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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The Misunderstood Cebuanos

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I tell to most of my friends that I actually do not speak Filipino as my mother language. Ofcourse, the most natural question I get is what language do I speak? I answer Cebuano and explain that it is the second most spoken of the Philippine language. It is not a dialect, and the people that speaks it are popularly known as Cebuanos. However, due to the cultural and linguistic diversity among groups in the Philippines, misunderstanding occur very often. And this blogspot is all about the often misunderstood Cebuanos. Fatalism, Realism and Resilience The Cebuano has undergone a lot of bad things in the past. Cebuanos in the southern island of Mindanao could be followers of Islam or belong to an indigenous group. Being part of another religious and cultural group could mean oppression by a larger group. The Spaniards and Americans tried to suppress any resistance in the group. When the country became independent, co-Filipinos in Manila oppressed and associated the Cebuano cu
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Saying Goodbye

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I wonder why saying goodbye is considered good. Most of the time, goodbyes never feel like something is good, unless you have a definite time of making hellos again after goodbyes. It is just putting a period in an article, not knowing whether there is another page that follows it. Pain, regrets and feelings of optimism usually follow after goodbyes. The word GOODBYE ends with BYE. In this article I will put meaning to goodbye using the the last three letters of the word. I hope this could somehow explain the things we feel and put light on how to deal with it, when confronted with a difficult one. B - BEST WISHES AHEAD The primary object of saying goodbye is hoping everything turns out well after making an end or separation in any form. We try to smile, even deep inside our hearts, truly saying goodbye hurts. Smiling is an act of courage and hope that in spite of the situation, things will go better. Saying goodbye could be as simple as greetings after work. It is jus
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Once upon a time... Summa Cum Laude

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It has been fifteen years since I completed nursing school. I culminated my student days as a Summa Cum Laude at Father Saturnino Urios University in the Philippines. It was a rare academic feat, but I managed to excel inspite of the difficulties I had back then. As I reminisce how it has been, I would like to point out the learnings I had through the years, and this will be the focus of this blogpost. Summa Cum Laude is the highest Latin honor one could get in the university. It does not just mean being the class valedictorian with the highest grade in the batch, but it means possessing a grade considered one of the highest throughout the school's history. In the Philippines, there are very few with Summa Cum Laude honors, and it is extremely rare in Nursing. Yes, I did that. Well, it was unexpected. I was actually expecting at least Cum Laude, the third highest Latin honor. However, some rules were changed, making it less difficult to get Cum Laude such that I was lit
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High Respect for My Mother

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Today (August 8) is the birthday of my mother. I have not missed a year as far as I remember not writing about her in my personal blog. It is quite obvious I have many things to write about her. I think I would tirelessly write about her. She is simply an amazing person. My mother showed me what grit is. My mom did not achieve what I did but one thing is for certain, if she had the opportunity before, she could have succeeded more in life and career. This is because she has the grit personality, which is a long-lasting determination to do something even without expecting immediate positive returns. In grit, patience is indeed a virtue, and time is not a hindrance but an opportunity. I saw that grit personality everyday when I was a child in her. I learned to compromise things wholeheartedly because my mom sacrificed more than I could ever do in my lifetime. In my mind, there is no excuse for not doing something. My mom could do it, why can't I? My mother made me understand women
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Closing a Chapter

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At this moment, I am about to close a period in my life. Mixed emotions are two words the describes how I feel. It feels right and wrong at the same time, although I am determined to keep whatever decision I have made. However, to further describe what I feel, I am writing this article. It is not easy. It is not easy when one has to move on and close one chapter of life that has given one valuable memories and lessons to become better. It is not easy to just close one eyes and seemingly ignore the consequences involved in closing one aspect with life, given that there are people, who might be hurt by inevitable decisions to be made and there are feelings involved. It is not easy to know that moving on means turning back to people, memories and associated feelings. It is not easy. It takes time. It takes time to move on and deal with the result of decisions. Although it takes time, there is a possibility that it will be finished. There is certainty when the decision has been m
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3 Comparisons Between Norwegian and Filipino Values

