Hey guys, happy New Year! I know this greeting might be a bit late since January has come to an end, but nevertheless, I still want to wish you all a happy New Year. A lot of things have been going on around the world recently, but I hope 2026 has been good to all of you so far. It’s normal to encounter a few bumps here and there, but I truly hope you’re all doing well and feeling good in general.

Anyway, I haven’t really gone through or posted anything yet for this year. I was actually already working on a couple of draft blog posts; one about one of my travels last year, and another about my favorite wellness products that I’ve been using for many years now. However, for this blog post, I want to start the year with something we can all reflect on, if you choose to read it. So this one is going to be about the ins and outs for 2026.

Some of you might have already seen influencers making TikToks or reels about this concept. The idea of listing your ins and outs for the year has been going around, and I find it really meaningful. That’s why I decided to turn it into a blog post.

Looking back and really thinking about it, I believe this is something we can truly work on. It’s a good way for us to reflect on what we want to continue, what we want to improve, and what we want to remove from our lives this year so we can grow and live better.

So first, I’d like to start with the ins.

Ins for 2026:

ദ്ദി( °ᗜᵔ) ✅✨Praying

I love praying. It puts my mind at ease and draws me closer to God. I haven't been "in touch" with God for quite some time, and since last year, I have wanted to make an effort to know Him more and have a good relationship with God. There are times when I feel down and lost, but I know I can always find my way back when I pray to God.

ദ്ദി( °ᗜᵔ) ✅✨Going to church and attending mass every Sunday

Going to church and being in a state of grace are among my goals for this year. Learning more about God and His wonders, I want to hear His word and make it a point to set aside time to glorify Him.

ദ്ദി( °ᗜᵔ) ✅✨Reading books

I've always believed that we learn more by reading more. There are many ways to learn these days, especially with the power of technology, but there's no denying the power of reading. Whether you are reading fiction or non-fiction, books have the power to enrich our minds and make us better people. It's crazy how some people think reading books these days is something performative. Regardless, reading is always a good deed. Also, I am trying to read at least 10 books this year. Wish me luck!

ദ്ദി( °ᗜᵔ) ✅✨Listening to music; discovering new songs and exploring different genres

I used to stick to musical genres that I felt comfortable listening to. Recently, I've been listening to random songs on Spotify and have discovered so much good music. I think it's always a matter of opening our minds to new things, like new music, that opens more doors for us to appreciate life a little bit more.

ദ്ദി( °ᗜᵔ) ✅✨Staying in touch with our friends

Most of the time, I am a lone wolf. I'm not a social butterfly at all, but for some reason, I always find friends wherever I go. Friendship is a wonderful gift, and our friends are blessings in our lives. Recently, I've been getting in touch with my friends—both old and new—and it always feels good to spend time with them and know that even when time passes, and everyone gets busy, you always have people you can count on apart from your family.

ദ്ദി( °ᗜᵔ) ✅✨Keeping our mental health in check

Our mental health is as important as our physical and emotional health. I've learned that even the strongest and wisest people also struggle mentally. It's normal to feel down sometimes, but we have to be aware when we need help and understand that it's nothing to be ashamed of. Every day, we are bombarded with things that can make us think negatively, but we are also surrounded by good things. I want to develop the skill of looking at things positively, especially when they don’t go the way I planned. I also want to encourage everyone to keep their loved ones' mental health in check. You never know what someone else is going through. Let’s all be kind to strangers as well.

ദ്ദി( °ᗜᵔ) ✅✨Exercising

I'm a heavy girl, and I know that it's healthier to have a normal weight. This is a long-term goal that I want to achieve by adding healthy habits to my daily life, such as eating healthier and moving more. I've been hiking and running these days as my form of exercise. I love these two because they are simple, achievable, and don’t require any equipment. Plus, they are free, and both allow me to see new places and breathe fresh air.

ദ്ദി( °ᗜᵔ) ✅✨Saving; building a stable and healthy savings account

Shopping feels good—let's admit it—but we have to know our limitations. I don't consider myself a huge spender, but I know I have to set aside a reasonable amount for my savings. We don't know when rainy days will come, so a stable and healthy savings account will help us navigate our lives and finances better.

ദ്ദി( °ᗜᵔ) ✅✨Preparing emergency kits and mini food banks at home.

Last year, the Philippines was hit by natural disasters. It was disheartening to witness others struggle and lose much of what they had invested in, whether material or not. It is never easy to experience loss in any form. I've been thinking deeply about this ever since the COVID-19 pandemic—that emergency kits and food banks are necessary. I'm not talking about what the government can provide, but about what we have to prepare within ourselves and with our families. These are practical and necessary, especially for those of us living in the Philippines, where tropical depressions are common.

