I bought a Pixel 6 Pro!

Backtrack to December of 2020, I decided to finally switch to a Pixel after being on Samsung because of three main reasons:

There’s not a lot of Pixel phones in the Philippines because it’s not officially released here
The Google Pixel has always been the phone with the best camera in the market.
Google makes Android, so they should make the best Android phone, right?

I got the Pixel 4a because it was best deal as of that time – budget-friendly but not too outdated (it was released the year before I think). Also, it still looked a lot like the Pixel 5 (and 5a) so it was a no brainer. I just wanted to get a Pixel. And I promised myself that I won’t be spending any more money on phones until I wear it down.

Breaking the promise

But then they released the Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro…and I just loved the way it looks! It’s just so different from how all other slab phones look like with its visor camera bump. It was very hard to resist getting the phone, but resist I did. Until I couldn’t anymore.

I have been using this phone for less than a month so I’ll save the full review for later. It’s a 5g phone but a big caveat to users in the Philippines is that Google hasn’t activated 5g for our country yet. No, it’s not a deal breaker, LTE is fast enough and doesn’t drain your battery as fast as 5g – but it would be good to have options. The Pixel 6 Pro is dual-sim but, has only one provision for a physical SIM card. The other one needs to be an e-SIM. Check my Pro tip! below to see how I maximized this set-up!

So far, I am enjoying the Pixel 6 Pro, although I need to get out more so that I can use the camera more, which is the selling point of this phone. It’s been raining non-stop recently, but once the sun is out, I’ll try to walk around the neighborhood and take photos. Maybe finally get to introducing Cebu more on this blog, before I go back to Manila for work!

Anyway, that’s all for now – but before I end this, see a pro tip below!

Pro tip!

I converted my Smart postpaid SIM to an e-sim. Then, I purchased a GOMO SIM (which is under Globe) as a back-up network for mobile data, so that I have an alternative when Smart doesn’t have good reception (like in the mountains of Dalaguete). The good thing about GOMO is that their data has no expiration! If you want to purchase a GOMO sim, please use my referral code – JEKE0951! They also have Unlimited Data promos every once in a while, so I really recommend you get this as a back-up data prepaid plan!

A quick Manila visit – WFH vs RTO

It has been over a year since I left Manila to work from Cebu, which is my hometown, given everyone is working from home anyway. As offices are already planning to implement their return-to-office plans, I wanted to “test the waters” by “flying through the skies” and doing a “dry run” of how it is to be back in the capital for work.

It was a two-week trip that turned into three weeks – intended to help me figure out if I am ready to go back, or if I really wanted to stay longer in Cebu. See, returning to office is a bit more complicated if your “real home” isn’t within driving distance from the office. It’s a renewal of a life decision that was made when the world was a bit more different than it is now. The past two years have proven that some work can indeed be done remotely, and while we recognize the need to physically connect and meet our teammates to keep the teamwork and culture alive, do we really need to see each other on a weekly basis? And from a personal point-of-view, does the benefit of that outweigh the cost of moving your life back to the city?

Everyone has these questions. And it’s difficult to answer. There was only one way to find out if I still wanted to go back, and that was to actually go back and try working from the office. Those three weeks made me realize how foreign my old life before the pandemic now feels – but at the same time, how much I missed it!

Felt like an employee again after 2 years of working from home!

I love the look of our new office – definitely makes me want to work from here!

My realizations

In the end, my issue is not about working from home or returning to the office, rather, it’s about being able to continue working from Cebu, or returning back to Manila.

Like any important decision making process, I had to make a list of pros and cons to help me decide.

