hinumdom

[hinumdom]

day 1 - bantayan island church, mangrove ecopark, dinner by the beach may 31, 2025

for our first day, we visited st. peter and paul church also known as bantayan church. it’s one, if not the only, oldest churches in cebu. the outside wouldn’t usually attract my attention but when i went inside, i was greeted with a mesmerizing murals on its ceiling. i loved how vibrant the painting was in contrast to its ivory walls.

then our next stop was the omagieca obo-ob mangrove ecopark. for only 75php, we went into one of the most scenic adventure of our lives. i had fun walking on the bamboo docks. it looks shaky but when i walked on it, it’s actually pretty sturdy. with the awareness that i’m literally walking on wood, i walked slowly than usual which gave me more time to appreciate the numerous specie of mangroves around me. the walk was longer than i expected but the journey itself was calming.

after all the walking, we went to have dinner at amihan beach cabanas. the overall vibe is pretty chill with dimmed neon lights and beach bar counter. there were a lot of people when we got there. fortunately, a group left so we didn’t wait that long. i heard this place is being hyped by influencers but for whatever reason, i don’t know. apart from the seaside location, their food didn’t really meet my expectations. i don’t know about their drinks because i didn't try it.

anyway, we went to another store to get some refreshments. i got myself a matchu pitchu juice—a combination of cucumber, mint and calamansi—from twisted ice cream & cafe, which is near amihan.

[hinumdom]

day 1 - bantayan island santa fe beach club may 31, 2025

for three days and two nights, we stayed here at santa fe beach club which has a stunning view of the ocean, delicious food, and it's got to be one of the most peaceful places on earth.

going to bantayan would warrant a ferry ride from hagnaya port to santa fe port. the good thing about this place is that it's near the port. just five minutes away, you will find this beautiful oasis. their food is great and affordable too. i loved everything we ate here which includes baked scallops, fried pork belly, and shanghai lumpia. they also have coffee drinks, fruit juice and shakes, and halo-halo.

in front is a long stretch of fine white sand and the stunning ocean view. living here would be such a dream.

[hinumdom]

holy week 2025

went home to my province for the holy week. it was a nice breath of fresh air. although i didn’t plan to go in the first place, i found myself enjoying my stay there.

[hinumdom]

“sunsets are proof that endings can be beautiful too” — beau taplin

[hinumdom]

february 14, 2025

late post but happy 27th @ self!

i’m so proud of what you’ve become and what you’ve achieved thus far. i know you’re tired but i’m proud and happy to see you look for a reason to keep going everyday. thank you so much for reaching another milestone. hoping for better days to come.

i don’t really take selfies but this is the latest one that i have and it’s barefaced me fresh from a dance workout (idek why i did a derpy smile sksksks)

[hinumdom]

january 25-26, 2025

staycation + birthday celeb for my niece and sister-in-law. it was a nice and short getaway. i thought i'd be super duper tired but surprisingly, i felt refreshed.

[hinumdom]

january 19, 2025

seventeen right here — day 2

okay, so i have mixed emotions for this one.

it was the first time we bought bleacher tickets. we sold our standing tickets because the queueing number was impossible to go near the barricade. also, let me just talk about the queue. it was honestly disappointing compared to the queue for VIP/standing. they were supposed to let the bleachers in by 4:30pm but they opened the gates to the stadium at 5:30pm. this caused a delay for the other bleacher holders who were still lining up for security check. the caratzone closes at 5pm and the show starts at 6:30pm. some fans weren't able to go to the caratzone since it was already closed. the time management was distressing. i can endure VIP/standing rather than the queue for bleachers if i may be honest.

for reference, this view is bleachers mid 2 so it was on the second floor. the height was nauseating (or maybe because i wasn’t used to it). the carts were too far down and the fans stood up and literally blocked the view for the rest of us while they stood by the railings. the ushers were telling them to go back for security purposes but nobody listened (couldn’t blame them honestly).

anyway, the concert was still fun. the members made it fun. the bleachers, despite the far view, also gave their all out. i was quietly smiling while the rest sing and shout. when you’re at the ground, you don’t get to see and experience just how massive svt is for filling the stadium. so i guess that’s the beautiful experience that a bleacher seat can give you. you’re more relaxed as you enjoy the concert.

overall, it was still okay. maybe it would’ve been better if we were at the first floor. i don’t have much pictures of myself for this one since i was just walking around getting freebies and buying food to kill some time. i was still tired from the day before and i really thought the queue would be okay that’s why we just went around.

