the act of being

[minimalistquotes]

We romanticize the stars, but forget the dark is what made them visible.

[jeowan]

15 March 2026, Sunday Filinvest Central Park 11:07PM

At around 6:30PM, I was preparing dinner for Lesly, Leih, and me–chicken sandwich with sides of nuggets and Thai milk tea for our drinks– when Leih bolted from the living room to the kitchen and very excitedly said “Ate Isle yung B1A4 nasa Central Park!!!”

Isle answered calmly, “kailan?” Then when Leih said “ngayong 9PM sa Central Park!!!” Lesly lost it too. Nakikinig lang ako sa kanila but I knew that they wanted to go and nahihiya lang silang yayain ako.

The thing is, I had my fair share of concerts and music fests and they were part of my core memories. So, I offered a simple “Tara?” Despite not knowing who the bands were. As it turned out, KPop group pala sila na matagal nang kilala nung dalawa, though hindi sila masyadong sikat.

Sa sobrang excitement nila, they played the band’s group while we’re having dinner and next thing I know, I was jamming to bands (Ozo, Pedicab, B1A4) I didn’t know about, at almost 10PM, with people from younger generations. They were full of energy and sweat. If I’m gonna be honest, I only enjoyed that concert because I saw how happy Lesly and Leih were.

Before going home, we had Coke float at McDonald’s. I hope it became one of their core memories, too!

[jeowan]

15 March 2026, Sunday Everest Hills Memorial 3:38PM

Got engaged today. 🥺

It was honestly quite bittersweet because the place where it happened was the place I cried the most almost 8 months ago when we laid Dad to his final resting place.

Today, tears also fell especially when Carlo told my Dad’s grave “Kukunin ko na po kamay ng anak niyo.” I know he would’ve been so happy for us and it meant so much to me that he was the first one to know.

After, we had lunch at Mendokoro in Molito. I tried their Tantanmen and Carlo their Shoyu Ramen. We got gyoza for sides as well and a raspberry kombucha for our drinks (I honestly didn’t think na yun rin yung bottled kombucha na nabibili sa S&R lol).

For our dessert, we went to EACH where I finally tried their affogato (ang sarap!) Carlo got their Bombon coffee which is basically Spanish latte but using coconut milk.

Throughout the day, I just kept staring at my ring because I still couldn’t believe it.

P.S. May video yung proposal so I sent it to our family GC and their reactions were so funny lalo na si Leih. Iyak siya eh 🤣

[jeowan]

12 March 2026, Thursday

Coffee Syndicate, Commerce Center, Alabang

2:15 PM

Pao and I met up to discuss our March book which is Alice Feeney's My Husband's Wife over coffee. It was my first time in Coffee Syndicate and I got their Dirty Horchata and you know what? It was good. Do I have anything to compare it to? Not really. But did I like it kahit na ₱230 siya? Yes. Lalo na libre ni Pao kasi may salary increase raw sya (Yay!!)

Pagdating naman sa libro... we both didn't like it haha!

Ayoko nang mag-rant dito about it kasi nasabi ko na kay Pao lahat ng frustrations ko lol. Just know that I gave it 2/5.

[jeowan]

7 March 2026, Saturday Tapa King, Festival Mall 11:00AM

After almost 6 months of not seeing each other, we finally did! March na but nag-exchange gift parin kami kasi hindi namin nagawa nung pasko haha!

Nalaman din nilang nasa solo living era ako so they asked kung pwedeng mag-overnight nalang sa bahay just like the old times. Tatanggi ba ako?

I cooked their favorite chicken wings (honey soy garlic) and they loved it! Taob ang 1kg sa aming tatlo lol. Then nag-order din kami ng pizza from Shakey’s (creamy spinach, hawaiian, truffle) and hindi ako nasarapan huhu.

We had so much fun all night – caught up with each other’s lives, played Overcooked 2, card games that opened us up, and reminisce how far our friendship has come. I think we fell asleep around 4am, kaya hindi natuloy yung plano namin na mag-jogging at 6am and mag-coffee.

Ang ending, nag-silog nalang kami sa Tapa King!

[jeowan]

3 March 2026, Tuesday Bayanan, Muntinlupa 7:41 PM

Had the opportunity to take a photo of the lunar eclipse, at natry ko narin sa wakas yung Fuji X-mount to Canon EF adapter kaya nagamit ko ulit yung 75-300mm lens na nakatago na sa baul.

P.S. Hindi ko alam na nasa adapter pala yung aperture ring kaya hindi ko na-adjust 😭

[paper-wounds]

[jeowan]

1 Mar 2026, Sunday Studio A, Pasig 5:19 PM

Carlo bought last minute tickets for this theater play and I am so glad he did because my goodness…

This is the 4th play that I've seen and honestly, compared sa iba (I saw One More Chance: The Musical, Mula Sa Buwan, Liwanag sa Dilim: The Musical) parang college play yung set-up nung stage, and I don’t mean this in a derogatory way kasi it felt more immersive for some reason?