ദ്ദി( °ᗜᵔ) ✅✨Staying hydrated

When was the last time you drank water? Pause reading for a moment and have a sip. I don't really have to say this because I think we all know how vital water is for our bodies. However, it's crazy how many of us neglect drinking enough water to stay hydrated and keep our bodies functioning properly. Never underestimate the value of drinking water, and don't forget to remind yourself and those around you to stay hydrated.

ദ്ദി( °ᗜᵔ) ✅✨Being grateful

Lastly, I want to cultivate an attitude of gratitude. I can be pessimistic sometimes, and during those times, I anchor myself in the blessings I've received and in what went right, no matter how small it may be. It's easy to get lost in negativity, but I know that when we learn to step back and appreciate the simple things that make our day—be it our job or the mere fact that we are alive and moving—things are bound to get better.

Now, moving on to the outs for 2026.

(ᗒᗣᗕ)՞ 👎Arguments

Arguments can be healthy if they’re handled properly. Sometimes they’re necessary so we can communicate our frustrations, but they should always end in a constructive and respectful way. What I want out of this year are explosive and unhealthy arguments, because I don’t think those do any good. It’s damaging for both sides of those who are arguing. People who are fighting with someone tend to have a negative outlook and often have trouble sleeping. We don’t want that. I don’t like seeing people arguing and don’t want to get involved in arguments. To be honest, I don’t like being angry. I still get angry—it’s a normal emotion—but I keep in mind to try not to dwell on it and do my best to brush it off and focus on other things instead.

(ᗒᗣᗕ)՞ 👎Occult practices

This includes anything related to New Age practices, Wicca, and similar things. I’m not particularly comfortable with them, and I don’t believe these are godly, so they are definitely out for me this year. I did read some astrology stuff before and have tried tarot reading for fun, but now that I know these things are against God, I’d rather pray and do something else that pleases our Creator.

(ᗒᗣᗕ)՞ 👎Extravagance

We need to practice frugality and learn how to maximize our income—whether we’re earning six digits or five. Building good savings is important. Here in Cebu City, we went through a lot last year—typhoons and other challenges—so having a stable savings account really matters.

(ᗒᗣᗕ)՞ 👎Too much sugar

Once again, all of this comes back to our health, because health truly is everything. Let’s try to be more mindful and intentional with the choices we make. I no longer put sugar in my coffee or drink soda. I’m also trying my best to eat fewer sweets and carbs, because those two turn into sugar, and having too much sugar in our bodies can make us sick. Actually, anything too much is not good, but you know what I mean. lol

(ᗒᗣᗕ)՞ 👎Unhealthy Connections 

Last thing on my outs this year is unhealthy connections, which include toxic relationships. I think that at some point, when something brings us more chaos than peace, we have to let it go. Not because we hold grudges, but because it’s our responsibility to keep ourselves sane. I want to let go of anything that brings more confusion than clarity, and anything that breaks my boundaries. I want to make an effort to become a better person, and I know that one way for me to achieve this is to build genuine connections with others, be it with friends or with potential lovers. It’s true what they say—if it costs your peace, it ain’t worth it. In this pragmatic world, I know that deep inside all of us, we all crave authentic and loving connections, which are more valuable than gold. I’d rather be alone or be with a few real ones than be with someone unsure or just up for games.

That’s it for now for my ins and outs of this year. I want this year to be intentional and grounded with purpose. We all have one life, and our lives are all precious. Also, I’ll try my best to keep blogging here. I write for a living now, and it’s kind of challenging sometimes to find time to write outside of work, but this is good. I love blogging. I love connecting with myself and with others. I’d love to hear your thoughts, too. I know you can’t leave comments here since I’ve turned off the comment section; I just got too tired of filtering out spam. lol But you can always email me and stay connected with me via Instagram, where I’m very much active.

love lots, 

Tin

Hey guys!

I hope you’re doing well. Life has been well with me lately, and I had the chance to travel solo once again. Due to a past traumatic experience concerning traveling alone, I put off my solo traveling goals. I’m grateful to God for all the blessings that He has bestowed upon me, allowing me to travel while working these days. My supposed weekend trip to Luzon turned into a whole week due to an unexpected turn of events. Yet, I chose to dance with the rain and explore new places. That means romanticizing every little thing I had and every moment I've experienced.

I used to wait for the right time to do the things I love and see the places I long to go. But then, I realized life is meant to be lived and enjoyed, whether we get it all figured out or not. Unexpected detours aren't always a bad thing; sometimes, they lead to the best decisions and lessons we can ever have. After staying in Manila, I actually headed straight to Baguio City, another city in the north that I've fallen in love with, but that's for another blog post to be written. Here, relive with me the highlights of my brief affair in Manila that made my heart flutter!