[hinumdom]

january 18, 2025

seventeen right here — day 1

this is the second time that svt started my year with a blast. another fun core memory unlocked. also, i was able to check off two items from my bucket list: 1) go solo, and 2) attend VIP.

i wasn’t really planning to attend day 1 nor go solo nor get a VIP ticket. like this is literally a last-minute decision. initially, i had a standing ticket for day 2 with my friend but when we got to know our queueing number, it was so high that i felt hopeless that i won’t get the chance to see the members up close. so, i tried looking for a VIP ticket three days before the concert. i also asked the heavens to give me a sign if i should really proceed with my plan to attend day 1. alas, a mutual of mine on twitter retweeted a selling post. it was VIP for day 1 and she was selling it at srp. last friday, i met up with the seller and also claimed the physical ticket. i immediately booked a shuttle for day 1.

it was the best decision i have ever made. despite the scorching heat, i was able to make it through, met with some of the sweetest people and i saw the members with my own eyes without having to squint nor use binoculars. one of the reasons why i also pushed to go for VIP is because this is the first time in a while that seungcheol will come to the philippines. he’s one of my biases (my other bias had enlisted last year) and with the rest of the members scheduled for military, i felt like this will be the last time that they will have a concert here.

overall, the experience was superb. seungcheol had completely wrecked me for obvious reasons. i have a ton of videos and pictures on my phone because i wanna preserve the moment but i'll gatekeep them for now. next time, i’ll get a VIP by all means possible.

[hinumdom]

i'm going to see seventeen in a week's time!

tbh, i'm internally panicking right now. i haven't decided what clothes to wear and i also need to buy a new bag. we still don't have transportation. after the ticket sale last november, we honestly didn't have time to prepare. we were preoccupied with work and family matters that we put the concert on the backburner until now. nevertheless, i'm super excited to see them again after a year.

we'll be attending day 2 this time (we attended day 1 last year). although, we initially planned to buy VIP tickets, we decided to go for standing instead because 1) they're not complete this time (meaning not all 13 members will be there) and 2) we still wanted to be near the stage regardless. it won't be easy to be on your feet for several hours but since it's for svt, we know it'll be worth it.

[hinumdom]

life update

before 2024 ends, i want to make one last life update post to conclude the year.

october

this got to be the most challenging month for me. i haven't mentioned this in any of my previous posts but i joined a best dance crew competition within the company. while the training was eating away my free time (weekdays and weekends), my father was in and out of the hospital. first, it was his gallstones so he had it removed. second, it was about his heart. we found out he developed a congestive heart failure (CHF). the procedure to address this is really expensive so currently, he's on meds until we're financially ready for an angioplasty. lastly, he suffered a mild stroke two days before my competition. at the wee hours of the morning after my training (ended past 11pm), i was on a motorcycle with the rider speeding across the expressway. i remember it was drizzling but i couldn't care less. i arrived at the emergency room after 30mins, saw my father hooked into this machine supporting his breathing, looking so thin and pale. this was probably the first time i've seen him this weak. he had always preserved his image as the pillar of our family but at that moment, i realized he wasn't as invincible as the nickname "pillar" says. he had to be admitted to the ICU so i paid for the downpayment. fortunately, he showed improvement the following day. his recovery was pretty steady so by the end of the second day, he was transferred to a regular room. he was able to regain his motor and language skills the following days and the lab tests showed that the stroke was reversed. we were all relieved. on the same day when he was transferred to a regular room, i had my competition and my team was reigned as champions against 14 groups.

i honestly didn't know how i managed to survive. i recall coming home just to get some sleep and a change of clothes, go to work the next day, and train right after work. it was like i was moving on autopilot. i even had no time to dwell on my feelings about my father's condition knowing i wasn't there physically with him all the time. i couldn't even imagine what my older sister was feeling while she was an ocean apart from us. Luckily, everything turned out okay.