I’m not a theater kid so I don’t really have much comments on the technical parts of it.. all I know is ang daming beses kong umiyak.

What I loved about this play was the story. Usually kasi, we hear regrets galing sa mga naiwan, but Tulog Na did it the other way around. Yung regrets ay nanggaling mismo sa mga namatay. I loved (and cried so much during) their monologues, especially yung kay kuya Grab driver kasi tatay siya..

When he said something along the lines of "pasensiya na mga anak, hindi na makakauwi si Tatay. 'Wag niyong kakalimutang i-lock ang mga pinto, yung kalan baka maiwan niyong nakabukas.."

I related to it so much because Dad passed 7 months ago so you could say that wound’s still really fresh and to hear that? Phew. Tears were flowing because Dad used to give me such reminders as well...

So yeah, this play instantly had a special place in my heart just because of that. Super solid experience for me.

[jeowan]

1 Mar 2026, Sunday Manila 11:30 AM

I believe that you need to go on a Binondo food crawl at least once a year. Nakakadagdag ng will to live, promise!

Here's a list of where we went and what we ate: 1. Taiwan Juicy Pie - Beef Stuffed Pie (P80) - Pepper Sausage (P70)

2. Oishiekun Food Hub - Milky Bicho (P70) - Raddish Cake (P40)

3. Shanghai Fried Siopao - Fried Siopao (P35)

4. Kokee Bakery - Jade Bun (P50) - Butter Rice Cake (P20)

5. Vegeselect - Fresh Sugarcane Juice (P100)\

6. Dongbei Dumplings - Xiaolongbao (P220/6pcs)

7. Beanstro - Mango Sticky Rice (P190) - Burnt Milk Sea Salt Latte (P250) - Dubai Chewy Cookie (P170)

8. Escolta Coffee Company - Saint Beliz Iced Pour Over (P190)

We forgot to try the Oyster-panada from Mi Nan Di Yi Wei.. :(

But! That's just another reason to go back!

[jeowan]

Leih’s prom look.

Grabe, dalaga na siya waaah. I feel so old lol.

[jeowan]

24 Feb 2026, Tuesday Acacia Hotel, Alabang 1:29PM

It’s Leih’s prom today and syempre, support kami ni Lesly! Naging PA kami for the day and ang benefits ay nakapag-stay kami sa room nila until midnight. I also realized na hindi pala corny mag-staycation sa Alabang kahit na 10-minute drive away lang siya sa bahay.

For 15 hours, we felt like a “Prime Muntinlupeño” who can afford living in Filinvest City, casually having coffee at Starbucks Reserve kasi walking distance lang siya. Walang amoy ihi, walang maingay na kapitbahay, maganda yung kalsada.

Tapos sasabihin nila money can’t buy happiness? Haha

[jeowan]

22 Feb 2026, Sunday Starbucks Reserve, Westgate Alabang 08:42 AM

Carlo’s Starbucks go-to order is Barista Drink, and I’ve always found it too strong but today, yun yung inorder ko. He was surprised kasi he knew na natatapangan ako, but it was before I got a moka pot and tasted real coffee.

Totoo nga yung sabi nila na once you go black, you can never go back lol. I also got the chance to taste different kinds of beans and kaya ko nang, finally, uminom ng Americano/Long Black!

Ngayon, even the “matapang na kape” is matamis na for me haha! I just need to adjust the white mocha pumps, I guess?

[loveletters2myself]

[jeowan]

Been seeing a lot of marathon posts on Tiktok and I’ve been so touched and inspired by their stories and struggles to the point na gusto ko ring i-push yung sarili ko beyond my limits. I was ok with the idea of a 21K as a life goal but then I realized, why not make it a full marathon?

[jeowan]

It’s almost 2am and hindi parin ako makatulog. I blame Bean Bloc’s Spanish Latte with their Sultan Kudarat beans 😤

It was good though!

[jeowan]

Ang daming ganap today!

Had lunch at Nomo - Modern Shanghai because it’s CNY! Nagamit ang Bistro Group app for 20% discount hehe

After, we went to Town Center because Hazel’s gonna buy make up and moisturizer. Also had pics over at the Chinese Zodiac displays.

Then I dropped off our bags home before heading to Everest Hills to visit dad. It’s been 7 months since he passed ☹️

Nagkaroon din nang biglaang dinner with Jelli and Juri (kasi biglang nagparamdam ai Juri after almost half a year of socmed hiatus!!!) at Festival Mall. Sabi ni Jelli light meal lang daw but she still ended up wanting unlimited samgyeopsal 😭 I didn’t eat anything close to value for the money but it was still a good catch-up.

Tapos nag-SB kami after, of course, kasi hindi pa tapos ang kwentuhan, then we had a plan na magkita ulit next week for an overnight stay dito sa bahay (because they learned that I’m in my solo living era).

I got home past 10pm and with a headache but super saya today!

[jeowan]

Celebrated Valentine’s with the fam as well! Had dinner over at VVS then had a much needed full body massage with Mom and Ninang 💆🏻‍♀️