I turn into a pensive state during the Christmas season. It makes me realize how it will never be the same as years before when it meant a joyful gathering of all the people I love. Now, I don’t want to sound like I am stuck in the past, but as we grow older, we slowly come to terms with the fact that we are growing up, and the people we love are getting older too, and sadly, leaving us behind. I love this merry season, don’t get me wrong. I am grateful for the life I have and the life of the loved ones who are with me, especially my mother. I received abundant blessings this year, and I am al ..read more

Filipinas experience extreme humidity indoors or outdoors, especially during the rainy season. Humidity results in changes that bother most ladies– frizzier hair, acne-prone skin, and generally an ickier, stickier feeling throughout the day. What most women don’t share– humidity also contributes to the unpleasant feeling within their intimate areas. Here are some tips from Carefree ambassador Rei Germar that can help beat the kulob and icky feels throughout the day this rainy season: A girl walks under an umbrella in rainy weather on a bridge in the forest.Always have rainy-day essentials ..read more

Some people live their lives without meaning and die empty. Some choose otherwise—live on the edge while holding on to a purpose—not afraid of what happens next as their lives anchor towards something greater than themselves.  As I hurriedly sat across Marcus in a bustling coffee shop, it felt surreal to be catching up with a college friend after all these years. He jokingly scolded me for having him wait for several minutes, just like how he reprimanded me during our school paper days when I commited something stupid. I sheepishly apologized and went on with exchanging teases. No ..read more

As a freelance writer constantly traveling and juggling different things during the day, I often find myself awake until the wee hours to meet deadlines and attend video conferences with my clients abroad. I thought that sacrificing sleep was a small price to pay for being productive and, you know, earning above the average. But I’ve realized that a good night’s sleep is not just a luxury. It’s a necessity—and once you neglect it, your body will surely tell you it’s no longer happy. Since the pandemic, my sleep habit has been a mess. Sometimes I am wide awake until 4 AM with so many thoughts ..read more

There are certain memories from my childhood that remain alive today—one of them is a story about our family’s trusty monoblock chair. But what’s with our old monoblock chair? Let me tell you a story. More than 25 years ago, my parents bought 4 monoblock chairs as they were starting their small family. Those pale green chairs not only served as our dining chairs—those were also witnesses to the best memories of our family. From birthdays, Christmas, New Year’s, and even ordinary yet memorable days when we’ll just gather around our small dining table and eat a simple meal together. But while th ..read more

Disclaimer: All details revealed here are solely based on my experience. If you have questions regarding the removal of endometrial cyst on right ovary, please consult your doctor for medical advice.  Last month, a few days after my birthday, I went to an OB-GYN to consult about my health. I haven’t had my menstruation for almost three months, which is unusual because I have a regular menstrual cycle. No, I am not pregnant—as confirmed in several pregnancy tests for the past couple of months. Additionally, I don’t experience any pregnancy symptoms save for the missed periods. When I told ..read more

Join the 11.11-12.12 Shopee Caroling Challenge from November 21 to December 1, 2022! As joyful Christmas songs fill the air, there’s certainty that the holiday spirit is upon us. Shopee is here to welcome the most wonderful day of the year with amazing Christmas gift deals at the 11.11-12.12 Mega Pamasko Sale, and a new contest to get you even more excited. Let’s sing Merry Christmas and a Happy Holiday at Shopee’s 11.11-12.12 Caroling Challenge with the Filipino Christmas icon, Jose Mari Chan!  Steps to Join Shopee Caroling Challenge From November 21 to December 1, you have a chance to w ..read more

After more than a year of procrastinating, I am finally writing my first ever piece out of my full-time work as a writer—I am now back to personal blogging—a thing I haven’t done in quite a while because, yep, life happens. You see, I write for a living—every single work day for the past ten years of my life. As a freelance writer, I write about a wide range of topics daily. From travel and health to finances and even car repair! But I haven’t had time to write about my personal life on my blog. My previous entry was a year ago, and I put blogging completely on hold for a long time. I know I w ..read more

The Department of Tourism (DOT) has teamed up with Funko and Disney to bring one of the world’s most iconic and beloved characters, Mickey Mouse, to the Philippines via Funko Pops – with a locally inspired design for the first time! This new line of Mickey-themed Funko Pops were specially created together with Disney and Funko, featuring Mickey Mouse in a barong tagalog, the national attire of the Philippines, an embroidered long-sleeved shirt commonly used as a formal outfit. The package also contains a postcard from the country’s major tourist magnets Boracay, Baguio, Cebu, Manila, and Siar ..read more

The past decade has seen me go through a roller coaster ride of meaningful experiences and emotions I thought I won’t be able to handle.  During the early years of my 20s, I was that working girl in Makati City, trying to find my place in the corporate world. I jumped from one job to another, looking for opportunities that would lead me to what I have always wanted to be—a writer. I was able to land my dream job—a writer for a magazine. I saw my name on print, traveled a lot, met people of different walks of life, and wrote stories of people and places. However, along those years was wher ..read more