2023-05-24 11:40
As a child, our world is very small, and our joys simple, pure, and
innocent. We live mostly by the day, not really concerned about plans
and mostly ignorant of future complexities… Read More
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Adventures Of The Coconuter :: A Modern Nomad's Tr Blog
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2023-05-17 06:00
Simon and I ventured out again. We wanted to explore outside of Manila,
but it was already too late in the day, so we just chose a random spot
on the map that was near the coast (Tan… Read More
2023-05-07 12:48
Apparently, I was informed life has become too comfortable for some that
it has become boring to take care of responsibility. This to me, seems
very childish or immature. I was… Read More
2023-04-18 01:26
Dingalan has somehow cast a spell on me. The brightness, the
positivity, the paradise -- have somehow enchanted my soul. But the
problem is, it has caused a glitch in my mind, and has no… Read More
2023-04-04 13:15
I am having a bit of withdrawal symptoms from my recent escapade. It
seems my mind and body is still hanging onto that carefree feeling of
not being tied down to work (which I have b… Read More
2023-02-02 05:49
I've been doing some long-distance biking again to nearby provinces (Rizal, Pampanga, Cavite). I also climbed a mountain recently (Mt. Arayat), as I wanted to see if my body could stil… Read More
2022-08-21 21:41
Stabs in the back are painful, and even more, disheartening or even devastating when it is someone you trust who starts to connive with others, against you or for your demise. A mere i… Read More
2022-02-05 01:26
I am not enchanted by money, the famous, or big names. Neither filthy rich billionaires, powerful politicians, nor glamorous stars leave me in awe. Nothing does. If you kno… Read More
2021-06-06 03:13
Sunday, June 6, 2021I sometimes lie awake in bed, having a hard time sleeping. Eyes closed, but thoughts run through my mind, segments of my life flashing before my eyes. From va… Read More
2021-01-15 23:40
Saturday, January 16, 2021I should have been getting some rest, with never-ending work to do. But for some reason, I had the yearn to take an aimless walk, something I had not done in… Read More
2020-09-18 03:09
Friday, September 18, 2020
Stress has been getting the better of me lately. It preoccupies my mind, day and night, even while I work. And when I am able to sleep, it sometimes in… Read More
2020-09-07 22:06
Tuesday, September 8, 2020
Some have asked whether I am still alive. Yes, I am. I have just been trying to focus as I deal with things, and I tend to stay quiet and try to manage… Read More
2019-11-13 08:34
Wednesday, November 13, 2019
I wake up, back in this dreary world. The curtains shut, with only faint light coming in; I can't tell if it's still day or night now, but there is no rea… Read More
2019-11-03 11:46
Sunday, November 3, 2019
This illness is passing, but it has left me lethargic, nauseated, and devoid of all energy. It seems to have sucked out the motivation, appetite, and pleasant… Read More
2019-10-29 23:21
Wednesday, October 30, 2019
Almost a week now, and I'm still not feeling well. I'm losing a bit of weight, as I have not been able to eat much, since there is no one around. W… Read More
2019-10-27 04:49
Sunday, October 27, 2019
There is no one around, and I have been sick for three days straight and counting, with fever that has not yet gone back to normal temperature, bone/joint pains, ac… Read More
2019-10-15 04:23
Tuesday, October 15, 2019
Try as I may, I am having a hard time focusing these days (months, actually... almost half a year now, and it just keeps twisting and piling up). There is a… Read More
2019-08-30 12:56
Friday, August 30, 2019
I have not been feeling my best and luck has not been going my way, but my mind is still fairly intact and my body is somehow still holding up -- enough so that I ha… Read More
2019-06-30 11:09
Sunday, June 30, 2019
I have not been feeling well lately. My eating has not been substantial for the past few days, and sleep has not been restful. I have a pounding headache… Read More
2019-04-24 02:11
Wednesday, April 24, 2019
