount of screen time we all had the past two years…so I had four pairs of eyeglasses made (Ooohh boy they’re not cheap!). Only Twin A’s were ready tonight and the rest will be picked up on Saturday because I ordered ultra thin lenses for us.

My girls will now join their four-eyed kuyas. 😁

*Chasing each other with booger (eewww). Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

My cats missed me. When we arrived home at 1:30 am today, my cats were all over me. Then they settled on my bed while I unpacked and searched all around for my missing eyeglasses. I slept at 4 am and I woke up at 9 am with my cats still in my bed. ❤️

Today Southeast Asia is dead: Eid’l Fitr celebrations across Southeast Asia while Vietnam celebrates its liberation with a holiday that began April 30 until tomorrow. I had been sending requests for interviews again and I think I have several lined up for this week.

I must finish writing three stories tomorrow. 😑

I haven’t had time to draw 😥

Be kind

Posted on 01/05/2022 by admin

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cc_4WZ7AQDu/?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

I thought I was fine, I thought it’s over. But I had a dream that rattled me for a day, but I quickly bounced back. It’s probably an indication that I’m still healing and sometimes I would still stumble and fall.

But it’s ok. I have to be nicer to myself. This is not a race.

I will be me again, probably better as I have more understanding of myself and the world compared to four years ago. I’m in a better place now.

Salcedo Weekend Market

Posted on 30/04/2022 by admin

Finally. I was able to see whatever’s been written about Salcedo weekend market. It’s in the middle of Makati CBD, just at the back of our serviced apartment. There were interesting foodstuff like Vietnamese, Mexican, Aussie, etc as they cater to the expat community living in Salcedo Village/Bel-Air. Some of the vendors are the well-heeled type who are doing this as a hobby. I was looking for the Aussie lady who’s selling crumpets but my girls wanted to go back to our unit because it was hot.

They bought corndog, pancakes, and hash browns but I wouldn’t settle for those—there are better things to check out.

And I was rewarded.

*Chicken rice! Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

And yes, it did taste like the Singaporean one. But still far from Tong Fong Fatt though.

*Mmmmm* ❤️ *Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

This is hardly breakfast food but I just couldn’t resist.

*Tiny pool. Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

This is where the girls played late yesterday afternoon but they decided not to take a dip this morning because they wanted the bigger pool of the serviced apartment where we transferred later today.

*Horseplay. Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

My sis-in-law and my nephew joined us after lunch so the cousins would have another chance to bond. They didn’t join us in Anilao because of schooling and football game schedule conflicts. So I upgraded my reservation from a studio to a one bedroom apartment. Some would sleep in the living room, some in the bedroom. As if these kids would sleep; this is an expensive slumber party with mommies in tow 🤣

*I think this is roughly the size of my future kitchen. Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

*One sleeping setup. Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

I had extra beds set up in the living room. It’s OK, it’s just for one night. All in the name of familial bonding.

This is the view beside me.

*Salcedo Village. Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

Another day is dying in the concrete jungle. I will soon be able escape from this.

In CBD

Posted on 29/04/2022 by admin

*Good morning. Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

My cats knew we were leaving today. While I was getting dressed, Sushi was lying on my clothes, while Kimchi was lying on my laptop bag. They don’t want me to leave 🤣

However, it took me another hour before I could get away from my table because there were back to back calls with my boss in China and then boss in S. Korea. Then cascade the info to my reporters in Manila and Kuala Lumpur. 🥴

Before that, I had a one-hour interview with a CEO who was in New York so I had to compress everything because he needs his rest.

*Rushing work at the dining area. Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

After checking into our serviced apartment, I rushed to edit two stories, ordered food via room service, then I let the kids jump into the pool.

*A living room with no purpose. It became the alternative dining area while I worked. Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

*With Ate C. Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

It was good that Ate C came with us because I had to hop immediately to an event somewhere also in Makati. BUT BUT BUT it was hard booking Grab 🙄 Oh yeah, seems like pandemic is over. I had no choice but to go back to the parking area to get my car and drive to the venue. I was late 😣

*Yep. Those are the deals I’ve been following.* *Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

Was tired when I came back. Couldn’t book a massage 😭 So the least I could do was a hot water soak in the tub for my tired muscles.

I’m not really enamoured of city life. I could only appreciate it at night from above.

I’ve always been a provinciana. And will probably die a provinciana. I didn’t want to live in a condo and my gut feel was right. I couldn’t imagine spending lockdowns here in the CBD area. No trees nor open spaces. I really don’t like shopping so I dislike malls. I only go there when I need to buy something. I never made it a habit to window shop in malls; it’s such a waste of energy.

🥱🥱🥱🥱🥱🥱

I really, really need that massage. 💆

I miss my cats.

Poison pills do not work

Posted on 28/04/2022 by admin

Wall Street knows only money. That’s it. How can anyone resist USD 44bn for a company that registered a USD 221m loss in 2021?

However, the problem with having Musk at the helm of a powerful media tool like Twitter is that it will give rise to the likes of Duterte and Marcos, who both built their alternative universes by keeping troll farms. It undermines fragile democracies like the Philippines.