	Pros	Cons
Work from Cebu	1) Living with family, people who will keep you afloat when you’re sinking 2) Save up money on rent, food and transportation 3) Save up time (no traffic, can sleep longer) 4) Life is generally easier, more peace of mind 5) Able to meet up with friends I grew up with (and mahjong sessions!)	1) Living with family is also an additional responsibility (especially when they tend to depend on you for everything) 2) Working from home the entire time does get tiring because you’re working alone 3) You tend to miss the interaction with office friends and colleagues (i.e., the coffee/ranting sessions, karaoke night-outs) 4) The temptation of the bed is stronger; easier to be complacent
Work from Manila	1) Can visit the office and meet up with friends and colleagues any time 2) More freedom in living alone 3) Sense of accomplishment working in a nice office and dressing up for work 4) I feel more productive when I’m in an environment that inspires me to work harder	1) Expensive. I’m already paying for my house in Cebu, and I need to pay for rent here. 2) I eat out more, and food is significantly more expensive vs. in Cebu 3) Stressful. Just going to the office takes a lot of patience (booking Grab car, traffic) 4) It can get lonely sometimes, which is not good for my mental health if coupled with stress and anxiety

My Pros and Cons Analysis

It’s not an exhaustive list but these are the ones at the top of my head right now. And to be honest, I’m still 50:50 if I have to just choose one over the other. The best solution would be if companies would meet their employees half-way, whatever that means (and I mean companies should be the one to figure this out).

What I’m sure of though is that I’m ready to go back if we really need to be back already. And then we’ll see where it goes from there. I would just need to find ways to save money (wish me luck on this), and manage my stress in a healthier way (wish me more luck on this). I’m sure that I will miss Cebu so I’ll make the most of my remaining time here. I have saved up a lot of memories that will hopefully last me a year, until I get to visit again.

It feels like the world is recovering but at the same time, it doesn’t feel right for it to return to the way it was. Another virus or calamity could come and we need to be set-up for it by learning from the past two years.

How do you feel about returning to office? Let me know in the comments below!

Destination Wedding at Panglao, Bohol

Last February, my college friends and I attended a wedding of one of our classmates in Panglao, Bohol. It was a destination wedding that was well-welcomed after the stress of the past months (Odette). It was an opportunity for a get-away with friends, a short vacation filled with food, drinks and love (Char!).

Day 1, Feb 24 – Arrival & Free Day!

At the port! — At the pier, waiting for our boat to Bohol!

After 2 hours, we finally arrived in Tagbilaran City, Bohol. We hired a van to take us to Panglao, where we were going to stay (and where the wedding will be held). On the way, we passed by the tailor for our suits and then had a quick lunch of chicken inasal. And then – finally, Hennan Alona Beach, Panglao!

We did a quick change of outfit, excited to hang out at the beach and drink until we drop. Haha. This is what destination weddings are for – HAPPY HOUR!

Happy hour tip: Order as many drinks as you can on the last few minutes before cut-off so that you can extend your happy hour! We ended drinking at almost 9 PM – time just flies by so quickly when you’re with friends. There was a lot of catching up, laughter, and we even played quiz games because we’re competitive like that.

We almost got scammed by the 3,000/kilo Shrimp and 2,000/kilo Squid here! HAHA.

So, we walked around Alona beach to look for a restaurant for dinner. We decided on a restaurant that sold fresh shrimp and squid, only to realize that they cost almost 10x the normal price outside. Good thing we found out about it right before we finalized the transaction. It started raining and some stores were already closing as it was now around 10PM already. So, guess where we ended up eating?

We were the last guests of Jollibee before they closed for the night, too. Then, it was time to go back to the hotel and sleep because tomorrow was going to be a busy day!

Day 2, Feb 25 – Wedding Day, Groom Squad Duties

The wedding day! As a member of the entourage (groom’s men a.k.a. Groom Squad), it was going to be a busy day for us. We had to wake up early because there was so much preparation to be done. There’s the dance practice for the reception. Then the seemingly never-ending photo & video shoot for the same-day edits. Good thing we had alcohol to fuel us throughout the day. Haha.

It’s not everyday I get to dress like this.

And then, off to the church for the wedding! It was an intimate ceremony and I can’t say tears were not shed.

The newly weds – Joyce & Peter. #TheJoyceOfPeter

After the church wedding is the reception! We had to do some more photo shoots again, before we could join the rest of our friends at the table! The reception was held at Mithi Resort, which was also very nice! The venue was open-air, and it felt like we were in the middle of the jungle.

