#what to do in Siquijor

[shellwanders]

Paliton Beach: Siquijor's Best Kept Secret

Paliton Beach is a beautiful stretch of white sand and clear blue water located in the province of Siquijor in the Philippines. The beach is relatively secluded and undeveloped, making it a great place to relax and escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Traveling to Paliton Beach Siquijor for the first time? This detailed and curated travel guide will make it easy for you to navigate…

[datura-tea]

still thinking about filipinos in the fallout wasteland, but now in the context of my headcanon that fallout america annexed the philippines in 1946 instead of granting the nation its independence.

what made me think of this headcanon? the timeline between our world and the fallout world splits at about that period, and, well, there's precedent for the annexation: in real life, there were 50 years of american occupation, and there's ongoing american intereference in our politics, economy, and culture (essentially making the philippines an american neo-colony, but i digress), and considering how fallout america is just america turned up to 11, these things will just be magnified, and so: the philippine annexation of 1946.

now, there's nothing in fallout canon about the philippines except for a brief off-hand comment from the newscaster at the beginning of fallout 4 about american troops in mambajao (an island in camiguin) but this already tells me that, by 2077, if american military presence in the philippines has managed to reach that part of mindanao, the american occupation has intensified.

that little nugget already paints such a vivid picture of what's happening in fallout philippines - an american military base in mindanao tells me that more indigenous communities were displaced (real life example: the aeta and ibaloi communities in luzon, who still, to this day, cannot return to their ancestral lands), that sexual exploitation of women and children was rampant (irl: the sex industry in angeles city, among other areas), that american soldiers were free to enact violence on filipinos without facing any consequences (irl: jennifer laude's murder at the hands of joseph pemberton), that american imperialism is thriving in the archipelago, and that the sino-american war is serious and ramping up.

but let's see what the newscaster actually says:

"It would also appear our troops stationed overseas are experiencing some unusual weather, as well. On the Island of Mambajao the nights are cold. Unseasonably so for Southeast Asia. But for the 5th Infantry, that's as comfortable as an Autumn jamboree. All the easier for our mechanized hellcats to drive any screaming Commie meanies right into the Bohol Sea."

"screaming commie meanies" tells me that there's a significant communist presence in the philippines, which i am taking to mean that the communist party of the philippines and the new people's army are alive and well and fighting against the american occupation. i really don't think there'd be many chinese communist spies in the philippines at this time since filipino communists are against chinese imperialism as well, but tbh this part isn't solidified in my brain as much... anyway

essentially, fallout philippines has the problems of current, real life philippines, just amplified. american occupation on one hand, chinese imperialism on the other, unusual cold weather (which tells me that climate change was also a problem in the fallout universe), the threat of nuclear war... all with ordinary filipinos in the middle. would it be a stretch to say that a lot of them fled to america and established their own communities there? that those communities would have thrived and retained our creativity and sense of community/pagkakapwa abroad? that those communities would have survived the bombs and banded together and kept themselves and their culture alive, in the apocalypse?

[chrismien]

Let's talk about Elsweyr's architecture, specifically how geography influenced it.

In the Elder Scrolls Online base game, players can visit Kenarthi's Roost, which is the starting location for Aldmeri Dominion players. We could easily observe the stilted houses and buildings on the island of the Khajiits. This doesn't really reflect the nomadic culture that majority of the beastfolk have since these kinds of buildings are made to last and are built for prolonged stay in the area. How do I know this?

As a Filipino, I find this style of building especially familiar. Indonesians may also share the same sentiment. In the real world, these stilted buildings are known as "bahay kubo" in the Philippines. They are a staple of provincial life and are designed in a way that prevents floodwater and mud from entering the house. This is why they are built on stilts.

Another purpose of stilt houses is to decrease the occurrence of pests running into the houses. Tropical countries are known for the many insects and small mammals that inhabit them, and stilt houses can help to keep these pests out.

As you can see from the image above, it is quite different from the fantasy world. It is a Filipino stilted house from the Siquijor region. The roof is not exaggerated, and the windows are more open. However, the buildings from Kenarthi Roost are actually very based on real life.

Looking at the image, it is clear where the makers of the game got their inspiration. This is an Indonesian stilted house. The purpose of this kind of roofing is to let the water slide down in times of heavy rains. Observe the stilts on this house, and you can see that they have more support compared to the ones from the Philippines.

Basically, stilt houses are raised off the ground, which allows for better airflow and helps to keep the house cooler. Additionally, the stilts can be used to create a ventilated space underneath the house, which can help to lower humidity levels.

It can also help to regulate temperature and reduce humidity is the use of natural materials. Materials such as wood, bamboo, and thatch are good insulators, which helps to keep the house cool in the dry season and warm in the wet season. Additionally, these materials are porous, which allows for good airflow and helps to prevent moisture build-up.

In this pre-release image, we can see that the columns and stilts are made of stone, and the motifs of the buildings are reminiscent of the styles from Cambodia and its surrounding regions.