I've had a string of bad luck lately that have gotten me feeling down. But interestingly, earthquakes struck the past couple of days, and they have given me… Read More
2019-04-14 16:18
Sunday, April 14, 2019
I went out on a past-midnight walk/run, wanting to break a sweat and shake off this deep cough. The night's solitude and the fever were temporarily therapeutic… Read More
2019-02-20 22:17
Thursday, February 21, 2019
Well, it's been a while. Thank you to all who remembered me and greeted me a happy birthday last month, as well as to those who have sent messages regardin… Read More
2018-07-05 10:29
Thursday, July 5, 2018
I wrote an article a few years back, entitled "The Wind and the Fire". I spoke metaphorically about an inspirational time in my life. I was the fire. &hell…Read More
2018-06-14 04:20
Thursday, June 14, 2018
Wave after wave, the rains slam down. There are times, where you believe clear skies are finally ahead, only to be shocked that you were dead wrong. In f… Read More
2018-06-14 04:20
Thursday, June 14, 2018
This post has a melancholy feel to it, for me. Particularly because my grandmother has memories living and working at this place. And today it is like a… Read More
2018-05-31 18:40
Friday, June 1, 2018
A few weeks ago, I met this Aeta in Subic. We made a fire together using just bamboo. He may look silly in this photo, but he has a lot of admirable traits… Read More
2018-05-22 20:12
Wednesday, May 23, 2018
(Tagalog and English versions below)
May gusto ako sabihin na makasakaling makatulong sa iba. Lahat tayo ay merong mga kahinaan, at alam ko yung sa akin.&nbs&hell…Read More
2018-05-20 19:05
Monday, May 21, 2018
Hindi ako ganung kasamang tao para marapat ang lahat ng sakit, paghihirap, kalupitan, at walang pusong pagtatrato. Umiiyak at sumisigaw ako, nagmamakaawa at hu… Read More
2018-05-03 19:50
Friday, May 4, 2018
Apart from touring the dump site, the walk I took on this day was a pleasant one. This was in the middle of the rainy season, and it had just rained a couple of hou… Read More
2018-05-03 19:50
Friday, May 4, 2018
Simon's sister had passed away, and so Simon, Hope (Simon's daughter), and I visited the Dangwa fresh flower market to purchase some flowers for the funeral at Ilocos No… Read More
2018-04-18 15:18
Wednesday, April 18, 2018
It's funny how years ago I had so little money, but so much time to myself. And now, I find myself close to the other end of the spectrum, where I am doing b… Read More
2018-04-18 15:17
Wednesday, April 18, 2018
I still remember the night this happened. I never thought it could happen and never experienced something like this, so it was completely unanticipated.
It… Read More
2018-04-18 15:17
Wednesday, April 18, 2018
For those who have been readers of the blog since close to the beginning, you may recall my good friend Simon. Well, I am proud to say that he now runs a flo… Read More
2018-04-18 15:16
Wednesday, April 18, 2018
Despite the mishap regarding the theft, these were still some relatively good times. I was enjoying myself, despite the circumstances. The environment… Read More
2018-04-18 15:16
Wednesday, April 18, 2018
I was quite fortunate to have gotten my digital camera back, and only in a matter of days. But I was even more fortunate that I was not harmed during the the… Read More
2018-04-18 15:16
Wednesday, April 18, 2018
As you read through some of my posts, you will notice that I sometimes
inject commentary regarding health. I am still health-conscious today,
and it's been… Read More
2018-03-27 22:14
Wednesday, March 28, 2018
It seems that the older I get, the more complicated things become, and the uglier I see the world to be. Even if one tries to do good, many times it is for n… Read More
2018-03-27 22:14
Wednesday, March 28, 2018
I remember the talahib weeds quite well. I've gotten cut by their sharp blades many times during mountain climbs, which is why I've learned to wear pants whe… Read More
2018-03-27 22:14
Wednesday, March 28, 2018
For the most part, I still do largely agree with what I wrote here. However, it was a bit simplified, which I'm sure I meant to do at the time. But hea… Read More
2018-03-27 22:14
Wednesday, March 28, 2018
