2022: A year in review — A few more days and it’s 2023. And writing on Medium will keep on evolving, nothing worth celebrating comes easily. So after more than two years of publishing stories almost daily, I can say that not only am I grateful that I’m still here, I actually made enough money to…

They feel entitled — There are over 100,000 foreigners in Bali, Indonesia. Eat. Pray. Love. A lot of white women think they can have the same experience as Elizabeth Gilbert or Julia Roberts who played Elizabeth in the movie adaptation. It was a cool book until it wasn't. Her self-discovery should have remained her…

Kayleigh Scott — When I was younger, I didn’t understand why some men would dress as women. I didn’t understand why I was gay. I didn’t understand a lot of things. My sexuality caused me a lot of pain. Only after I accepted who I was did things get better. But by then…

Iraq war: Twenty years after — My government is allowing the US access to more military bases in the Philippines. Many fear including myself that someday, our country will once again become involved in a war that will leave our country ravaged and torn. I still remember twenty years ago, the Philippines joined the ‘coalition of…

A life well lived — In the Philippines, college life is quite different from what it is like in the US. The best schools are mostly located in Manila, the capital city. A place of 13 million people. A place where people dream of a better future. It has always been that way. I read…

Guns, goons, and gold — I opened the front door for her. I was visiting my aunt when the doorbell rang, and she rang the doorbell like someone was fighting for their life, and later I would find out that she barely escaped. She was fighting for her life. My aunt was seated on the…

She’s my daughter — The only time I flew business class was when I was flying home from one of my contracts as a cruise photographer. It was an upgrade. I think the head office made some mistakes or was it the airline? I can’t remember it anymore except it was fun inside the…

I’m claiming back my story. — My body is on its way to recovery. I’m healing. I’m healed. I’m 100% better today than yesterday. My words have power. Today, I’m creating a new story about me and my future. I stopped drinking coffee for a month, that is a story. I am taking a happy pill…

A young woman volleyball player gets a lot of social media hate because of how she looks — It was only in the late 60s when a young Filipina girl became the country’s biggest superstar. She started as a great singer, her talent was raw and she also looked different from all the stars before her. She has dark skin. But she was the exception, her name is…