Adding to that, the region of Southeast Asia is characterized by heavy rains and storms. In the more tropical parts of Elsweyr, stilted houses are more common. However, as you go up north, the climate becomes less tropical and more temperate, and the houses become less stilted and more made of stone.

Below are some comparisons of Elsweyr to Southeast Asian locations (left is Elsweyr, right is the Southeast Asian location):

The similarities are quite evident.

While some references say that the Khajiit are based on the Romanian peoples of Europe, their architecture is very much based on Southeast Asian styles. It is also worth noting that traces of Persian, Romani, Indian, and other cultures can be found in Khajiit society.

Some YouTube content also states that the Khajiit can be compared to gypsies in the real world, as they are both considered "fringe people." Another note regarding the architecture is that it is also based on the domiciles of the sea gypsies in the Philippines, the Badjaos.

Southeast Asia is a very beautiful region with a great deal of cultural diversity. As someone from the Philippines, I can say from my own experience that foreigners can experience how Western and Eastern cultures merge here.

What other topics should I do next?

[ironemrys]

Finders Keepers | Namor x Filipino!Reader

Summary: Namor x Filipino!Reader. That's it. That's the plot... kind of.

Word count: 5k

Warnings: Listen, this is for pure entertainment only. Don't take it too seriously- I sure didn't. I had fun writing this tbh. First ever Marvel fic I post on this website and it's this type of crap. Enjoy- or not. 

Italicized words are: 1.The Reader's/OC's thoughts and/or 2.Words that are supposed to be in a different language. P.S. I tried to use a Yucatec Mayan - English translator but decided against it last minute since I feared I would not do it any justice so I just opted to italicize when they're (Namor and the Talokanil) are using it to talk. Words in parenthesis are the translated Tagalog words. Sometimes they're loose translations because you can't just translate some terms from our language to English- let's just leave it at that. It's the thought that counts- I guess.

Also posted on AO3

It's not a good thing when you wake up in a strange place, surrounded by strange people. For our protagonist though, that's exactly what happened.

Where the fuck- 

Always a good start. As soon as she opened her eyes and blinked, trying to get rid of the haze in her mind, she looks around.

Someone speaks in a language foreign to her and she turns to the side before her eyes widen-

She stares. She sees the mouth of the person- person? Is it a person? Why were they colored blue? Who are they even? Where was she? Is she dreaming? Is she dead?

The person in front of her keeps talking but she can't understand a single thing. Besides, her brain cells weren't working at the moment. Everything seemed different, she can't seem to focus.

Finally, whoever it was that was failing miserably to get through to her stopped talking and left the room. That's when she noticed that she was sitting on a small cot, inside a tent? Maybe. She doesn't know. She's not sure.

She tries to remember the last thing her brain could before she woke up in this strange place.

She was on a vacation trip for the summer. She went to visit her late grandmother's hometown in the province of Siquijor. 

On the second day, she decided to take a boat and go over to Apo Island. It was a strangely cloudy day; a perfect time to go for a swim. She had snorkeling gear with her but no life vest. She didn't bother since she promised herself she wouldn't go that far. Besides, she's never drowned before. She can float if anything were to happen.

She was joyfully admiring the corals, the starfish, and the sea urchins. Fish of different kinds started to swim around and she followed them. Saying hi and hello, waving to the fishes as if they could understand her dumbass.

She kept following the school of fishes, unaware that she was getting farther and farther from the shore- that is until she sees a deep fucking abyss. 

"Ay puta!" Fuck! A garbled curse escapes from her lips as she raises her head from the water due to panic. The chasm was deep as all hell. It was dark and wide as if it would swallow her whole if she didn't swim away.

She tried to swim away. Emphasis on tried.

She lifted her body in an attempt to float and she would've. She would've been safe if not for the sudden cramp on her leg- the muscle twisted and it sent her body to a standstill.

Then darkness.

A voice spoke and cut her off her thoughts. She looked up in alarm and her eyes widened once again at the tall, handsome, yet weirdly looking guy in front of her.

He spoke again in a language she doesn't know. His brown eyes locked onto hers and it didn't seem like he was threatening her by the tone of his voice but his brows were furrowed and his lips were in a deep scowl. 

When she didn't answer, he called for someone outside of the tent. A woman and another man; taller and broader, entered. But again, for some unknown reason; they were both blue-skinned.

However, that aside, this is when the genius(?) protagonist noticed that one doesn't look like the others. His skin was tanned as opposed to the other two. He had pointy ears and a huge piercing on his nose. He was adorned in jewels and the other two were fully clothed while he was only in- 

Ay jusko lord. (Oh my god)

She averted her eyes and looked down at his feet only to notice the wings. She blinked once, twice, thrice- 

What the- 

She stared, again, her brain trying to process things but can't. Someone send help.

Teka. Nasan ba ko? The fuck. Sino tong mga to? Bat may pakpak ung paa niya, ano to cosplay? (Wait. Where am I? The fuck. Who are these people? Why does he have wings on his feet, is this cosplay?) 

"Ah- Ano-" Uhm- she starts to speak and the others turn to her. The woman then talks to her in a slightly commanding tone but it's still in a different language so she can't understand jack shit. 

