Charlie says

So, another friend is going abroad to explore new opportunities and adventures. Charlie is leaving the country to work overseas, and honestly, it's about time. I couldn't be happier for him.

Before his flight, we managed to meet one last time. It's kind of crazy because we've been through this before. Every time we get together, it's almost always the same. We talk about the same things, laugh at the same stories, catch up on life, and never run out of things to say.

This time wasn't any different.

We met up, had some coffee, and talked about the usual stuff that friends talk about. Work, life, plans, memories, and whatever random topic comes up in the moment.

Nothing extraordinary happened, but it's special. 

As I sat there listening to everyone, I realized how much I appreciate these moments. Life gets busy, people move away, priorities change, and before you know it, meeting as a complete group becomes harder and harder. That's why I treasure these simple gatherings.

And while I'm going to miss having Charlie around, I'm genuinely happy for him. He's taking a chance on something bigger, stepping into a new chapter of his life.

I hope he finds what he's looking for out there. New experiences, new opportunities, and maybe even a few adventures he'll tell us about when he comes home.

For now, we'll keep the coffee ready and save him a seat at the table.

//sebajisoka

went to caloocan gg

It was just a random Saturday.

We were at home watching a movie when suddenly my in-laws asked us to join them on a visit to a relative in Caloocan.

I don't usually write blogs about this kind of thing, but this one was crazy, at least for me.

We had absolutely no plans that day. One moment we were relaxing at home, and the next thing I knew, we were driving from the south all the way to the north. We spent more on toll fees than we normally would, burned through more gas than expected, prepared food for the trip, almost got lost a few times, and got stuck in some seriously crazy traffic.

Honestly, it was a mess. But it was the fun kind of mess. Jassiee and I were laughing the whole time. 

I guess this is what happens when you have a car. A simple Saturday can suddenly turn into an unexpected road trip.

What I remember most, though, wasn't the traffic, the toll fees, or even the long drive.

It was the moment we arrived.

After all the chaos, we were welcomed with a warm hug from the celebrant. You know those hugs that don't feel forced and you know that it's sincere. 

At that moment, all the stress from the trip disappeared.

//sebajisoka

Kean's Art Exhibit

One of the things I never expected as a first-time parent was how excited I would get over a school art exhibit.

When the school announced that they were having an Art Exhibit, Jassiee and I were already looking forward to it. We wanted to see Kean's artwork. Honestly, I was expecting cute drawings and a little bit of messiness. 

When we arrived, the school looked completely different.

The usual classrooms and hallway were transformed into a gallery filled with artwork made by the kids. Everywhere we looked, there were paintings, drawings, and crafts. It was amazing to see how much effort the teachers and the school put into setting everything up.

As we walked around, I noticed something even more beautiful than the artwork itself. Kean was so happy and I can see that he's proud of his work and admiring others' work at the same time. 

His eyes lit up the moment he entered. He immediately grabbed our hands and started pulling us to show us the artworks. He couldn't stay in one place. He was running around, pointing at different works and finding his own.

Seeing his excitement was my favorite part of the exhibit.

Of course, I smiled when I saw his artwork. As parents, we spend so much time teaching our kid different things. We guide them, correct them, and help them learn. 

But things like this made me tear up a bit, my kid is growing into his own person. He has his own idea (He always say I have an idea when he's about to do something out of what he is currently doing). We noticed that he has his own creativity already when he is playing.

We were just expecting some artworks made by my kid, but amazingly enough, the art that was showcased is Kean's reaction to his work, that face he made showing how proud he was in creating them. 

That's the art exhibit that I saw through. 

//sebajisoka

Mother’s Day Celebration in Nuvali

For Mother’s Day, we celebrated in Nuvali. Just a simple family day.

We ate at The Shrimp Bucket, walked around, and did a little shopping afterward. The kind of slow day.

We were actually hoping to bring Kean to the fish feeding area because we knew he would enjoy it, but apparently, it was closed for renovation. Honestly, that was a bit disappointing.

So, we just stayed outside and had a picnic instead. And somehow, that turned out better. No pressure. No rushing. Just sitting outside together, while Kean played around nearby.

Sometimes good food, small conversations, and simply being together are already enough.

//sebajisoka

Zambales – Jassie’s Team Building

We went to Zambales for Jassie’s team building.

At first, I honestly thought I’d mostly just stay in the background during the trip, and that’s pretty much what happened. While Jassie spent time bonding with her teammates, I was mainly assigned to full-time dad duties with Kean.

And honestly, I didn’t mind.

Her teammates were warm, welcoming, and easy to be around. The drive there, however, was not as smooth as I had hoped.

Somewhere along the way, I received my very first traffic violation ticket. Apparently, I missed or ignored a traffic sign.

Five hundred pesos gone. One violation ticket. And my clean driving record was no longer clean. Honestly, it annoyed me more than it should have. Seeing that ticket felt like one of those moments that quietly ruins your mood.

Another thing is, I was worried about Yeng's concert ticket. It was sold out when we arrived in Zambales. I can't book because I'm driving. But amazingly enough, I found a vacant ticket after a few refreshes and bought it immediately. 

At night, before sleeping, we had a simple question-and-answer session with the whole team. 

I enjoyed that part more than I expected.

Sometimes people become more real when they’re away from office walls.

The next day, we packed up and headed home.

//sebajisoka