🎵 SB19 Simula at Wakas Concert

On May 30th, I went to Manila to attend Day 1 of the Simula at Wakas Concert of SB19. If you’re not familiar with them, SB19 is hailed as the Philippine Pop Kings due to their massive popularity and the inspiration they brought to the country’s pop music industry. The concert was held on May 31st at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan. I’ve attended the group’s WYAT concert in Cebu, but I know it will take some time for them to perform back in my hometown since they’ll be occupied with their world tour this year. Hence, I took an executive decision to attend their #SaWWorldTour concert.

It's always a bliss seeing the boys perform. I had a blast dancing and singing with other fans. The vibe is just so good, and the energy is just so positive. I'm also happy for the boys and their success, and it's great to know that they keep being humble despite their massive popularity. I wish them the best, and hopefully, I get to attend their concert again.

🏛️✨🎨🖼️ Intramuros Day Tour

Initially, I thought of staying somewhere in Bulacan, but my friend Shon advised me to book a hotel in Manila instead for easy access and for me to check out the metropolis with ease. Shon has been living in Manila for years, so he knows the place better than I do. True to his advice, I had an easier time navigating the city after the concert. I stayed in a business hotel on EDSA, where I got to hail rides with no worries. There’s so much to explore in Manila, but being there, I had my eye on one place—that’s Intramuros, which is a historic walled area within Manila.

The photos above were taken outside the iconic San Agustin Church, which was massive! I wanted to explore the church and take photos inside it, but a mass was ongoing while I was on tour. I didn't want to disrespect the church and the churchgoers, so San Agustin is still on my list of places to visit in Manila. Keeping Manila on my travel list for 2026 btw!

If you're wondering who's the guy in the photo, that would be kuya pedicab driver, who also served as my tour guide. I wasn't able to take his name. 😅 My bad! I was just calling him kuya the whole time, which means older brother in our language. Kuya is a pedicab driver who grew up in Intramuros. While I was strolling around the walled city, he asked if I wanted to avail his day tour, which means I’d get to go around the city through his pedicab. I couldn't say no because Intramuros is massive! My feet were already aching after walking around for a couple of hours. A pedicab is like Thailand's tuk-tuk. He would also serve as my tour guide. All that for only 500 PHP, which is more or less 5 USD.

While on tour, it was refreshing to listen to kuya's story. Growing up in the impoverished area of Intramuros, he had been exposed to various challenges, including crime, drugs, and food insecurity. He also confessed to not being able to go to school. If I remember it clearly, he only studied until the third grade. They were so poor that his parents had to prioritize their food and leave their education behind.

While we were roaming around, I saw a sorbetero (ice cream vendor) selling sorbetes, that colorful “dirty ice cream” being sold on the street. Nah, they are not literally dirty. It's just how they are called since the ice cream vendors sell them on different streets with their bells, signaling potential customers that they are around with their sweet goods. I had the regular ice cream in a sweet cone, while I got kuya tour guide what Manileños call ice cream bread, which is a soft bread with ice cream as its filling.

My tour with kuya tour guide came to an end at the bazaar overlooking the newly renovated Binondo-Intramuros Bridge, another icon that made my heart flutter. I felt so happy just roaming around the bazaar, checking out what the locals offered, and admiring the concrete jungle that Manila is. It ain't the ideal sight for most, but I believe beauty exists everywhere.

Intramuros is colorful, historical, and magical—at least that's what it seems to me, a Cebuana who appreciates beauty and history. I can't wait to be back! If you are someone who's traveling to Manila soon, make sure to add the walled city to your list.

🌃𓍙.ೃ࿔*:･ City Night Stroll + LRT Ride

The sky was salmon and lilac when my day tour in Intramuros came to an end. Kuya dropped me off in a bazaar near the Binondo-Manila Bridge. It was a laid-back and wondrous place to have a food trip. Barbecue stalls, fruit juice stands, and various quick meal stores dominated the bazaar. It was perfect for families to spend time in, and it's lovely seeing children roaming around, playing, just being kids. What a sight—to see them not in front of mobile phones and iPads, right?

I was getting hungry and wanted to have a worthwhile dinner. Something warm, delicious, and ideally only in Manila came to mind. Shon suggested going around Bonifacio Global City (BGC), where fabulous restos sprout like mushrooms. It's the perfect place in the Metropolis to grab something to eat, shop, and have some coffee.

The bright lights in BGC and the vibrant energy from people, both young and old, are fascinating. No wonder people love to go there to hang out.