That’s why Musk’s bid feels like much more than just an economic takeover of Twitter. It’s also a political takeover, akin to Rupert Murdoch’s 1976 deal for the New York Post and 2007 purchase of the Wall Street Journal. The world’s richest person, who has said he “doesn’t care about the economics” of buying of Twitter, is aiming to acquire a different kind of power: control one of the world’s largest megaphones and the ability to impose his libertarian ideology on questions of moderation and misinformation…
…The pressure will be even more significant outside the U.S. In 2020, Twitter said it would start labeling as “state-affiliated media” accounts belonging to some Chinese government officials and state-linked media outlets, in addition to ensuring that tweets from those profiles aren’t amplified. The Chinese government surely hates these restrictions. Suppressing government statements arguably contaminates the free-speech stew, but Tesla also has important business goals in China and needs the support of President Xi Jinping.
Bloomberg

Ayn Rand with a megaphone. Oh que horror!

Twitter will be a weapon of mass destruction now that Xi Jinping, Duterte, and Marcos will be given a huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge platform for their propaganda.

Good luck to us all.

I was looking at cars that could replace my current one and the closest thing that I could say I liked is Mitsubishi Xpander because of its cargo cabin size.

I love my Isuzu Crosswind because I have a lot of room for bikes, camping gear, and even furniture. And I just discovered last year how to fold the passenger seat for more cargo room. However, it’s already old—but then I really don’t want to let it go because it can take whatever I throw at it. I’m conflicted. 🤔

So I’m holding off… I think I’ll just soup up my current ride (already inquiring about body repairs) because my sister may go abroad again (she said) and would probably sell her Toyota Corolla-Altis to me. But then, I really don’t like sedans; for me they don’t have any use except to ferry people. I can’t even drive that thing on provincial roads farther than Laguna because driving through Quezon province is like driving on the moon. For someone who often goes on road trips, that’s going to be such a drag. Sedans really limit you in terms of where you can go here in the Philippines and what you can bring.

I’m itching again to go nature tripping. I found several campsites in Tanay in Rizal and Kalayaan/Cavinti in Laguna and I want to try all of them, especially the areas that offer kayaking, paddle boarding, and wind surfing. My high school friends who bike around Laguna on weekends said Lake Yambo in Nagcarlan is also good for camping.

We will be going to Decathlon this weekend to buy new swimsuits/rash guards and kites. Yes, I saw kites!

If still available, I may buy that camping cooking gear that I’ve been lusting after for quite some time.

I’ll take a week-long leave this summer so the girls and I can go camping then dive in Anilao again—before they start their high school entrance exam review classes and before I start flying back and forth Singapore.

Handmade

Posted on 27/04/2022 by admin

I broke one of my drill bits last night because I was being stubborn. I need to replace it this weekend when we have the chance to go the mall. We will spend about three days in Makati in two serviced apartments I reserved for the Leni grand rally in Makati, which was eventually cancelled. My reservation was non-refundable. Anyway, we will treat it just like a staycation and I will be working one of those days, plus I needed to cover an event at night. It’s a relief I don’t have to drive back to QC after that.

*Flower tea to start the day.* *Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

For some strange reason I woke up early again so I was forced to confront work earlier than usual. I think our stay in Anilao has reset my body clock and now I’m back to Philippine Standard Time. It has been several nights that I get to sleep before 1 am and it has been so lovely so far. I think my body has finally withdrawn from alprazolam.

So I was productive today, editing a number of stories, communicating with sources and doing my usual admin work, writing another story…and yet I haven’t done any of the pending stories I was supposed to publish this week. 🙄 I promise I will publish two tomorrow. And I’m still waiting for a confirmation of an interview schedule…

Because I already scratched my DIY itch yesterday, it’s now the handmade itch’s turn to nag at me. So I restarted the sewing project I had so I will have new set of curtains for the living room downstairs before this month ends.

*Tiny neat stitches. Photo by CallMeCreation.com*

I’m loving the way my house now is becoming more handmade as the time passes. This is our fourth year staying in this apartment and we still have one year more to go before we transfer permanently, I think, in our new flat in my hometown.

I don’t have mass market art on my walls and I’m making handmade curtains. I’m DIY-ing so many things in this apartment that I feel like this is already mine even though it’s not. I have my say in all of the things here whereas I didn’t have that freedom in the past. Soon I will have my couch reupholstered with a more cat-friendly fabric and I will be making more pillows. I discovered that you can buy pillow fillers from Shopee and you can refill old and saggy pillows–or make new pillows and throw out the old ones. I can make big and fluffy ones if I want to. I either can hand sew again or I buy that Brother sewing machine on my shopping list on Lazada and make my life easier.

I have so many ideas in my head that I want to execute for our new flat, like an outdoor hot tub under the fruit trees. I can buy this galvanized iron tub from FB Marketplace and put it on top of concrete blocks to have a low fire going underneath.

*Perfect for a hot tub with fire roaring underneath it.*

This guy made a hot tub using an old barrel and some blocks.

A brick pizza oven in the garden, a grilling station, and a small workshop or art studio. I’ve also been looking at outdoor furniture with umbrella at Ikea and at Ace Hardware. My girls and their friends can hang out there.

I got the brick oven pizza from this guy as well.

So I weighed things…my job may not be that fabulous right now but it offers me flexibility to pursue life—real life outside work. So far the arrangement is agreeable to me. I just need super fast internet, like what I have right now, then work-life balance is ok.

I have to talk to the Converge people because they still don’t have a line near my new place. I need to attend one face to face event with them so I can sweet-talk them into installing lines there…hahaha!

I’m excited.

Stories from the sidelines

A journalist has a life other than news

Author Archives: admin