When she still didn't answer, it was obvious that her host, or whoever they were, was starting to get a little frustrated with her uncooperative state. 

She could hear them talking to each other in the foreign language again and when she finally had her wits about her, she raised her hand.

"Uhm- Excuse me-" 

The three strangers stopped and turned. The man with pointy ears walked over to her in wide strides that she unconsciously leaned on the wall as a defense mechanism.

"You speak English?" He then asks in a low, deep grumble.

She raised her brow at him, "Yes? Of course, I speak English, I've been colonized." Weird that she answered that way but it was already done, so whatever.

Her snap seemed to surprise those in the room but at this point, she was too confused to care.

She looked around once more, "Wait, so where the hell am I? And who are you?" She asked him. 

It took a few moments before she was answered by the pointy-eared man, "I have many names-" he started, "My people call me K'uk'ulkan."

Clearly, the name didn't register in her brain because she tilted her head in confusion. He moves closer, right in front of her face in an attempt to intimidate her but she could only register the handsomeness of his features which confused her a little. Here she was, in an unknown place, with unknown people and that's what she notices. 

"But my enemies call me Namor." He finishes and waits for her to react.

She scrunched up her nose, "Can I just call you Namor because that first name is so hard for me to say." 

This amused him, she thinks, since his lips curved upward a little. 

"Where am I?" She finally asks and Namor leans back slightly, 

"You are in my kingdom." He answers and it again prompts her to raise a brow,

"Apo Island has a kingdom?" She asked and this time it was him who looks at her incredulously. He wonders for a bit before leaning down again near her face and she backs away.

"Child, where do you think you are right now?"

Di ba kasasabi niya lang na nasa lugar niya daw kami, labo naman neto. (Didn't he just say we were in his kingdom? He's confusing.)

"You said we were in your kingdom. I'm pretty sure-" 

"The location, child." He insists and she thinks for a bit, wondering what he could gain from knowing the answer.

"Apo Island, Philippines." 

There was silence. The man and woman behind Namor looked at each other and this didn't go amiss by her. They looked more puzzled than she was.

"What?" She asked, a sudden panic started to rise in her chest for some reason.

"You're in my kingdom. In the Atlantic Ocean." 

"Ha?" She gave him a look that says 'are you fucking kidding me?' but then her expression changed.

From giving them an incredulous look to showing them a tired one, she sighs.

"What?" Namor questions and takes a step back when she suddenly stands up.

"Ha? Hatdog." 

The three strangers looked at each other and she rolled her eyes, "I get it. This is a prank, right? Who are you really? Ano to, skit?" (Is this a skit?) 

"Kala niyo ba maiisahan niyo ko? Asa ka boy. Kaya pala naka-cosplay ka ee." She adds and raises a brow.

(You think you can trick me? You wish, boy. No wonder you're in some kind of cosplay.)

"What are you talking about?" The other woman asked with a disapproving look, "And how dare you call him a boy-" 

"English, child." Namor cuts the other off and commands the stranger but she scoffs, rolling her eyes in the process. 

"English mo mukha mo. And anong child? Gago twenty-something na ko." (English your face. And what child? Asshole, I'm twenty-something already.)

Her voice was defiant as she suddenly glared at Namor. This surprised him a little so he wasn't able to answer her. Obviously, no one has ever addressed him in such a manner before.

She thought she had him, "So ano ka? Crossover ni King Triton at Legolas? Sali sana ako kung parang tourism eme to kaso lokal lang ako mamsir." (So what are you? A crossover of King Triton and Legolas? I would've joined if this was something for tourism but I'm local.)

She started walking towards the closed drapes of the tent and she saw out of the corner of her eye that the taller man and the woman were about to stop her but Namor raised his hand to stop them instead.

"Let her go. Let her see." 

As soon as she stepped foot out of the tent, her eyes went wide, "What. The. F-"

The place was unlike anything she's ever seen. It was beautiful but that was the least of her problems right now. Suddenly, an uncomfortable feeling set itself in her stomach. 

Shit nasan ba talaga ako? What if di to prank? Tangina, ano ko na-kidnap? Gago aanuhin nila ko, wala naman ako pera. Shit uso pa ba ung human trafficking- (Shit where am I, really? What if it's not a prank? Motherfucker, was I kidnapped? Fuck what are they gonna do, I don't have any money. Shit, is human trafficking still a thing?)

"You are not where you thought you are." Namor cut off her rambling in her head and she whirled around in alarm, looking at him with fear in her eyes.

Now it has registered in her brain that she's in so much deeper shit than she thought. She backed away from him instinctively- before she ran.

"Hey!" The taller man had yelled after her but before he could chase her down, the woman said with a smirk, "Let her. She has nowhere to go." 

Meanwhile, the lost and confused protagonist of this story, well- maybe, no one knows yet if she is a protagonist. But for now, let's say she is-

Anyway, she ran. To where? She has no clue. She just had to get away from the strangers. She looked around and realized she was in a cave.