november

my father was discharged from the hospital. fortunately, there were no more emergency visits to the hospital. he still had follow-up consultations to monitor his progress. he started seeing a physical therapist to assist his recovery.

on the other hand, as champions of the best dance crew competition, we were asked to perform a new piece on the company-wide christmas celebration. they were expecting about 8,000 people who're gonna watch us so we dedicated a whole month of training once again. except this time, i didn't have to worry much about my father knowing he's at home surrounded with family and showing tremendous improvement.

amidst all of these, my friend and i made an impulsive decision to go to baguio. left early in the morning and came home late at night. people told us we were crazy for doing that but i think we had the most fun and really made use of our limited time there. i'll probably make a separate post about this. anyway, we came home physically tired but mentally happy and contented.

december

ever since we won the dance competition, we were invited to perform at three events, the company-wide christmas celebration being the biggest event. even though we were exhausted from the training, we were really happy and proud to show and prove why we were chosen as winners. it was thrilling to hear the shouts from the audience and have the spotlight on you as you dance your heart out. i'm so glad i joined the team. also, i lost a lot of weight, probably around 9kg. i returned to my weight when i first joined the company two years ago.

we also had our department christmas party at boudica cafe bar. i got home wasted (lol) but i had fun, nevertheless. however, i think it would've been more fun if we went to a ktv bar.

lastly, this was the first christmas celebration that we are complete after two years. we went all out with the gifts and had karaoke at home. also, to reward myself (and so that i have a better camera to use on seventeen's concert this coming january), i bought a new phone. i felt like i deserve a gift from myself.

[hinumdom]

good morning ☀️

ang liwanag ng araw, para akong kukunin ni lord (si lord ba talaga? charing). very cutesy (at pouty) lang tayo as someone na hindi naman talaga morning person.

[hinumdom]

found this sweet little guy outside my door and he loves scratches and belly rubs

[hinumdom]

(top photos - right side cheek and bottom photos - left side cheek)

acne journal entry #3

i'm on my 2nd month of isotretinoin.

my skin has significantly improved over the past month. there are fewer acne marks and minimal to no pimples. i'm still using the skincare products that were prescribed to me during the start of my acne journey (except i dropped my toner because i no longer have pustules, just a few red bumps remain which goes away overnight).

i've really come a long way. i never imagined that i'd be able to treat my acne, which i've been curing by myself for more than a year, within a span of four months. some products are quite expensive but it's really worth the purchase considering how much it helped me clear not just the active pimples, but the stubborn dark spots as well.

i'll probably continue taking isotretinoin until my skin clears but i'll ask my derma if i can switch my skincare to something that i can use as maintenance.

[hinumdom]

august 24, 2024

i watched the follow again movie.

i wasn’t really planning to watch but my older sister (who’s a casual fan) insisted ‘cause she wanna watch it too. the movie is basically the follow again concert in seoul. i’ve watched the full livestream for that already during the actual concert but i guess watching it on a cinema is totally different than just watching it on a laptop. every sound, every echo, every moment of that concert felt 4D if you know what i mean. also, they gave these complementary photocard. we got jun and seungkwan in our pull. then, i brought my lightstick to fully immerse myself.

the whole experience was so much fun. seeing svt on a big screen in 4K was just so wonderful. i love how their close up would literally take my breath away ‘cause they’re just that beautiful. and of course the songs. i sang to almost every song. i can’t wait for them to come here in the philippines for their asia leg of the follow again tour. although they won’t be complete ‘cause jeonghan will be enlisting this year and jun will focus on his acting career in china, i’m still looking forward to the concert. i still have eleven men to dazzle me after all *wink wink*.