There were still some groom’s man duties to be completed during the reception, such as dancing (and embarrassing ourselves) in front of everyone and being sacrificed for the singles’ game, but after that was done, we could finally, literally, take of our shoes and enjoy the rest of the night! There was an open bar that served drinks until supplies last, and a live band that played groovy music everyone could dance (or sway) to.

Day 3, Feb 26 – Chilling at Hennan

After two days of consecutive drinking and merry-making, Day 3 was dedicated to rest and relaxation. I was finally able to enjoy the buffet breakfast at Hennan, since we left too early the day before for the wedding preps. This was followed by a few hours of pretend sunbathing (we were chasing the shade from the coconut trees the entire time). I know I said I had too much drinks but I sneaked in some left-over cocktails from last night and enjoyed my time, chilling with the view of the ocean.

Shoutout to Owndays for my very nice eyeglasses w/ clip-on shades!

We basically stayed in Hennan the entire day, and only went out for dinner. This time, we tried out the nearby Spanish restaurant called Bougainvillea, which was actually quite good! Just be careful with their Paella serving size because there is a minimum order of 2, which is equivalent to one pan – we thought we had to order at least 2 pans, so we ended up a paella short! No complaints about the taste and the price, though!

Finally, a restaurant that’s not Jollibee!

After dinner, we headed back to the hotel and planned to drink by the beach. Until it rained…and so we headed to the pool for a swim instead. Then, we had another round of drinks at the room where we played more games and got reprimanded for being noisy! Ugh, I hate party poopers that ruin things for people who are just having fun — it is a vacation after all!

Day 4, Feb 27 – Bohol Bee Farm

This was our last day on this getaway trip! Our ferry back to Cebu was still at 5PM, so we had enough time for check-out and lunch. Our driver brought us to Bohol Bee Farm for lunch, and wow, that was one great lunch with a nice view! They also use healthier ingredients, with actual flowers on the meals/salads! Too bad there were no bees to be seen – but I recommend this place for the view and the food (it was affordable for the huge serving size).

After lunch, we stopped by for some souvenirs (Kalamay, which is basically sweetened sticky rice in a coconut shell, and the famous Peanut Kisses), before finally heading to the pier!

One would think that 4 days would be enough, but to be honest, when you’re with the right people, it can seem to short. We parted ways, back to our normal lives with new memories, hoping that someday we’ll meet and enjoy each other’s company again! Also, thank you so much to Peter & Joyce for inviting us to your wedding. All of this would not be possible without that invite! Congratulations and best wishes in your new life as a married couple!

P.S. The Vlogs

So, I also made a two-part vlog of this trip over at my YouTube channel, BoredAtHome. Please check them out below and hit that subscribe button! #RoadTo100 HAHA.

Part 1!

Part 2

That’s it – this was a long post! See you in the next one!

BE Resort – A quick escape

After over a month since the typhoon struck, we still didn’t have electricity and stable internet at home. This really made working from home a challenge. I tried working from my sister’s rented condominium but driving there everyday took 3-4 hours of my precious time. And coming home to a house without electricity didn’t help me relax after work either. For over a month, we slept without even a fan to cool us. Mosquitoes had their nightly feast. I’m painting a picture of sleepless nights, worrisome days – a never ending cycle of suffering, every day for the last 40 days at that point.

And then finally, electricity was restored at the subdivision – except our block was left out because of a damaged transformer. They said it would take at least another month. Another month of hell?! I was just about to breakdown and go crazy just thinking about extending the suffering for a month.

So much for the long intro – but basically, this drove me to book a quick escape at a beach resort where I could sleep with air conditioning, work without worrying about draining my laptop battery and getting disconnected from the internet. After going over my options on Agoda, I settled for BE Resort. And I was so glad that I decided on it because we (me and my brother) were basically the only guests there that time.