"San na ung exit?!" (Where's the exit?!) She yelled and it echoed against the walls. She covers her mouth and crouches on instinct before peeking to the side, checking if she was being followed. When there were no signs of an attack, she breathed out in relief. She thinks she's safe- she's not.

"Okay. Okay." She breathed in, trying to calm herself down, "Kung nasa kweba ako, malamang sa bandang dulo dito ung exit."  (If I was in a cave, then the exit should be at the far end.) She said to herself as if she actually knew what she was doing. She doesn't.

She started to crabwalk to wherever the hell she thinks the exit should be. She thinks she's being quiet and clever. Again, she's not.

"Where the fuck is the exit?!" She whispers, annoyed. She got to the end of the cave but all she saw was a body of water, like a small pond. There was no exit.

What if?

Nasa loob ba ko ng secret beach? De, di secret beach, parang secret beach, ung kelangan mo lumusot para makadating sa kabilang side. (Am I inside a secret beach? No, not a secret beach, but like a secret beach, where you gotta swim under to get to the other side.) 

Her conclusion seemed to make sense to her but there was one problem: she's not a good swimmer. She's never drowned before, granted, but still, she's not a good swimmer.

"Okay." She said to herself, "Options-"

Counting down with her fingers, she started to think, "Option One: Lalangoy ako pailalim to escape." (Option One: I swim under to escape.) She looks at the 'pond', it looks deep as shit.

"Option Two: Pakamatay na lang tayo dito agad bes, kesa kung ano pa gawin nila sayo. Jusko lord I'd rather die talaga." (Option Two: Let me just kill myself here, rather than finding out what they'd do to me. Jesus Christ I'd literally rather die.)

She continues to talk with herself, "Baka naman di ganon kalalim? Mukha lang? Siguro? Pucha naman talaga, oo."  (Maybe it's not that deep. Only looks like it? Maybe? Fucking really.) She's panicking. And when she panics, bad things happen.

"Okay, try natin, baka naman-" (Okay, let's try, maybe-) She walked towards the pond, dipping her feet into the water to test the temperature. There was a voice in her head saying "Hoe don't do it." but she ignored it. She was panicking, her brain cells were gone.

She sinks into the pond quickly and opens her eyes. It was harder to see without the goggles but the water was surprisingly clear as soon as she dove in. She looks around and sees a light and this brings a bit of hope to her heart.

But, as mentioned, she's not a good swimmer. She's not good at holding her breath either. She was halfway through the cave, the light still a few ways away from her when she felt herself start to lose air.

Panic. Panic. Panic.

She tried to swim up but she hadn't realized that the deeper she went into the body of water, the cave closed in on her.

Panic. More panic. She's going to die.

Option Two then. She thinks to herself before she takes a huge gulp of water. She has accepted her fate. Death to the stranger. The end. Her eyes closed and she fell deeper into the water-

Until she wasn't.

She coughed out the water on solid ground. She was on all fours, trying to catch her breath when she felt a firm grip on her arm. She turned to see Namor, looking at her disapprovingly.

"You are foolish." He starts with a frown, "There is no escape from here for a surface-dweller like you without our help."

"What-" She coughs roughly, she still can't breathe properly. Her eyes widened when she realized what was happening- she was having an asthma attack.

She wheezed and clutched her chest before falling to her side. She could hear Namor talking- or yelling- she's not sure. Her eyes started to water. She's trying to catch her breath so desperately when she feels something cover her mouth.

Suddenly she can breathe a little easier.

"Breathe," She could finally register what Namor was saying. Her vision started to focus and when she calmed, she looked down at the device on her face.

She started to inspect it, turning it here and there suspiciously.

"An inhaler?" She asked, "Looks like one of those things you use with a nebulizer." 

Her asthmatic ass aside, her situation still hasn't improved. This reality settled again in her thoughts and she looked abruptly at Namor who was just watching- observing.

"Okay. Uh-" She started, standing up rather slowly. She was looking at him like he was some wild animal she had to be careful around.

Well, she's not wrong.

"Uhm okay, Namor," She swallows her fear, 

"SIR-" She continued with her hands raised in front of her chest, palm outward as if to calm him, to surrender to him.

"I don't know what you want from me. I'm nobody. If this is a kidnapping then I can assure you-" 

Namor raises a brow but before he could interrupt her, she continued on her tangent, "I have no money. I'm alone. I don't have anything and if you're planning on selling my body parts then-" 

"What-"

"I'm asthmatic. I have GERD- well, maybe, I don't know, I haven't had that checked yet." She stops to think, "I also have PCOS, I swear no one will buy me from you so-" 

"I have nothing to give you." She stops and it took a few minutes before-

"Follow me," Namor instructs and she tenses, backing away from him a little.

"Come here." He repeated, more commanding. But when he saw the panic in her eyes and the way she closed her hand in a tight fist, he changed his tone, "I will take you to where I found you, so follow me." 

"What do you mean: found me?" She asked, slowly and carefully walking closer to him. She was still wary of him but for now, she has no choice but to trust him.

Namor turned to her a little, "I found you in the water close to our border. I sensed a disturbance in the waves and when I went to look, you were there." He knew she didn't believe him since she again had that look on her face.