This trip was very spur of the moment. I tended to be very spontaneous back then, and it usually did not pay off well for me, especially regarding decisions… Read More
2018-03-27 22:13
Wednesday, March 28, 2018
One thing I noticed about myself -- I seem to value or hang onto the past, and sometimes a bit too much, to the point that it detrimentally affects me. There… Read More
2018-03-27 22:13
Wednesday, March 28, 2018
This is how quite a few posts came about. Because I was usually low on money, basically, I would just walk in the nearby areas, and observe the life and goin… Read More
2018-03-16 04:29
Friday, March 16, 2018
This picture might be the most iconic from the saga thus far (based on publications' selections). It was the one chosen as the main photograph when the Coconute… Read More
2018-03-16 03:44
Friday, March 16, 2018
I remember the hunger during these times quite well. Sometimes I would only eat once a day, with the meal being only beans and rice or just some bread/pandesal… Read More
2018-03-16 03:44
Friday, March 16, 2018
There were some onlookers who frowned upon this at the time, because I did this not for penitence, but for experiential reasons and also socialization--to participate… Read More
2018-03-16 03:44
Friday, March 16, 2018
Roaming in the countryside, climbing things... I was definitely doing some catching up with my boyish/childlike desires. Perhaps it was a reunion of spirit betw… Read More
2018-03-16 03:44
Friday, March 16, 2018
We are all in a jungle, a deceptive and ruthless environment where most are out to get you and only a rare few actually care. There's a constant struggle for po… Read More
2018-02-24 18:51
Sunday, February 25, 2018
The last couple of days, I've noticed it to be sunnier and hotter, so I've been getting some midday sun, even for just a few minutes, especially when I am feeling… Read More
2018-02-23 21:34
Saturday, February 24, 2018
Typically hidden in the rough, you may find me lurking along the streets, creeping in murky waters, and prowling in the jungle. Often subdued, and confined… Read More
2018-02-23 21:18
Saturday, February 24, 2018
I am enjoying reading these old posts and seeing how my writing style was early on. It seemed simpler and carefree, releasing whatever came into mind, and… Read More
2018-02-23 20:22
Saturday, February 24, 2018
I remember the simple meals, and I grew to become satisfied with them, and even finding them comforting as time went on, as I still do today. I would even… Read More
2018-02-23 20:22
Saturday, February 24, 2018
Looking back, life in the rural province was still not bad during this time period. The rampant theft, corruption, pollution, disease, mishaps, cultural an… Read More
2018-02-23 20:21
Saturday, February 24, 2018
The greenery and simple bamboo homes and fences you see in the pictures are no more. The last time I visited the area, it was already quite developed, and… Read More
2018-02-09 23:05
There are some bonds formed early in life, if strong and meaningful enough, will hold despite distance, absence, and time. It was that way for my cousin Kuya BJ (Billy Joel Marang) and… Read More
2018-02-09 22:40
Friday, February 9, 2018
Reading this article, I smile a bit about how I used to be very candid about my observations and opinions, as well as how I inserted interjections in my writing and… Read More
2018-02-05 21:34
Monday, February 5, 2018
Blogging was still in its infancy back then, so I don't recall many other blogs during the time when I started blogging. Social media was nothing like it is t… Read More
2018-02-05 21:34
Monday, February 5, 2018
Coincidentally, I am writing this during the same month as when it all began. Hard to believe though that more than a decade has passed, but it really doesn't… Read More
2018-02-05 08:30
My birthdays are usually quiet. I typically don't do anything special, and I'm not really materialistic. The same goes for other holidays. I treat them more or less like any othe… Read More
2018-01-28 12:04
I'm not exactly sure why I am reviving this blog. I abandoned it a few years ago, since I was physically eroding. Moreover, it never earned me much money anyways (hardly any at a… Read More
2016-03-19 18:53