After closing “shop” for the day, I immediately went to the beach, ordered myself a nice cold Long Island, and basically just stared at the sea – the perfect way to take all the worries of the past month out of my mind.

I basically stayed there until it got a bit dark, which was a sign to get dinner.

For dinner, we ate at the resort’s restaurant, called SALT. The only downside to this resort is that food is quite expensive, but the taste doesn’t match up to the price. Presentation is good but I can’t say it was worth it.

The next day, I was looking forward to work from the beach. And I loved it. I could get used to it, if only I had money to waste. I could definitely work better with a view like this.

The three days passed by so quickly. I booked the room for around 2,600 PHP per night (with free breakfast). I wanted to stay another day but they had a wedding event on the day I checked out so people were starting to flock and I thought it wasn’t worth it. Haha. I went there to relax after all.

I would recommend BE Resort because I loved the room, and the pool and the beach (so clean)! They also have a gym and a game room which I didn’t take advantage of. The food though was a disappointment considering the hefty price, and they charge corkage if you bring food from outside (unless if you do it in the middle of the night…shhh). Go there on a weekday to avoid people, and try to get discounted rates through Agoda or look out for promotions on their website.

P.S. Shout out to Kristi who helped make this quick escape possible! I love my friends!

Odette.

A super typhoon called Odette (international name: RAI) hit us just a week before Christmas. Cebu has always been “lucky” in terms of typhoons. They normally slow down after passing through the outer islands (Cebu is smack in the middle of the Philippines), and the older, more religious generation would say that Cebu is protected by its patron saint, Sto. Nino. So, despite the warnings, no one was really prepared for what was about to happen.

December 16, at around 7pm in the evening, the winds gradually got stronger and stronger. At its peak at around 10pm I believe, it was already at 250kph. In the middle of that “attack” (I call it attack because that’s seriously how it felt like), I was crouching on the bathroom floor, going through an almost-mental-breakdown, wishing I could just sleep and wake up when it’s over.

My house…

I just moved in to my new house last June. After working hard for 14 years, I could finally get a house I can call my own, and I was excited. I spent a lot of money in renovations and in really making it a “home”. Witnessing that home being torn down is an experience I would not wish on anyone, especially not when you’re inside that home at that moment. That night my worries were that:

My roof would be blown away and our second floor exposed to the rain and strong winds
The glass windows would all break and shatter
Our things would all get wet/damaged, even flown away

For the first few hours my anxiety was off the roof (literally) until I realized all three have already happened, went we went up the second floor to check during the quiet time where the eye of the typhoon is directly above you. My heart broke, and it was a thick pill to swallow but I thought to myself, the worst is over – my worries have all turned to reality. My mind then started moving to the “what’s next” phase (true to Growth Mindset), so that when the tail end of the typhoon was passing, I was a bit more relaxed, and even felt challenged at how to survive the next “few” days.

The next “few” days

Oh it was hell. It was chaos. It was the worst thing I’ve ever experienced in my life that’s collective (i.e., felt by everyone around me); in fact, it was much worst than the pandemic. Seriously, pandemic what? Odette erased the effects and fears of the pandemic when it struck. I also remember hoping that night that the strong winds would also blow away whatever variant of the virus is going around. No one cared about the invisible enemy – everyone was scrambling to get their basic needs met.