Of course, she replied, "That makes no sense." 

"Believe what you will. I'm taking you back." He continued to walk ahead and she followed timidly. They arrived in front of the tent once again. The two other strangers were still there, waiting for them. The woman was smirking while the taller man only looked at her suspiciously.

Namor then steps into the water, he was waist-deep before he turned to her, "Come." 

She hesitated, still. 

"I thought you wanted to go home?" He asked her, a playful grin on his lips.

"Yeah but- how do I know you're not gonna drown me once I get in there?" She crossed her arms in front of her chest and Namor laughing dryly caught her by surprise.

Teka. Ang cute nun ah. Hala. (Wait. That was cute. Oh no.)

"Trust me," His grin grows wider, "If I were to kill you, I wouldn't need the water." 

 She swallows and bites her lip at his words, her heart pounding for some strange reason. Maybe because he was cute when he smiled- oR MAYBE BECAUSE HE JUST FUCKING THREATENED TO KILL HER. 

She starts to weigh her options again but then, of course, not one of those was a perfect solution for an escape. And Namor said it himself, there was no way out of the cave without their help. So she sighs, might as well go with it. If she does die there- well- she hopes she doesn't but if she does- then she's dead. What else is there?

She walked over to the water and as soon as she was at the same water level as him, he pulled her closer to his chest, her face flushed when she braced herself against him, hands on his biceps.

Namor gives her the mouthpiece and she starts to feel her breathing slow down a little, her mind getting a bit fogged up with an unknown haze.

"Breathe." He commands and she follows. As soon as her breathing was steady, he drags her underwater.

"Eyes open, child." Was the next thing she heard him say. As soon as she did, she shielded them from the sun before looking around.

"Where-" She noticed they weren't near a beachfront like she expected. Instead, they were in the middle of fucking nowhere.

"Where I found you," Namor explains and she turns to him with another one of those disbelieving looks.

"What? No. That's-" She looks around again, "That's impossible. There's nothing here." She gestured to the open sea.

"Do you think I am lying?" Namor asks and she looks him in the eye. It unsettled her, even more, when she could see that he wasn't. He was telling the truth.

Pero what the fuck? (But what the fuck?)

"Where-" She swallows the lump in her throat, "Where are we?" 

Namor could tell that she was finally starting to believe him, "Near the borders of my kingdom." 

"And that would be where again?" 

"You surface-dwellers call this place the Atlantic Ocean." Surprisingly, he was patient with her despite her doubt and her use of foul language every now and then. 

"Why do you say that?" She suddenly asked and when he raised a brow, she clarified, "Why do you call me a surface-dweller?" 

Ah. Apparently, it still wasn't obvious to her that Namor and his people were different from her. Don't blame her though, some parts of her brain are working and some are not. Seriously though, whose brain would work properly after finding out you may or may not have been kidnapped by some weird-looking dudes?

"You don't live in the ocean, no?" Namor asked back, "How do you think I was able to carry you from the cave into the open sea without trouble? Without that mask?" 

She thought for a while. Namor could tell she was really racking up an idea in her brain with the way her brows furrowed and the way she scrunched up her nose. She was thinking- or at least she was trying to.

Finally, she gave up and shrugged, "I dunno. I just thought you were a good swimmer." 

Surprisingly, he chuckled. He was obviously amused. She was obviously stupid. 

"I am not like you." He then said, earning another raised brow from her, "What are you then?" 

"Think." He pointed at his forehead, in hopes that she would understand what he meant for her to do.

Thankfully, she did. She looked at him- really looked at him. She took note of his tanned skin, his deep brown eyes, his dark hair, and his jewelry. If that was all there is to him then she may have stuck with her first conclusion. Btu there were still the pointed ears- and she remembered seeing his winged feet. She also recalls the other two who had blue-colored skin. 

A dawning realization creeps up on her and as Namor watched her think, he could tell that she was starting to understand. She didn't. Not really. 

"So-" She starts, "You're- what?" She tried to think of a term but couldn't. Again, the brain was gone. There is one possibility she could think of but she thinks that the idea was too out there. There's a one-in-a-million chance that she'd be able to meet anyone from there.

So, no- it wasn't an option. It was too- unrealistic. 

But then another idea popoped in her head- not a good one though-

"Ah! Shokoy!" 

"Excuse me?" 

"Teka. Masyado kang gwapo para maging shokoy. But-" (Wait. You're too good-looking to be a shokoy. But-) She goes on a tangent once again, not bothering with Namor who was looking at her incredulously,

"You have the qualities, I mean- no, you don't- maybe?" She gestures to nothing, "Look, I don't know. You don't have fins and your ears are just pointy. You have winged feet instead of fins but then again, may paa nga ba pag shokoy?" (-but then again, do shokoy even have feet?)

"What did you call me?" Namor cuts her off her thinking, swimming closer to her a little and she finally looks up.

"A shokoy?" She asked back, "It's like a- hmmm- mer...man? Loosely." Unsure and a little confused, she wonders at the look he was giving her. 