🍣🍱🥢🥢♡ ˏˋ☕ˎˊ˗  MNL Food Trip 

I went to Mary Grace Cafe to have my dinner. It was this cozy, family-owned cafe that was popular due to its delicious meals. Mary Grace is Manila-based, so I had to try their infamous meals, including their cheese roll and ensaymada.

I had one of their Perfect Plates options, which includes their house salad, fresh tomato and herb pasta, garlic bread, grilled chicken, and their dessert for the day, which was their luxurious mocha cake. I also ordered their ensaymada and cheese roll, which I had them prepare for to-go. Instead of coffee, I had their decadent traditional tsokolate (chocolate drink made of Philippine chocolate). Everything is so good and exceeds my expectations! No wonder Mary Grace is a beloved Filipino restaurant among many. I can't wait to visit them again when I'm back in MNL. 

Traveling anywhere ain't complete without good food, right? I know you would agree with me. There's something joyful in trying out local favorites and checking out what's in store in restaurants. I was in Gateway Mall to grab some lunch and found Hokkaido Ramen Santouka, a Japanese restaurant. The place is 10/10, the service is great, and most of all, the food is so delicious! I can't get enough of the food I had. Although we have good Japanese restaurants here in Cebu, I still think what Santouka offers is way better.

I had their Shoyu Ramen—my favorite type of ramen—their bestselling maki roll, and pork tonkatsu. These are common Japanese foods and some of my personal favorites. They also gave me the proper tools to do a yabu ritual (a process in preparing your katsu sauce) right at my table. Let's just say my lunch was a blast, and I went back to my condo with a full stomach! I sincerely hope they will open a branch here in Cebu, knowing that they have branches all over the world.

While roaming around Gateway, I also felt like having coffee. Just a coffee girl looking for coffee! Haha. The usual coffee shops like Starbucks and Bo's are within reach, but I wanted to try something different. I spotted Cong Caphe, a cafe that specializes in Vietnamese coffee, and I just had to grab a drink from them. It helped that their place is Instagram-friendly, giving it a cool vibe unique for a cafe.

 

*Note: I wrote this blog in December 2024. I haven't shared this yet, but I think this would be a great introduction before I share what my goals are for 2025. 

Current Work ✍🏻📖

New Platform 🌸🏵️🌺

Goals, Failures, and Future Plans 🌱✨

Heartbreak - Moving On *deeper sighs* ❤️

The older I get, the more I realize that less is more in all facets of life. Growing up, like most teens, I faced the pressure of who had the most friends and the best clothes. As the years went on, I quickly came to realize none of that mattered. At this stage in my life, I realize it’s quality over quantity, and I’ve been happier than ever since I started living by that mantra. Although I have not integrated it in all aspects of my life, I am proud of the baby steps and small wins that I have accomplished. 

I am not saying that I will completely avoid trendy items.However, I am aware that curating a closet full of timeless pieces that inspire me to be my best self is both significant and beneficial to me. Ahead are the pieces that I'll wear more as I enter a new decade of myself real soon. 

1. Blazer

A quality blazer is truly the only option. A layer over any outfit makes it feel finished. It's one of the things I reach for most frequently year after year. Blazers are among the best items to invest in for quality, and these are some of the best. 

 2. Loafers

Although loafers have always been fashionable, the environment in which they are worn varies frequently. The traditional black leather loafer, which is no longer a work shoe, can be worn just as much as a traditional pair of black Converse. Really, they are that adaptable. 

Loafers are chic, cool basic shoes that will never leave style. Due to their timeless element, I try to buy a pair with the intention of them being one of my most worn shoes. This means they need to be basic enough to make sure they are not trendy. Yet they ought to be cool enough to raise my clothes. 

3. Tote Bag

Tote bags are not only easy to style, but they’re practical for everyday wear and can fit all of your necessities. An everyday tote is a must-have accessory for anyone in their 30s who works from home or commutes to work every day.You can use your tote from the gym to dinner with friends every day if you pack it with your planner, a water bottle, or anything else you might need.

4. Black Dress

A decent black dress can take you from the office to the office party, from client meetings to cocktails and the boardroom to the ball. Or just to dinner on a date! What used to symbolize mourning, is now an ageless, classless, and timeless item of clothing. If you want to look sexy, laidback, chic, classy, or all of these, you'll have it with your black dress. In my case, I wouldn't choose something so little or too lengthy. Something that hits a little above the knee and would accentuate my curves in the right places would be best for my wardrobe. 

5. Denim Jeans

A good pair of jeans with a relaxed, vintage feel can do anything, and these are the most adaptable type of denim.Finding a pair that fits you well, won't stretch out during the day, and you enjoy putting on is worth the effort.