No electricity – obviously, a lot of electric poles went down. I’m sure even the electric plants (is that what they call it) have been damaged. Kilometers of cables and wires are all tangled and lying down by the road. Even now, 23 days after, we still don’t have electricity in our area. It’s only now that I’ve realized the effects of not having electricity!
No drinking water – because refilling stations don’t have power, they’re not able to purify drinking water. There were long lines of water bottles in front of the few refilling stations that had generators. Prices of water bottles doubled (some even sell them at thrice the price) and restaurants didn’t serve bottled water for a while.
No gasoline – to be honest, this one was a little weird. A lot of gas stations had generators so they’re able to pump gas – but people were hoarding gasoline like never before. And it was because they were reselling it for ridiculous amounts! We had to queue 12 hours in front of a gas station on the 3rd day because we had to travel to Dalaguete to check on my mom and our house there. Good thing the government stepped in and the queues were back to normal after 2 weeks (still, 2 weeks??)
No phone/internet signal – another impact of not having electricity meant cellular towers were down. Being able to send a text message (SMS) was a privilege not available to many. It was so hard to check up on family and friends because you couldn’t just contact them easily.
Limited supply in supermarkets – roads are not fully passable, lack of electricity, and this happening on the holidays – it was a recipe for food and supply shortage. It was super hard to buy soft drinks (I mean, we can all do with an ice-cold Coca-Cola in this heat), mosquito repellents, batteries, and meat and other refrigerated products.
Limited supply of hardware/construction materials – this was expected as people were rebuilding their homes. For sure, corrugated iron which is normally used for roofing here is the #1 in demand for the first few weeks.

So, how did we survive these hell weeks? Well, we had to do a lot of traveling.

We booked a studio condominium unit in Cebu City for one month. This unit had power (generator) and internet signal. This is where my sister “works from home” for the time being. We also visit occasionally to charge our power banks and access the internet.
We spent some time in our house in Dalaguete, which wasn’t damaged by the storm. Although there was no electricity here, there was plenty of water and there was ample food supply.
Of course, we had to still stay in our damaged house because our stuff are here and we had to oversee the fixing of the roof and windows, clean the house from debris, wash all of the ruined clothes/curtains/blankets, etc. There was a lot of work to be done!

There was no one place where we could have it all. Even now, over 20 days after the storm, there is still no one place where we could comfortably stay and not worry about anything. At least we have options – I know others have it worst.

The “bright” side

With all of this, one still has to look at the silver lining, or the bright side. Because of Odette, I’ve learned that the things we own (including our homes) are just that – things! We can eventually replace them. What we can’t replace though are our family and friends, so I was just grateful that everyone I know is safe, even if their homes (including mine) aren’t.

I’ve also learned how to prepare for the next storm because they will come for sure. Our country is known for typhoons and super typhoons – and while it’s the first time in a long time that one struck Cebu, it can happen again. I need to pay attention to the weather reports. I need to stock up on food. Maybe have a solar panel installed for worst-case situations when power goes out again. Also, I need to install a personal water tank for emergencies.

The house structure is a different topic but I realized how much it pays to be a minimalist! I didn’t have much things in my room other than a bed and a shelf, so the damage when the roof went off was minimal. It is also wise to store valuable things in the most secure location of the house – this is basic knowledge but we tend to forget if we don’t see the need. As we work on rebuilding the house permanently, I have a few thoughts in mind on how to do it better so that we can feel safe in our home the next time.

I’m also grateful for friends who reached out to help both mentally/emotionally and financially. They were quick to act when they found out about what happened. I know there are times when I think about how I’ve drifted apart from everyone but Odette proved me wrong. I know I will need to repay all of the kindness as soon as I’m able to!

In summary…

Odette was a disaster I wouldn’t wish on anyone. I’ve gone through so many firsts, mostly negative experiences the past few weeks that could have broken me, but I’m taking it as an opportunity for a restart, a reset, a chance to reassess my priorities. I can’t say I’m already OK, I’m acknowledging that until electricity comes back, I won’t be fully OK, and will take this time to rest my mind from worry. I’ve gotten used to living with just the basics in this situation and to be honest, I’m torn about continuing like this or going back to the life I had before the storm hit. Haha! I think I need to end this because I’m already rambling.

P.S. I still hate you Odette for ruining my holiday plans!

Cebu’s Bamboo Forest

Cebu’s bamboo forest is located at the northern tip of the island, in a town called Medellin. This just recently gained attention because of social media. Since I’m here, I had to see it! And it was perfect timing because my two friends are getting married, and it was the perfect place to do an unofficial prenuptial shoot!

The entrance to the Bamboo forest. You need to pay 20 pesos to enter!

Not quite Japan, but it has its own charm!