"I am not a merman. I am a mutant." Namor was about to tell her the story of how he was born and how he became the ruler of the kingdom of Talokan. 

"Teka. Teka. Teka. Wait." She stopped him, waving her hands in front of his face, "You said, mutant. So- like- the X-Men?" 

"Who?" 

"X-Men. You know?" She asked and shrugged her shoulders. Not getting the reaction that she thought she would get from him, she continues, "Everybody knows the X-Men. They're new but apparently, they've been living among us for quite a while now. They're a new addition to the Avengers... kinda like a sub-group." She explained and when Namor still didn't show any sign of recognition, she tilted her head.

"You really have no idea who the X-Men are? They might be like you guys." 

Bat di niya alam? Eh kaka-join nga lang nung mga un sa Avengers. Na news pa nga un. Pero baka kase walang tv sa tubig. (Why doesn't he know? They just joined the Avengers. It was in the news. Maybe because there's no television underwater.)

"I do not care for the affairs of the surface-dwellers." Namor finally answered.

"Aray naman." (Ouch.) She replied and held her chest dramatically while she raised her other hand, "Surface-dweller here, sir." 

Namor grins unconsciously, "You are amusing."

Before she could say another word, Namor turned around and she sees that the woman from before was right behind him except she was wearing a different set of clothes and she had a huge headgear on.

They talk with each other in the language our protagonist can't understand. The words exchanged were said with a sense of urgency. She noticed the way Namor suddenly tensed- his back straightened and his biceps clenched. When he turned around to look at her, his brows were furrowed, his jaw set, and his nostrils were flared.

"What's going on?" She asked.

"Come, we must return to the cave." Namor grabs her by the arm without a second thought or any warning before they dove deep into the water.

She had no idea what was going on. The blue people, more of them, not just the first two who were with Namor, were scrambling around and they were carrying- 

"Are those spears?" She asked under her breath. She was just standing in the corner awkwardly. Looking here and there. 

As soon as they got back to the cave, Namor dove back into a much deeper pond. He was gone for minutes and she waited by the edge, not knowing what to do. The question of what the fuck is happening and how the fuck did she get there was still on her mind but when about a dozen of the foreign people emerged from the depths of the pond, she stepped to the side politely to make way for them- to whatever the hell they were going.

She looked at them and they stared back. They were probably wondering why someone like her was in there with them. It was obvious that she was a visitor. Well, maybe visitor is a loose term. 

Staring contest ito. Ang awkward. Ano ba gagawin ko dito? Pasok na lang kaya ako sa tent? (This is a staring contest. How awkward. What am I even doing here? Should I go back to the tent?) She thought to herself and started to crabwalk. 

Again, no idea why the crabwalk. That's just her weird ass choice.

"Stop." She heard someone say and she turned. One tall guy was approaching her in quick, long strides. It was a different one, someone she doesn't know by face.

"What?" She asked and took a step back since she was intimidated by the way this man was looking and walking toward her.

He speaks quickly- too quickly that it doesn't register in her brain. Not that it could, he was speaking in another language. He sounded commanding- he looked commanding. And when she didn't respond to him since she can't understand jack shit, he suddenly grabbed her by the arm-

"Oy! Tangina- get off!" (Fucker- get off!0 She yelled, surprised and frankly, a bit offended at how she was grabbed without warning. She tried to yank herself away from him, only to have the stranger laugh in a mocking tone.

Aba gago to a. (This asshole.)

"I said-" She gritted her teeth- FIGHT MODE ON.

"-GET. OFF!" She stomped her foot on his, making him let go of his iron grip, she doubled back and braced herself before kicking him in the nuts. He bent over in pain and shock. 

Never mess with a Filipina. 

She removed one of her aqua shoes and raised it over her head, "Nyeta ka. Makahablot, kala mo walang bukas. Who the hell are you?" (You fucker. Grabbing me like there's no tomorrow.)

The man glared at her and stood up, a threatening and dangerous look in his eyes, "Who do you think you are?!" He yelled angrily and was about to raise his hand but a firm grip on his shoulder stopped him.

They both turned and she sighed in relief when she saw Namor. They talked with each other, Namor sounding gentle yet with authority towards the other man. The stranger seemed to settle down before his eyes widened, making her wonder what else Namor had told him. 

The stranger looked at her and what he did next surprised and confused her even more. The man knelt on one knee right in front of her before muttering something in the other language, 

"Forgive me." 

She raised a brow but before she could even ask what the hell he was doing and why he was doing it and what he meant, Namor had taken her by the arm. He then spoke in a commanding tone over the people gathered by the cave.

She wondered what he was saying. It must've been important and it must be about her because they all looked at her with- she doesn't know what look they were giving her- maybe- acknowledgment? Could be.

Namor then turned to her, "There is something I have to attend to. You must stay here." He ordered,

"What? Where are you-"

"Stay. My people will look after you as I have instructed. I will return-" He calls her by a name in the language she's not familiar with and she tilts her head, not understanding shit. But again, before she could ask, he had turned on his heel and left with most of the people carrying spears out of the cave. 

