Conozco Pablo

The 21st of January 2026 marks the end of the 14th chapter of my life, which also means that another 1,000 days have passed 😂. This chapter was not only about time moving forward, but also about personal reflection, adjustment, and maturity. During this period, I searched for meaning in life, questioned my values, and learned more about the importance of human connections. It was a phase that helped me better understand who I am and how I relate to others and the world around me. Learning from Past Challenges The 13th chapter of my life left a lasting impact on me and strongly shaped the one that followed. The pandemic changed daily life, work routines, and social relationships in ways I had never experienced before. During this time, I also chose to let go of unhealthy habits and distanced myself from certain people. The sudden death of my father was the most difficult experience, forcing me to confront loss, grief, and uncertainty. These events made the 14th chapter a pe...

When I look back on the year, I understand that it was not about perfect numbers or completing every goal. It was a year of adjustment, balance, and quiet growth. Some changes were planned, others were forced by life and work. A few goals were achieved, many were not, but almost all of them taught me something important. This reflection is not about success or failure, but about learning; learning my limits, my priorities, and how personal growth often happens slowly. Reading Less, Learning More Reading was one area where this became clear. I wanted to read 21 books in 2025, but I finished only 12. At first, this felt disappointing. Over time, I realized that the quality of what I read mattered more than the number. Books like Sapiens, Think Again, Factfulness, and Stolen Focus were not easy or fast reads. They required focus and patience, and they stayed with me long after I finished them. Instead of reading many light books, I chose fewer books with deeper ideas about his...

Moving to a new country can be both exhilarating and challenging. When I arrived in Norway, I faced the daunting task of adapting to a new culture, a foreign language, and building a life from the ground up. In those early days, the mantra "en dag om gangen," which translates to "one day at a time," became my guiding light. The Arrival: A World of Uncertainty Stepping off the plane in Norway, I was immediately struck by the unfamiliar surroundings and the realization that I was far from home. The Norwegian language, with its melodic but mystifying sounds, posed a formidable barrier. I had no work lined up, and I didn't know a soul I could trust to help me navigate this new chapter of my life. It was a daunting prospect, to say the least. Learning the Language: Babysteps to Communication One of the first and most crucial challenges was the language barrier. Learning Norwegian was essential not only for daily communication but also for securing...

Wow, can you believe it's been ten years? It genuinely feels like it was only yesterday when I took my very first steps into the beautiful expanse of Norway. I remember that chilly sensation under my shoes, reminding me that I had embarked on a whole new journey. Initially, my plans only involved a brief stint in this land, but life has a way of throwing surprises, and here I am, a decade later, calling it my home. Norway's mesmerizing beauty, from the vast and serene fjords to the mesmerizing dance of the northern lights, has been a constant backdrop to my life's myriad of moments. Whether I was riding high on joy or navigating through my challenges, the country's landscapes and culture have significantly influenced my personal growth. Allow me to indulge in a bit of nostalgia and guide you through my incredible journey here. The Early Days: Immersing Myself in Oslo Embarking on my new life in Norway was nothing short of an emotional rollercoaster. There wa...

Dawn of 17th of December 2011. That was ten years ago. I fell asleep around 1 o'clock in the morning after a five-hour bus travel from my hometown Butuan to the island metropolis of Cagayan de Oro. It was an unusual travel. Roads were blocked by gushing waters, falling trees and long queues of vehicles going to the city. I was not so alarmed because weather disturbance was not uncommon. The intensity is well-quite expected, but it has been raining continuously for hours. The day before I had last lecture in the university before the Christmas vacation. It was raining, and a little bit cold. Nothing unusual. In the middle of my morning lecture, I received a text message. There was a change of plans. I will sleep on a hotel near the city center instead of the hotel nearby the river. I guess they decided it to be that way, because I was expected to arrive around midnight. Just like before I had a full day of lecture until 5 pm, then I take the first bus I get. That simple ...

Life is such a rollercoaster. Likewise, our ability to accept and trust our skills and abilities fluctuate from time to time. The confidence directed towards ourselves depends on a variety of factors, but sometimes we neglect to be objective to what are the major reasons why at times, our self-confidence is at all-time low. These primary influences will be discussed in this blogpost. Overly-stressing and mediocre experiences The inability to handle things within our capacity is a common reason. Some people force themselves way too much their limits, and such expectations are quite ambitious considering previous experiences. Ofcourse, individuals end up being frustrated, and some even give up - a telltale sign that one is developing self-confidence. However, the opposite is equally dangerous. Putting oneself in a playsafe environment will not stimulate growth and creativity, and thus people will be blinded to what they can actually do and achieve, as well as recognize what makes themsel...

Working and living in Norway for over 8 years now have been both rewarding and challenging for me. There are several times that I have questioned myself whether Norway is indeed the right place for me to live, and always I have come up with a positive answer. Nonetheless, this does not guarantee that there are some aspects of the Norwegian society, tradition and culture that shocked me up to this date. This is the focus of this blogpost. 1. Flat organizations This is the most striking feature of most organizations in Norway. The organizational structures are relatively flat, meaning hierarchy is almost just a concept, than reality. The employees can literally ask questions to their superiors. Politicians are somehow accessible. There are bureaucratic problems, but in general, communication for top-level managers and the usual employees is open. This highlights that Norwegians value the concept of teamwork among employees to attain its goals, rather than blindly following top-down instr...

From February 9, 2015 to November 4, 2017 is the eleventh "chapter" in my life. To summarize that 1,000-day period, take-off is the most appropriate phrase to describe it. Take-off is not entirely hassle-free, it is actually one of the risky part of the plane journey. It has its risks, turbulence and uncertainties are part of it. Like that phase in my life, I experience some of toughest challenges, heart-breaking events and there were some low points I was at the verge of giving up. This blogpost will use 8 points to highlight some remarkable things that made this time of my life unique. Traveled to 19 countries, 41 cities I started traveling very often at the start of 11th chapter in Copenhagen, Denmark. I really did not expect I would travel that much thereafter. All the travels cost a lot of resources, but these trips have expanded my knowledge and even lowered my threshold in accepting differences with others. From east to west Europe, to Asia, I made sure I ...

It was on this date (September 29) four years ago when I started to embark into the most remarkable journey in my life. I arrived around 2 o'clock in the afternoon in Oslo Airport with over sixty kilos of baggage. It was about four degrees Celsius, normal for an early fall in the Norwegian capital. I had mixed emotions. I was not totally elated by the idea of starting anew. I was more confused, unprepared and anxious. Nevertheless, looking back to that day I am nostalgic, but a lot of "what-ifs" in my head. I could not really find an adjective describing those four years, but I would just choose the word fantastic. Why? This is the focus of this blogpost. Overwhelmingly fantastic Overwhelmingly drastic. This could somehow describe the process that we have to willingly accept as part of integrating ourselves into the Norwegian society. Literally, I have to forget at times my Filipino values. I have to embrace Norwegian mindset in deciding for myself and others...

This blogpost will somehow give an overview of the number of immigrants in Norway as of the latest official statistics in the government. A short description follows providing a good perspective of that certain country. There are only 137 countries on the list. Those countries with migrant population comprising less than 0,05% of the total population in Norway are not included in the complete list. INTRODUCTION There are some terms that this blogpost utilizes to elaborate on three major types of migrants: Category 1. Those with familial relationships in Norway. They are those who were born either by one or both Norwegian parents, regardless of where they are actually born. These group are theoretically the easiest to integrate into the Norwegian society because the connection they have is more personal and comprehensive. The countries with the greatest percentage of their migrants in Norway in this category could have a good relationship with Norway given it might there are l...