WATCH: Seoul-Incheon, South Korea


Here is my video on my short trip to South Korea.


For more blogposts on Seoul, click the links below.


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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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Filipino Body Language

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Non-verbal communication is an essential part in a society, as well as understanding the values the community believe in. This reflects a good overview of how communication and tradition have evolved through time. These expressions are never constant, such that meaning changes from time to time, and is greatly affected by the events or the kind of environment one belongs in. Filipinos, being a society with mixed Asian and Western influences have unique facial and body expressions. These are the focus of this blogpost. 1. Silent stare Stares could mean evil look for Filipinos. It may indicate sarcasm or manipulation. It is considered rude to this, especially when in a conversation because it may also indicate disinterest or disrespect. 2. Lip/Eye pointing This is quiet funny gesture common not just in the rural areas, but also in urban communities. It is quiet hard to explain the direction in verbal language, so it is better to point them vaguely, interestingly with the use of lips,...
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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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Solve: Why Math is Hard?

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Before I became a nurse, teacher, licensed real estate appraiser, I became first as a mathematics lover. Some consider me a geek then, but I was not, I just simply love the logic of mathematics. Now, I can say my mathematics skills have deteriorated significantly, when I am confronted with numbers, I do not leave my chair not until I somehow figure out what could be the problem. So, why then mathematics is difficult to many of us? Is there something can be done? Mathematics is much more than counting and simple arithmetic. It is a cumulative science in which new results are built upon and depend on earlier results. Humans have accumulated a huge amount of mathematical knowledge – far    more than a person can learn in a lifetime, even if the person spent all of their time studying mathematics. This history perhaps will give us the impression the necessity of mathematics. We may not appreciate the subject, but it useful because without it, the world will end up in chaos,...
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My Five Embarrassing Moments in Oslo Part 1

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To be embarrassed is one of the awkward feelings one could have especially when you are new to a place. There are situations we do not expect or perhaps we have anticipated it, but we act as if everything will turn well, even though there is high probability it will not. Being new in Oslo, I experienced few moments that I would rather shrink due to shame or hide because I did not expect myself to be in that moment. This is the first three. 1. Second day in the convenient store The day after I arrived in Norway, ofcourse the first thing I wanted was to buy food in a grocery store. I was never acquainted that there was several stores about 100 meters away from my apartment, so I walked 15 minutes, just to buy some stuffs. I knew the location because the first bus route I took towards my place passed through it. Oh no! I do not understand almost everything in the grocery store. I was looking for something obvious I knew. Since I am Asian, I chose some ready-to-eat stuff like flake...
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What Make Filipinos Happy?

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According to the recent Happiness Index and Positive Experience Index (2015), Filipinos are considered one of the happiest in the world. There are many empirical evidence supporting this, including the magnitude of resilence and effectiveness of Filipinos in coping with several calamities and personal challenges. There are ofcourse scepticism on these researches, given that happiness could not even be measured objectively, and even more difficult to be compared. Happiness is indeed subjective, such that it is experienced differently among various persons with unique backgrounds and histories. Therefore, it is a challenge to make a summary or list of what makes one happy for a certain group of people, such as Filipinos. However, there are similarities among Filipinos that one could deduce effectively to answer what makes Filipinos happy. This is the focus of this blogpost. Family counts first. Family is most powerful source of motivation and happiness for Filipinos. More importantly,...
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Microscopic Tweaks of 2024: A Recap

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Ah, the annual tradition of looking back at the whirlwind that was yet another year—2024. A solid 366 days of experiences, revelations, and "tiny wins" that are supposedly turning me into a better version of myself. Or so I hope. Here’s my gloriously minuscule progress: 1. Books Read: 20 Yes, I joined the bookworm elite this year. My top picks include Start with Why by Simon Sinek (because clearly, I needed a reason), Happy Sexy Millionaire by Steven Bartlett (spoiler: I am none of these), and the timeless Atomic Habits by James Clear—because nothing screams "growth" like habitually reading about habits. 2. Gym: 118 Visits Originally, the plan was weight loss. Surprise twist: my weight stayed put, but hey, I can now bench press my feelings. Strength over skinny, right? Sure. Let’s go with that. 3. French 101, Seriously This Time After a long hiatus of dabbling in French (read: Googling how to say croissant), I finally committed this year. I started with ...
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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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North Jutlandic Island, Denmark: A Unique Experience

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Traversing the North sea towards the Northern region of Denmark from the Norwegian southern coast is fantastic experience. One get to distinguish the common maritime interests of the Scandinavian countries, especially between Norway and Denmark. These two nations have shared history in the past several centuries, both good and bad, such that only the North Sea became an important witness of this rich cultural and historical exchange.  The North Jutlandic Island was connected to the rest of the Danish mainland before the 18th century, but due to the strong currents of the North sea, the Agger Channel was created, separating the island from the rest of the Danish northern landmass region. These geographical and historical backgrounds has encouraged me to embark in the journey to, from and between the important cities of North Jutlandic Island in Denmark. This will be the focus of this blogpost.  Frederikshavn Kirke This church is one of the biggest in Denmark in ...
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In a world where life seems to be a never-ending race, a moment of respite is a precious gem. Enter "Pahiluna," a beautiful Cebuano word that embodies the essence of unwinding, letting go, and savoring the art of relaxation. It's like discovering a hidden treasure chest of tranquility in the midst of life's chaotic seas. This is the focus of this blogpost. First things first, let's demystify this word. Pahiluna isn't just a word; it's an experience, a state of mind, and a lifestyle all rolled into one. It's that moment when you throw your cares to the wind, kick back, and embrace the now. Pahiluna is the ultimate antidote to the relentless pace of modern life. Let's paint some vivid examples of Pahiluna in action. Imagine yourself on a pristine Cebu beach, your toes luxuriating in the soft sand, and a freshly cracked coconut in hand. As the sun gracefully dips below the horizon, you immerse yourself in Pahiluna, serenaded by the soothin...
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