They tried to package the place as a substitute for Japan’s bamboo forest. You’ll see tori gates, a bamboo bridge, a fake Hachiko (they had a German Shepherd statue), and you can even rent a Japanese attire to complete the feel! Personally, I feel like they should have created their own character versus copying Japan but I guess, they needed to pull some inspiration from Arashiyama’s version in order to attract people to visit.

You’ll still see Filipino touches such as this Christmas tree and parol!

On to the shoot, there were 3 of us “photographers”, 1 “director”, 1 “videographer” and 1 “assistant” to our 2 “models”. Haha! It was a lot of fun because I haven’t used my camera in the longest time!

So, without further ado, here are some of the shots I took! I was personally surprised by how these photos turned out. I mean, these are decent! The bamboo trees make for a great backdrop, and I’m not hating on the costumes either! Just looking at this transported me to Kenshin Himura’s time HAHA.

I also wanted to get my own portrait but I was sweating too much (it took us an hour to finish the shoot). So, please settle with this selfie collage!

Here’s a side-by-side photo of Cebu vs. Kyoto vs. Hamilton (New Zealand)’s Bamboo forests!

Medellin is at least 3 hours away from the city but I think it’s worth the drive, if you have other sites to visit up north as well. For this specific visit, we also went to Maayo San Remigio, which I visited with my family back in April. Please see below vlog (but more like a video dump) which I uploaded in YouTube of this entire trip with my friends. You’ll see some behind the scenes from the shoot as well c/o our videographer. Haha. Always a fun time with college friends!

North Cebu Roadtrip vlog!

Looking forward to the next adventure with these peeps!

My Spotify Wrapped 2021

I thought my Spotify Wrapped for 2021 would be a bit more diverse vs. last year as I tried to listen to more artists, playlists, and even more Original Pilipino Music (OPM). Alas, to my surprise, it’s pretty much the same as last year with my Top 5 songs occupied by just one artist. (Take a guess before scrolling down?)

So I guess this would be my official ranking of my favorite Higedan songs

My top artist is Higedan with 1,815 minutes streamed

Out of my 23,100 minutes of streaming on Spotify, Higedan took up 7.8%. Ok, perhaps that improved vs last year (when I probably listed to them 50% of the time).

Here’s the rest of my top artists. John Mayer making it there is a surprise! I remember binge-listening to his discography for two weeks, though.

It’s obvious what my top genre is. No explanation needed. I’m happy OPM is now my Top 2! I’ve been listening to a lot of new Filipino artists and I’ll post about them soon here!

My favorite podcast – well, I only listen to one regularly, almost every weekend!

Give them a listen especially if you’re Filipino!

Here’s the rest of my top songs for 2021 in gallery! Let me know if we listen to the same music, I’d love to meet moots over the internet!

Spotify is my favorite music streaming platform. And I really love how they’re able to give us a summary of our year in music! Songs are one of my means of saving memories. Next year will probably see a different artist dethrone Higedan on top, but that would depend if they release new (good) music! Haha.

I’m curious to know what your Spotify Wrapped 2021 is – please let me know in the comments below!

Dora-Koi for my empty heart

So, I’ve finally found a replacement for the empty space in my heart that used to be occupied by Terrace House. As someone who lives vicariously through the lives of others, reality shows, specifically Japanese reality shows, hold a special place in my heart for several reasons.

I get to immerse myself in the Japanese language, the casual conversational kind not taught by books.
I also get to learn about Japanese culture and way of thinking — if that makes sense.
You sort of form a “friendship” with the members, even if it’s just one way. Haha!

Renai Dorama na Koi ga Shitai (literally I want to fall in love like in romance dramas), or Dora-Koi for short, is a reality show about up and coming actors who fall in love with other members while trying to shoot short dramas. Each of the episode would have a kissing scene, and it’s interesting to see how their feelings evolve over time. I find myself rooting for pairs who’ve stuck with each other since the beginning. It’s hard to put into words, but this show basically allows you to see how complex “love” is, how different people would react (or not react) to their feelings, and how these feelings basically change with just a kiss. Haha.