Reminiscing of childhood memories, I can only recall frames and fragments of a buoyant hue. Such moments in time have been ingrained in such a manner, that when I remember them, I feel happ… Read More
2016-03-19 18:53
31,350 square meters, with more than 200 meters being a white sand beachfront, located on East Bucas Grande Island, in the municipality of Socorro and province of Surigao del Norte, Philippi… Read More
2016-03-19 18:53
The system is cut-throat. The natural world is gone. Pitted in an arena, the rooster with only his spurs will lose to the other equipped with the blade. In most circumstances, a strong bo… Read More
2016-03-19 18:53
I have been becoming quite familiar with Santa Mesa (a district of Manila) lately and am now finding my way around with little difficulty. Walking to different parts has allowed me to creat… Read More
2013-06-17 13:42
Equipped with additional information and with city offices resuming work, the search for Mr. Cloyde W. Williams continued. I learned that he was a US Infantry Volunteer (34th Regiment), who… Read More
2013-06-15 14:37
Interestingly, a couple of days ago, I got my first Manila Gofer project (I had created Manila Gofer a few years ago), which is essentially equivalent to my Book Me service. Just as intrigu… Read More
2013-02-26 02:51
The last few days have been volatile. Sun and rain have alternated, almost in tune with the battle between turmoil and peace in my life. I've realized that as one gets older, he becomes fr… Read More
2013-02-26 02:51
Do you know where you're going to? I asked myself this, and I honestly did not know the answer. My life has veered in several different directions over the years. There is a side to me t… Read More
2013-02-19 14:01
Well I'm here, so we might as well get things started. Every time I arrive in the Philippines, I undergo a re-baptismal of sorts. Today, I decided to scout my current area -- by foot, as I… Read More
2013-02-02 21:20
I just wanted to announce that I will be returning to the Philippines by the beginning of March of this year (2013). So stay tuned Read More
2013-02-02 21:19
I must admit, I didn't think I could do it again -- return with the same vigor and bold outlook -- as I have done before. The past few years have eroded me, where old ailments returned and… Read More
2012-09-30 23:59
I had a chance to work on a short Coconuter clip/plug this weekend that was to be aired in a segment on national Philippine television. The plug didn't push through (due to music copyright… Read More
2012-08-25 01:37
I am unraveling and feel as if I am losing my self -- or rather, understanding myself? My resoluteness to progress with a modern life in the United States and embrace all the trappings that… Read More
2012-07-29 21:39
As I have mentioned in the past, some friends and I have been working on a new startup idea -- PayGuard. Slowly, this seed of ours has been taking shape, but we still need some help to get… Read More
2012-06-30 15:46
It’s Summer time again.
My shadow tells me so.
Another season; another cycle.
To work I go.
I take a familiar path through the woods.
It is a path I know so well, that I could t… Read More
2012-06-23 19:07
Sometimes we find ourselves at a standstill, thinking about our next move or dreaming about an ideal one, but really not knowing where life will lead us next. And then we are set in motion… Read More
2012-06-23 17:23
I am pleased to announce that Simon has opened a local flower shop in Solsona, Ilocos Norte. It is his first business, but he is hopeful that it will prove profitable. Simon has named his… Read More
2012-06-11 20:55
The boxing world is in outrage due to the unbelievable scores made by the judges in the Pacquiao-Bradley fight. It will go down as one of the most controversial decisions in boxing his… Read More
2012-03-15 00:12
Summer is just right around the corner, and that means vacation travel will be peaking once again. Though we certainly hope for a safe and enjoyable time, that is not always the case. So m… Read More
2012-03-14 23:02
"President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo is considered the most corrupt Philippine leader in history, more than Ferdinand Marcos and Joseph Estrada, who were ousted from office..."