Once they were all gone, she sighed, looking around at the remaining strangers with her. There were two men- who she assumed were left to guard her, and there were three younger women. 

Oh tapos. Ano na bes? Nga-nga. (So now what?)

One of the younger women then approached her and handed her some new clothes before gesturing for her to follow. She looked down at the garments and then back up at the stranger. With another heavy sigh, she thinks to herself-

May choice pa ba ko? (Do I have a choice?)

requested tagging: @deputy-videogamer @rokuhoku @queenotaku23​ 

[purplesurveys]

1686

Do you prefer bar or liquid soap? Liquid, I guess, but it’s nowhere near being a passionate preference.

What's the speed limit on your street? I’m not actually sure but probably like 10 kph max. It’s a narrow street and a kid or pet could come running out of their house’s gate any second.

When was the last time you wore your favourite article of clothing? I don’t really have a favorite one.

Do any of your family members have an upcoming birthday? The next one is my mom’s in September.

On a scale of 1-5, 5 being the best, rate your last kiss. 0, It was a nothing kiss at that point, but I didn’t feel so at the time which to me makes it even worse.

What is your favourite flavour of Jolly Ranchers? I’ve never had those.

Where was your Facebook profile picture taken? Somewhere in Zambales.

Do your parents smoke? Neither of them do.

Would you rather bake cookies or a potato? Cookies.

Who was the last person to stay the night at your house? Reena on my last birthday.

Do you live close to a park? Private, tiny subdivision parks, yeah. Those barely count as anything though.

Is your favourite animal endangered? One of them is.

Have you eaten pizza in the last week? I haven’t. I did buy pizza-flavored Pringles here in Thailand the other night but I haven’t had pizza here yet. I don’t think I’ll have the time to do so either.

Who was the last person you added to your contacts list? I have no clue; I never add people to my contacts anymore. Since I greet people with “Hi [name]!” anyway I always know whose number I’m texting even if I don’t designate a nickname for them anymore.

How long does it take you to shower? Around 10-13 minutes. I’m usually able to finish a whole vlog in the shower, no more no less haha.

Do you prefer a brand of bottled water over others, or is it all the same? I don’t drink bottled water enough to have a favorite brand, but yes I do prefer certain brands over others because the taste difference can be super blatant.

Have you used Wikipedia today? I don’t think I have today.

Are you better at writing fiction or non-fiction? Non-fiction.

Do you know anyone who has moved to a different state? I know very few people who’ve moved out from Manila to the province. People do the opposite like 90% of the time, but moving to the province happens too although a lot more rarely.

How many pens can you see from where you’re sitting? There aren’t any.

Have you ever dated someone one grade/year above or below you? Nope.

What language do you think you’d be good at? Not sure, maybe Spanish. I have a decent handle of the language from the colonization anyway. :) What language do you think you’d fail at? Any Chinese language.

Do you still have a landline phone at your house? Yup, my grandma still calls via landline so we keep it.

What is your current desktop background? BTS.

How big is the television you last watched? No idea, it’s an Airbnb TV and I can’t be bothered to ask about the specs.

Have you ever been stung by a bee or a wasp? Nopes.

How many schools have you been to in your lifetime? Just two; I stayed in one school from kinder to high school and only switched when it was time to go to college.

What is the middle name of the last person you texted? Her middle name is her nickname, so Angela.

Are you of legal age in your country? Yep, I think 25 is legal everywhere?

Why did you last visit a doctor? Needed to get my braces readjusted.

Would you prefer an ice cream cake or a regular cake? Pass for the most part, but fine I’ll go for the regular. I don’t understand ice cream cakes. Why get a cake that, like, disappears?

How old is your best friend? She’s turning 25 this year.

What is/was your high school’s mascot? Both of the schools I attended don’t have one.

Do you carry pain relievers with you at all times? Nope.

Where is your mother right now? She’s in Siquijor vacationing with my dad.

What was the last thing to make you smile? This nice lady who was helping me get back into our Airbnb room without the building cat entering through the door. I think she’s the one who runs the laundry shop attached to this very Airbnb.

Are you currently saving up for anything? Not right now but the moment I land back in Manila I most definitely will have to save in general because I went balls to the wall crazy with the shopping.

What’s the view like from your bedroom window? An abandoned house on the right, two very quiet houses behind, some trees.

Generally speaking, do you prefer sweet or savoury? Savory. I don’t like desserts.

What would you do if you got home and you saw your house had been destroyed? Depends. Destroyed by a fire? Was it trashed and some shit got stolen? Did Agi tear off all the tissue rolls? Idk I could either have a panic attack, cry, get angry, be frantic, or anything else depending on what the house looks like.

When did you last go outside, and what for? I wanted to look for a cafe here in our neighborhood area in Bangkok and found one on Maps, so I tried walking to it but when I got there there was nothing :( So I just went back to our Airbnb since I don’t want to wander too far all alone.

Who is your favourite Sesame Street character? I didn’t really have a favorite but if you asked me now I would probably go with either Cookie Monster or Bert.

