Davao Oriental | When the Day Did Not Stand Still

The day started with slightly muggy weather, and it wasn’t the usual bright and sunny disposition while getting ready to leave to head out to the municipal town of Baganga for an early morning supply run. It’s Friday, and people are getting up to start their day before the weekend happens with the usual routine. Personally, the day seems slow, and something was a bit off as I saw the grey sky, and the sun wasn’t as bright as usual. Traveling from Kinablangan to Baganga, 40 minutes to almost an hour away, just to go on a supply run. Nothing was happening on the road while we headed to our destination. This day seemed so strange that I did not totally ignore it, but this morning does not have the usual feel to it.

VoV + PSP XIX | Stickers & Illustrate

The Pilipinas Street Plan (PSP) is a collection of talented artists, designers, and visual creatives that was formed nineteen years ago. The group is more known for its street culture through their artistic mural creations, redefining the term “Street Art” and not just some random, tasteless vandalism that the masses overlook in their work. PSP changes the way you look at graffiti as a way not just to express their views on life, culture, and politics. Some members create their own stories that define what led them to become artists. There are storytellers too, they push their artistry to redefine that organized vandalism can be works of art that others would be inspired to create their own narrative and introduce the grassroots of Filipino Culture.

HW Hot Trucks | Dodge Li'l Red Express Truck

There have been some interesting licensed pick-up trucks from Hot Wheels, but none of them had a unique look like the 1978 Dodge Li’l Red Express Truck. It is still being produced with a brand new deco/livery since its retool in 2019. The new look may not be noticeable, but the changes are there if you are into intricate details and do not leave the toy in its blister carded packaging. The most recent release in 2024 was part of the HW Celebration Racers, representing Valentine’s Day as that year’s vehicle, and as part of the MOPAR 5-pack in yellow with stripes. It’s probably the most decent colour to be released in the last 2-3 years, but in a multipack. For the 2025, the latest one this not disappoint either.

Kinablangan | Let the Games Continue

Town Fiestas are a tradition in the Philippines; it is a form of social interaction with local communities dating back to pre-colonial days. Most of it is lost in big cities in Metro Manila, but in regional or rural areas, it is a yearly celebration. It's a consistent date, just confused some who had never grown up or lived in these parts. Personally, the last time I had to see a town fiesta in Pura Tarlac was back in 2017, when a former office colleague invited me to visit her hometown, taking a bus to make it there early in the morning and spending most of the day there. They had parades and all the pageantry of a town fiesta had to offer, and it was just about that.

Mr. D.I.Y | The Affordable Option

Living in a rural area has its perks. Still, it also presents some challenges, particularly in terms of accessibility, as not everything is readily available when compared to life in a big city. It’s where you have access to everything. The town life is different, and it is slower than you’d expect. But when it’s time for a supply run, it becomes exciting. Too excited that you forget you have a tight schedule and a limited budget. It’s been a while since the last visit to Mr. D.I.Y. earlier this month. The morning was a lot of things, and this was our last stop before heading back. The budget was gone, though window shopping was enough to check what they had.

ER Supermall | Needs a Serious Competition

When you live in a very remote place, your options are limited, and at the same time, the location is not a few meters away. But it takes 30 to 40 minutes by commute on either a motorcycle or a tricycle to reach the place. It’s also a challenge to wake up in the morning and try to be there first in line, because it is the only place where you buy your groceries, among other things. Because the ER Supermall is not entirely a shopping centre, but a grocery store that is the sole supplier to small businesses that have their “Sari-Sari Store” outside the municipal city of Baganga, which has small towns being part of it. Getting to this place, you see most of them are resellers piling up their shopping carts.

Wild Life | The Monitor Lizard

When you live in a regional area, there is a chance you might encounter things you do not see in a densely populated location. In Australia, poisonous snakes, spiders, and other types of unexpected creepy crawlies are relatively common. Ever encounter a Black Widow? I recall that while we were working on a car that was lifted during the training course at TAFE, there was an actual widow, and our instructor immediately grabbed an insect spray to ensure it was dead and then smashed it with his shoes. This morning, before heading to a supply run in Baganga, a random thing happened. The workers reorganizing the backyard where the pile of lumber had been sitting for quite a while found something big. Locally, it is called a “Bayawak,” or a type of Monitor Lizard has been living other that pile of wood.