You just need to watch it for yourself to understand what I mean. The only thing I hate about this show is the female narrator’s whispering voice. I don’t think it’s necessary but aside from that, I enjoyed the show. I’m on the last episode of the 2nd season. I binge-watched it over the weekend and if not for work today, I would have finished everything already! Good thing tomorrow’s a holiday! Haha. I can’t wait to find out who ends up together for S2!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_Lzc8w6syI

Watch it on Netflix here.

#Rundown: November 2021

November was a breeze. Here’s a rundown of the month in photos! Click one and scroll to see the captions!

November was a perfect mix of business and pleasure. I managed to go outside the city for a getaway with friends, met up with work friends even just for a while, destressed over mahjong, ate good food, and bonded with my plants and cats! Haha. What else could I ask for?

How was your November? I’m ready for December! Bring it on!

I bought my first house

This isn’t really news given the actual purchase happened back in 2017. A friend of mine (and you’ll see him later in the video below) who is a real estate broker showed me some properties that were on pre-selling back then and I thought it was time for me to get my own place. I’ve been working for 10 years already by this time and to be honest, I have spent most of my money on fleeting things – not that I regret them, but perhaps it was time to invest in something that could last a lifetime. Haha. Peak adulting.

I’m grateful I made that decision because we wouldn’t have a house now if I didn’t! The one we were living in got sold by my uncles/aunts on my father’s side as it was their family property. I’m also so lucky that the turn over happened in the middle of the pandemic. Because I’m working from home here in Cebu, I was able to manage everything personally, including the renovations, furnishing and buying of appliances, getting the utilities hooked, etc!

So, without further ado, here’s a video taken by my friend of the house when it was just turned over! I’m glad Peejay took a video of this because I have something to look back to – it was the first real property I purchased after all!

Video c/o my vlogger friend, Peejay!

So, this house is a two-storey duplex, with three bedrooms and 2 bathroom/toilets. It’s located in the island of Mactan, which is the touristy area in Cebu as it is where the international airport is, it’s filled with beach resorts, and has a lot of different kinds of restaurants. Before the pandemic, you’d see a lot of foreigners around so it’s got that chill, holiday island vibes – but at the same time, it’s also a city so convenience is not sacrificed! Mactan is a prime area that would for sure become even more high value as the years come and tourism resumes again!

I kept this purchase a secret from my family except for my brother who was living with me in Manila as of the time I decided to buy it. So, it was a surprise for my mom and my sister when I brought them to visit for the first time last January!

After the property was turned over, I had some renovations done, mainly because the kitchen area was located outside of the house, at the back (you can see this on the video). So we had the walls extended to bring the kitchen in, and this also allowed us to add an extra room on the second floor (on top of the kitchen), which now serves as the home office. This was an expensive renovation because it also involved a lot of custom work ensuring the appliances fit and also to add character to the currently blank interiors of the house! The kitchen is now actually the main attraction inside the house! Haha. I also had a gate put-up and had a roof installed on the garage. Bye money!

Then, I had to buy the appliances and the furniture, which seems like a fun thing to do, but is actually super stressful! We went to several places to buy tiles, shelves, kitchen appliances, etc. to find the cheapest options!

Finally all of the renovations were completed at around the 2nd week of June and we were finally able to move in. As of this point, only the kitchen was completed – we didn’t have beds or a sofa so I slept on the floor for almost a month until the rest of the furniture arrived (ordered them online, mostly from Mandaue Foam)!

Move-in day, with only a few stuff from the old house

There will be a follow-up post on how the house looks like now. I can’t say it’s fully done yet but having lived here for almost 5 months now, I can say for sure that it already feels like home! I’ll leave you with some photos of the “housewarming” when my friends visited to do a Rurouni Kenshin marathon!

Of course the TV is a priority. Sorry guys, no couch yet!

A sneak peek at the expensive kitchen haha!

I’ll end this here for now! Please look out for the continuation of this post soon!