[hinumdom]

life update

went to have a lab test again for my monthly check-up with my derma. we'll be closely monitoring my cholesterol since it spiked after my first month on isotretinoin.

after four years, i finally got to eat again the mango supreme from lovelight. albeit the price increased by almost a hundred percent, the taste was exactly the same. gave me a lot of nostalgia.

first time discovering that muji has a cafe already. i tried their iced ichigo cafe mocha. it tasted like the meiji chocolate strawberry. it's good and it was like around ₱125 only for the medium and ₱150 for large. i always order the smallest size when i'm trying out drinks. i don't know what brand of chocolate syrup they used but it goes so well with the drink.

since i've been transitioning to eating more healthy food, we ate at pho hoa. i just recently learned how to eat vegetables (lmao) so i got the vermicelli bowl and a small pho brisket and flank. i really like the taste. it's refreshing. it didn't make me gag like the usual thing that vegetables do to me (lol). i also tried their mango sticky rice with vanilla and mango ice cream on the side. their mango was so sour and their coconut milk tasted bland. the ice creams were good except i wasn't a fan with the combination with the sticky rice. i was disappointed tbh since i've been looking forward to trying out that dessert.

finally found my favorite zu's coffee beverage - it's iced shaken double espresso with oat milk, boss coffee beans, and less sugar. the coffee is strong but the oat milk balances it out without overpowering the coffee. it's a good mix. 10/10 would recommend.

for the first time in a while, i went thrifting clothes. the ukay-ukay i went to was inside the mall so their prices were around ₱180-₱220 for the tops only. sometimes, when you're thrifting clothes, you can't help but hoard a lot since you're gonna buy them for an affordable price anyway. personally, i see this as a double-edged sword. yes, you can buy them at an affordable price but their shelf life wouldn't be for long. that's why i always make sure to choose the clothes based on its price and quality. since the price is around ₱180, i only looked for branded clothes. these may be secondhand but at least i'm assured that the quality is still high. if the price is around ₱50, i'd be more open to buying non-branded clothes as long as the quality is as if it's new. this is because i don't know how long the clothes will last before it fade and degrade. i also don't want to make a mistake of buying too many clothes and just have them collect dust in the closet 'cause they faded fast or there's not much of an appropriate occasion to wear them.

[hinumdom]

(top photos - right side cheek and bottom photos - left side cheek)

acne journal entry #2

here's a three-month progress of my acne.

just by looking at these pictures, i can totally see how much my skin has improved which i'm grateful for honestly.

before my derma prescribed me with isotretinoin, i was required to submit blood test results to determine the appropriate dosage. that's how i found out i have borderline high cholesterol which means i'm still in the normal range but on the higher spectrum and that i have a fatty liver. i was advised to manage my diet for my cholesterol and was prescribed with a supplement for my liver.

it's been a month since i started using isotretinoin. during the first two weeks, there were no significant changes yet. but, on the 3rd week, i felt the dryness on my skin due to the medication. i do still feel like my face gets oily but when i use a blotting paper, it's completely dry. interesting, isn't it? anyway, now i'm dealing with so much dryness all over my body. i would wake up with super dry lips that if i try to just move it a little, it would tear and bleed. i'm also experiencing micro peeling that's why i switched my moisturizer from gel to cream which did the trick (at least for now). my back pain worsened albeit just a little bit. my doctor told me before that it's possible to experience muscle and joint pains when taking isotretinoin. i would still get pimples but not as often and as big as before. now what essentially remain are the dark spots.

i had a follow up consultation just this monday with new blood test results since my derma needs to closely monitor my cholesterol and ensure my liver is still in a good condition. fortunately, results for my liver came back normal. however, my cholesterol slightly increased. i was prescribed isotretinoin for another month and in my follow up consultation, which is a month after, i'll have to provide blood test results again.

[hinumdom]

august 4, 2024

it's my nephew's birthday!

we went to wildflour to celebrate. i wasn't able to take pictures of everything but we ordered A LOT. my personal favorites would be the squid ink pasta, kimchi fried rice, steak fried rice, matcha raspberry bundt cake (less the raspberry fruit, it tasted horrible), and banana coffee caramel smoothie. then we went to festival mall after to burn the food we ate. i also got iced burnt vanilla latte from dot coffee for clout—just kidding! i can't seem to go about my day without coffee and also, drinking coffee after a meal makes me forget the feeling of being too full from eating too much.