The poll by Pu… Read More
2011-12-10 01:32
I am all for the preservation of culture and am a strong advocate of creating awareness about the indigenous plight—after all, the Philippines was theirs to begin with! They are the t… Read More
2011-12-07 02:58
The Occupy Wall Street protests are spreading. Even developing countries such as the Philippines are joining in. I first heard of the Philippine segment of the Occupy Movement a couple mon… Read More
2011-12-03 20:14
Talangka at suka is what I would typically eat after an evening of pag-susudsod or sweeping the ocean floor, because that's essentially the bulk of what I would catch -- small crabs. These… Read More
2011-12-03 20:14
Sometimes I come across a lost paradise that disrupts my thinking. Cabongaoan was one of those places. I thought I knew what I've seen and considered to be special; yet, somewhere along th… Read More
2011-12-03 20:14
I had not heard of the Tasaday people until a couple of months ago, which is surprising given they are actually an indigenous tribe of the Philippines (in Mindanao) and given their interesti… Read More
2011-09-04 01:17
Simon and his relatives visit Baguio City! As you can tell, Simon does quite a bit of traveling these days. He's currently pretty much free to do whatever he likes. Given the liberty, we… Read More
2008-05-12 13:50
Our Philippine Army friend (Simon) came over again to Subic to celebrate almost a year's long worth of friendship. And what better way to commemorate the time, we thought, but to climb anot… Read More
2008-05-10 04:21
Geography
Major islands are Luzon in the north and Mindanao in the south. In between lies the Visayan Island group, while Palawan is the largest island to the west. Metro Manila is the capi… Read More
2008-05-10 04:20
I. The Philippine Flag
Our flag had interesting origin. It was during the time when General Aguinaldo was an exile in Honkong that he suggested to Mrs. Marcela Agoncillo that she design a f… Read More
2008-05-10 04:20
Most Filipinos are a combination of Malay, Chinese, Negrito (native Filipino), and Spanish blood, but may also have a mix of Japanese and American. The racial mix originated from eras of dif… Read More
2008-05-10 04:20
Fossil remains of long-extinct mammals, like the elephants, and a species of the rhinoceros, along with man-made stone tools found in Salona, Cagayan attest to the fact that man had settled… Read More
2008-05-10 04:20
God has blessed our country with so many beautiful things that she has been called “Pearl of the Orient.” Her golden sunrise and beautiful sunset are a joy to behold.
The blue s… Read More
2008-05-10 04:19
Shopping
Visitors to the Philippines can spend up to US$1,000duty free within 48 hours of arrival. There are duty free outlets at Special Economic Zones at Clark and Subic. The gateway citi… Read More
2008-05-10 04:19
A. Education
There was education in the Philippines in ancient times. The children were taught by their parents or by the old men of the barangay. The subjects taught were reading, writing… Read More
2008-05-10 04:19
Laws are said to be the measure of a nation's civilization. Greece, Rome, China and Egypt could not have built their great civilizations without an edifice of laws to govern their people.
L… Read More
2008-05-10 04:18
Tumunog ang kampana sa munting Kapilya ng isang nayon sa bayan ng Paete, lalawigan ng Laguna. Napabalikwas si Manuel at masuyong ginising ang nahihimbing na kabiyak. "Gising na Edna, at tayo… Read More
2008-05-10 04:18
The conversion of the Philippines to Christianity has been hailed as one of the most stupendous achievements in the history of colonization. Edward Bourne, American historian, said," In the… Read More
2008-05-10 04:18
Dr. Jose Rizal's second novel, El Filibusterismo, is a political treatise and is a maturer book than his first novel Noli Me Tangere. The Noli is a book of feeling and deep emotion; the Fili… Read More
2008-05-10 04:18
The Philippines is known today as Republic of the Philippines, but do you know that she has had various names since ancient chroniclers and geographers began compiling data about the country… Read More
2008-05-10 04:18
The Philippines must have been connected by land with Borneo and Formosa. And these, in turn, must have been connected, especially Borneo, with the mainland of Asia.
In a study made by cura… Read More
2008-05-10 04:17
Doon po sa amin
Bayan ng San Roque,
May nagkatuwaang
Apat na pulubi
Sumayaw ang pilay,
Kumanta ang pipi,
Nanood ang bulag,
Nakinig ang bingi Read More
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