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I am entering my fifth year of residing in Norway. Many things have happened during this short period of time, both good and bad. However, one of that is worthy to highlight is how I realized the big contrast between prevailing values between Norwegian and Filipino cultures. I can only talk about these two in particular, although there are somehow similiraties between the Norwegian culture with those of coming from Europe, as well that with Filipino and other Asian societies. This blogpost will present three comparative points to exhibit the diversity of culture. COMPARISON 1 Norwegian: Able decide independently for oneself Filipino: To fight for what is most important Freedom and passion may not be on the same side always. Freedom is the ultimate virtue in the Norwegian culture. One may or may not be passionate of what Norwegians are doing, but most important is that they decided on them by themselves, such that no one has dictated on them what they are supposed to do.
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Theory of New Language Learning Part Two

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They say the better you are in language, the better you appreciate the group of people using that certain language. This is the goal of everyone, who learns a new language. It is important now to discuss how one can improve from a "so-so" to very good. This is the second part of my own personal theory of learning new language. Moving from the threshold to proficient level in learning language is easy said than done. This level is characterized with a high degree of fluency and spontaneity. A person on this level can summarize written and spoken information in a coherent way. Furthermore, a person is expected to express oneself using complex words and structured manner of delivery. In IELTS English test results, C1 is a band score 7.0, while C2, which is equivalent to a native speaker of the language, is band score 8.0 and above. However, the question is how can one improve. Here is a list of factors that could influence the process: 1.        Appreciati
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Into the Darkness

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How do we feel if we only see the dark? Is life worth living? Perhaps it is still, but does darkness reduce the essence of our lives? Many questions to answer, but certain responses. What exist are mere assumptions of why sometimes we need to experience the darkness. Darkness is reality. One relates to something void and empty, rather than reality. It is real to feel our presence in the dark. Similarly, in the darkness of our lives, where problems and uncertainties cloud us, we feel real. This reality presents the hardships the world can offer to anyone. However, one must separate darkness itself from the metaphorical comparison of darkness to adversities in our lives. These are two distinct concepts. Problems are problems and must not be perceived as something dark. Problems are parts of our perceived reality. It exists not because for us to give us hope or make us stronger and better, rather it exists because it is part of our existence. We just need to deal with it, and t
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5 Types of Advantage

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There are few people in this world, who are considered lucky or has the advantage over others, such whatever they do and endeavour they take they have the great chance of succeeding. Moreover, if they would fail, it would be less difficult still for them to stand up and move on towards their intended goals. Those are people, who has the advantage. The various kinds of advantage will be enumerated and discussed in this blogpost. Innate advantage This refers to knowledge, skills and attitude that are given at birth, or through the early years of one's life. There was no effort or intention of acquiring them. These advantages just developed without any significant intervention. Intelligence could be great advantage, unless not further enhanced. Being born from a wealthy family could be an innate advantage, such that one's surname gives itself pride, power and authority over others. Acquired advantage There is a thin line between innate and acquired. Intelligence could actually
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No One is Responsible For You Except Yourself

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Having lived outside the Philippines for two years, I got to realize a lot of things from my own and other's experiences. Most have been tough and challenging, such that even friends and family members can not do something but watch and observe as the events unfold. However, on top of all these things, I could definitely pinpoint that for us, whose threat of being sent to the Philippines is present due to strict European immigration laws, the greatest learning perhaps lies on taking responsibility. Taking responsibility may sound like a cliché, but I will expound what does that really mean in the light of our unique experiences being OFWs (Overseas Filipino Workers) in Europe. This is the focus of this blogpost. Taking responsibility means making difficult decisions alone. This step is primarily the most difficult given that my Filipino culture dictates to do the opposite of trying to hear and follow advices given by others, especially my family. In this case, no matter how well
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