WATCH: Amsterdam, Netherlands


Here is the video of my short trip to Amsterdam.


For more blogposts on Amsterdam, click the links below:

Amsterdam Part 1
Amsterdam Part 2

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Cebuano: The Language and The People

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Living in Norway for over 2 years, I have often encountered questions about the languages I speak. I usually answered I speak Norwegian, English and two Filipino languages. Then, people start asking if the second Filipino language is a dialect of the other. Given my mother tongue is Cebuano, the second language referred, I abruptly debunk the misconcept that it is a mere dialect. My most common explanation is that all Filipinos speak the Filipino language, but those who only learn to speak Filipino have difficult time understanding or communicating with one speaking Cebuano. Throughout the span of my childhood, I got to grasp the political and cultural differences of Filipinos speaking Filipino language or Tagalog as referred by most, and those coming from the Southern Philippines speaking Cebuano. The language in itself has become the boundary between the two groups of people. Due to their innate differences, misunderstandings result, not because of mere language confusion, but of cu...
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Padayon Lang: Just Continue ᜉᜇᜌᜓᜈ᜔ ᜎᜅ᜔

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There are words that stay with us long after the people who spoke them are gone. For me, one of those words is the Cebuano phrase: “Padayon lang.” These simple words describe my life motto. It is short, almost ordinary. It does not shine with poetry. Yet it has a quiet strength, the kind that you don’t just think about but actually feel deep inside. Literally, it means “just continue” or “keep going.” But in Cebuano life, padayon lang is less of a command and more of gentle encouragement, just a soft pat on the shoulder, a light that shows you the way in the dark. I first heard it as a child, when I struggled with school and say, “Padayon lang sa imong pagtuon.” Keep studying. It is not a word of triumph. It does not promise success. Unlike congratulations or I’m proud of you, padayon lang accepts that life is hard, that the road is tiring, and yet it reminds us that moving forward, even slowly, even step by step is still worth it. It is the Cebuano spirit of resilience, no...
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Keeping it Simple

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I have learned that simplicity is important for living a fulfilling life. This may sound strange coming from someone who can overthink almost everything. 😅 Maybe that is the paradox. I think a lot, but often because I am trying to answer one question: How can I make this simpler? I remember moving into my first apartment and wanting everything to look complete. I bought furniture, paintings, and decorations because I wanted my home to look interesting and stylish. At first, I enjoyed it. But after some time, I realized that all these things also needed money, space, cleaning, and attention. Slowly, I started removing what I did not really need. My home is still eclectic because I enjoy beautiful and unusual things, but now I choose them more carefully. Simplicity does not mean having nothing. It means knowing what is worth keeping. I learned the same lesson about my social life. Growing up, I sometimes wondered why I did not enjoy parties and large gatherings a...
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Andres Bonifacio: 5 Modern Day Learnings and Reflections

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Today (November 30) marks the birth anniversary of the known Filipino hero Andres Bonifacio. Many including me are used to hearing Bonifacio's name but never really got to deepen the appreciation and knowledge about him. There were controversies and unresolved issues regarding the motivation, personality and death of Bonifacio; but in this blogpost, the focus would rather be on the learnings we could possibly derive from the story of Bonifacio and how we could reflect on it when applied on our own respective lives. Family and friends first At the age of 14, Bonifacio needed to stop going to private school to support his five other siblings because both their parents died of illness in a duration of a year. Because of this, he earned a living for his family until his siblings had been regularly employed thereafter. On the other hand, by mere impression, Bonifacio treated Rizal as a friend or as an important person of the Filipino revolution. Motivated by this, Bonifacio with his c...
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Seijaku: Calm in the Middle of Chaos

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There is a Japanese word I recently came across: Seijaku. It is connected with silence, stillness, and finding peace even when life around us is busy. I like this idea because my life is rarely completely quiet. There is work, studying, languages, travelling, exercise, family, friends, and always something to do. For years, I became quite good at being busy. Finish one thing, move to the next, and keep going. But being good at being busy does not always mean being good at living. I used to think peace would come later. After this busy week. After this course. After this problem is solved. But there is always another "after." Life never suddenly says, "Congratulations, everything is finished. You can relax now." 😅 Perhaps the challenge is finding small moments of stillness while life is happening. Drinking coffee without checking my phone. Walking home without rushing. Sitting quietly without feeling that I should be doing something productive. Working as a nurse ha...
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At the time of this writing, I am already 32 years old. I can say there are a lot of expectations for me to do and accomplish at my age, given the standards from my Filipino background and current influences from the country I live right now. I think it is a privilege to see the world through these two perspectives. Thus, I will attempt to summarize the forty things everyone should know before turning 30. 1. Your body is a reflection of who you are. Take care of it. 🚴‍♂️ You also decide what to do with it.  2. Sleep is as important as food. But once you feel rested, do as much you can. You can not just sleep as much as you can. 3. The things we own affect how others treat us. Keep those people who treat you well when you had less in life. 4. You can feel down, but somehow choose few people to express your feelings. 5. Do not decide when you are too happy, sad or angry. At this time, you are blind and partial. Reflect and learn to reflect everyday. 6. Lear...
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7 Reasons Why Many Filipinos are Good Singers

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One thing that makes me proud of being Filipino is that there are many good singers in our country. I am not saying that the Philippines has the best singers in the world, but it is obvious that many Filipinos have showed to the world the God-given talent they have. 1. Parents encourage their children to develop their singing talents Children singing old songs and acting as if the song fits them well. Love songs, rock, whatever genre songs maybe Filipino children can sing that. Some even report that children learn humming a melody before able to speak well. Ofcourse, parents are very crucial in the development of this talents. If a talent has been acknowledged at an early age, this provides time for child to improve his or her talent in singing. Watch the newly-launced TV show Voice Kids Philippines. 2. Competition helps produce more good singers The most-watched Television shows in the Philippines are singing competition. Most artists are discovered in these platform...
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People often asked about the differences between iconoclasts and conformists, and which one is better. The truth is, neither is inherently better or worse than the other. It really depends on the situation and context. This is the focus of this blogpost. Iconoclasts are individuals who challenge the status quo and are willing to take risks and try new things. They often possess unique and creative ideas that can lead to innovation and progress. However, their nonconformity can also lead to resistance from others who may be uncomfortable with change. For example, some of the most celebrated artists, musicians, and writers of our time were iconoclasts who pushed the limits of their craft and challenged traditional conventions. On the other hand, conformists tend to adhere to social norms and expectations, and prioritize fitting in with the group. This can lead to a sense of security and belonging, as well as smoother social interactions. However, conformity can also s...
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Wow, can you believe it's been 15 years since that life-changing moment when I ranked sixth among 88,000 nursing graduates in the Philippines? Talk about a journey! But let me tell you, it's been one heck of a ride, and I've picked up some major lessons along the way. Different start First off, learning is like a hunger that comes from deep within. I've soaked up experiences like a sponge, from being a clinical instructor in the nursing academe to freelancing as a nursing lecturer. I've dived into nursing research with not one, but two master theses, dipped my toes into nursing administration as an assistant to the nursing dean, and even started at the bottom as a nursing assistant in a nursing home in Oslo, Norway. And let's not forget my time as a nurse in various hospital wards—Obstetric-gynecology, medical-surgical, pediatric units, and specializing in substance abuse in the acute department. Yep, I've seen it all—from different body openings...
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