Retreat House

 And just like that, my month-long R&R has finally come to an end. So sad, but I had fun despite a few minor speedbumps and inconveniences along the way. I will defo miss those days when I'd just play the PS4 all day, edit my vlogs, and just catch up with my reading and Netflix lists. I'm grateful for the central office's initiative to give us a month-long vacay without deducting my leave credits. How cool is that? Also, I managed to finish Ace Combat 7 thrice! HAHAHA.

Back to reality. Back to work. Back to seeing my favorite colleagues. Back to seeing the faces of my colleagues whom I abhor the most (hahaha such a bitch, I know).

But, there's one thing that I wish to end–COVID-19. I miss going to the gym (though I'm still slim, only gained a pound since the quarantine started, but it made me happier because of endorphins and other happy hormones), I miss going to coffee shops alone, and most of all, I miss traveling.

Unexpected Reward

Life knows how to throw lemons at you because it becomes two pitchers of lemonade right before hitting me. Lmao. So today, the chiefs had a meeting and since the mental health of the air traffic controllers is on their top priority, they're now allowing us to fly home and stay there for one month without deducting our leave credits. They thought of rewarding us for staying as one of the front-liners in the aviation sector (as if we had a choice duh, but still grateful for their decision). It's been almost seven months since the last time I went home to Davao. So, yeah. I am stoked that I'm finally going home and stay there for a month. I've applied for the medical clearance from the barangay and the travel authority from the police.

Can't wait!

22 July

This is just a quick movie review. Take note that I have so much time to watch series and movies even at work. This is just one of my coping mechanisms from this global pandemic.

22 July is a very moving film about Norway’s deadliest terror attack, in which a right-wing extremist murders 77 teens at a youth camp in 2011. The film used restraint and empathy for the families whose lives were upended by an obsessed assassin. The film also reminds everyone about how political extremism can rattle a highly volatile society. The editing, cinematography, and the soundtrack were all on point. Casting the Norwegian actors instead of those from Hollywood adds the authenticity of this film. 

Rating: 4/5

My 30th Birthday

I imagine myself writing this post at Santa Monica Pier while watching its famous sunset. It's past 8:00 PM, yet the sun is still at the horizon, spreading its rays and warmth to everyone. The sun cast its golden rays down upon the clouds of billowing smoke, turning them bright red; fire red. Moments later, the sky bled crimson, purple, and orange. It felt as if my soul was transported into a timeless existence, ready for the protective blanket of night and new dreams.

Schittiest Show Ever

Oh my God. This sitcom is one of the best I've watched. You know the tv series is so good that the characters grow into you. There's so much to talk about how beautifully crafted this show was. I love about the character development of everyone, it never veered-off from its story, and best of all, I've learned a lot of life lessons from it.

When life gives you shit, you have to stand up, clean yourself, start a clean slate, and move forward.

God, I ugly cried after watching the finalé. It was good. I wish it lasted for 20 seasons. This Canadian sitcom will be sorely missed. I will definitely miss the bickering between Alexis and David, Moira's extensive vocabulary, and the way she pronounces baby as bébé, Johnny's care for his family, and all the side characters of this show. I still can't get over with it!

We Get Sick As One

Days ago, I received an email from Cebu Pacific Air. They canceled my flight to Davao this July 29. I was supposed to fly home and celebrate my birthday with my family. But, I was waiting for their email, frankly speaking. With active cases of COVID-19 still rising, it's still risky to travel around. No choice but to render duty on my birthday. For the first time in forever, I'd be working on my birthday. It's not just an ordinary birthday, but it'll be my 30th birthday. Maybe in the parallel universe, the world won't be experiencing this global pandemic. I'd probably be in Los Angeles, celebrating my 30th birthday.

But no, it all boils down to safety. We're dealing with a public health crisis. While some countries have already started flattening their curve, my country has no plans to do it. Instead, we are fattening the curve. It's downright embarrassing, I tell you!

I am losing hope. But don't y'all worry. Ya boy is still fine, but I can't help but feel tired and exasperated from all the things I hear from the news. This too shall pass.

Summer Solstice

Tomorrow marks the summer solstice at the northern hemisphere, the longest day of the year. However, this doesn't have drastic effects on countries located near the equator or just below the tropic of cancer. In Manila, where I'm currently residing, sunset is at around 6:40 PM, but in other countries, like Sweden and Canada, sunset time is at 10:45 PM and 9:01 PM respectively. It'd be cool to go out at 9 PM but the sun is still shining. The longest duration of the day that I've experienced was when I traveled to Melbourne last February. It was still mid-summer and the sun goes down before 9 PM. It was cool to experience though.

Tomorrow also marks my grandfather's birthday. He should've been 79 this year, but he died almost four years ago. I terribly miss him so much. But, I guess we had great memories together when he was still alive. At least I grew up with a grandfather figure behind me. We used to catch grasshoppers and ladybugs when I was three (I was really a nerd since I was young), fly a kite together, and he would never hesitate to give me piggyback rides, even if his neck and back hurt.

Anyway, still no news about resuming flights to Davao. I mean, flights have slowly resumed, but leisure travel is not yet allowed by the government. While other countries have started to recover, Philippines is still reeling with this global pandemic, and Cebu City is now the center of the pandemic. We are now close to 30,000 cases, 7,500 of which have recovered and over a thousand people have died as of this writing. This is frustrating. This government has been lenient ever since, and they just focused on draconian measures to curb the virus. Instead of implementing mass testing and early suspension of flights from China, they focused on community quarantine which is heavily guarded by military and police. This is disheartening. I'm out of words. It's taking a toll on me. 

This year has been tiring and frustrating as fuck. I am mad.

Can we just skip this year?

It's been four months since the last time I went home to Davao. Thank you, Rona, for ruining my travel plans this year. A few hours ago, I received an email from PAL, and my flight to Davao this July got canceled as well. Why am I not surprised? Ugh, this is my fourth time to rebook my flight with this airline. It shouldn't be a problem at all knowing we are still currently battling the global pandemic, but it's a pain in the ass whenever I rebook my flights with them. I had no choice but to call their customer service again. There's no way I could rebook my flight through their website. They're so proud of calling themselves the only 4-star airline in the Philippines. 4-star, my ass! I'll give you a rating of 4 out of 100 stars if you like!

Breathe in, breathe out. This year sucks. The economy is suffering. Everyone is suffering. The government has higher priorities than addressing the current situation of this pandemic. I am frustrated and disappointed. Everyone is! I am sick and tired of reading and watching the news. It's depressing, frankly speaking. But I find ways to keep myself – writing travel stories, reading Paul Theroux novels, and catching up with my favorite tv shows.

But I still hate 2020. I can't wait to wake up from this bad dream. This year is a fucking nightmare to begin with.