How often do you check your emails? Only when I’m on shift.

Do you have any plans for this Thanksgiving? I don’t celebrate that.

What colour is your backpack? I don’t use a backpack anymore but my main handbag is brown.

Would you slap the last person you talked to for twenty dollars? No.

What search engine do you usually use? Google.

How much did the shirt you’re wearing cost? No clue, my mom got this for me hoping I’d use it in Thailand. And now I am :)

Patrick Stump or Pete Wentz? I never preferred one of them over the other.

Do you know anyone who gives way too many hugs? A little bit, yeah.

What time do you usually wake up on Sundays? 8 AM.

Have you whispered today? I don’t think I have.

What grade did you get on the last test you took? The last kind of anything I was graded on was like this writing workshop for work where we were given a prompt and we got a seasoned journalist come in to review each of our works...anyway, I got like a 48/50.

[noirlevity]

Happy Birthday Tadashi!

Pairing: Tadaai Fandom: Sk8 the infinity A/N: Tadashi birthday fic!

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For his birthday celebration, Tadashi was given a set of questions to ask Ainosuke. Ainosuke was chosen because he is the closest to him. Staring at the questions, Tadashi didn't really want to do it, but he also didn't want to be a killjoy.

Even his Ainosuke-sama was looking forward to it, so he must indulge.

"First question, what are you to the celebrant?"

"I am his owner," Ainosuke smiled widely.

Miya & Cherry rolled their eyes. Joe & Oka giggled while Hiroomi, Reki, & Langa had deadpan faces as they listened. Tadashi was about to go to the next question when Ainosuke whispered bashfully, "I'm the boyfriend." Clearly conscious of the eyes on him, Ainosuke defensively crossed his arms around his chest & gave Tadashi a petulant look.

Who was he trying to fool?

Ainosuke was blushing up to his ears. His small puckered mouth makes Tadashi smile.

"How did you meet each other? And where?"

"We met at my house. At the abandoned swimming pool."

"How would you describe him?"

"Lovable doggie."

Cherry opened his fan in irritation and gripped it like he could break it in half.

"How do you think he'd describe you?"

"Magnanimous Master," Ainosuke whispers, "Baby, cutie patootie."

"Hey what was that? We didn't hear it," Cherry complained. "Use your mic!"

"Say it again!" Demanded the teenagers.

"The love of my life,"

The crowd goes silent. Tadashi was the one who answered. Cherry got even more pissed off at their shameless PDA. Joe whistled. Miya rolled his eyes again, while Reki couldn't help but have stars in his eyes.

"If you can both go on a vacation, where would you go?"

"Siquijor, Philippines. Maybe Cebu. Just the two of us."

"Really?"

"You want to visit there right? Let's go in the summer."

"Next question please!" Cherry interrupted, brows knitted. Damn these two love birds. Who even came up with this question-and-answer portion? Are they trying to shove these two's relationship at Cherry's single ass?

"Is he the jealous type?" Ainosuke thought for a few seconds. It never crossed his mind.

"I'm not sure. What is there to be jealous of? I only have eyes for him."

"So Adam was just playing with my feelings?" Langa commented. Reki was the only one who heard his remark.

"You took him seriously?"

"No... but, it feels as if I got betrayed."

"Don't worry, you still got me!" Reki declared.

"Are you the jealous type?"

"Not really." A pause. Ainosuke adjusts himself in his seat. "Maybe just a bit,"

"Ainosuke-sama, I only have eyes for you too."

"NEXT!" Cherry bellowed. Joe giggled next to him, amused at how impatient he was to get this portion over with.

"What feature of the celebrant do you find the most attractive?"

"His hands.

"I like your face and your beauty mark but I love your hands the most. The way you just know where to touch~"

"FYI! There are minors here." Cherry interrupted again while he rolled his eyes.

"What feature of yours do they find most attractive?"

"My legs."

". . ." Tadashi was speechless.

"Silly puppy, you think I won't notice?" Ainosuke leers at him. Obviously guilty, Tadashi pressed his lips together in defeat, shoulders hunched downward in embarrassment, ears as red as the roses at the Shindo mansion.

"This pair is something else." Joe commented. "Shamelessly kinky. Damn even I'm a bit jealous!"

"Shut up! Can't blame Tadapi. I find Adam's legs attractive too." Joe stared at Cherry dumbfounded.

"What?"

"Nothing, I was just surprised."

"Finally, please say a message to the birthday celebrant." Ainosuke cleared his throat.

"Happy birthday puppy~! We'll be together for the rest of our lives. Love you!"

Ainosuke stood up from his seat. He took something behind the podium and rushed to where Tadashi sat. With a bouquet of red roses in his hand, he lifted Tadashi up as he hugged him tightly, startling the other man. He kissed him in front of everyone and offered him the roses with a childish grin. Cherry and Joe watched their friend with gentle eyes. The look on Ainosuke's face was full of bliss. He looked so content and happy as he held Tadashi in his arms. The love he has for Tadashi was so apparent and precious that it was jealousy-inducing.

"He was the one who set this portion up." Cherry deduced.

"He did.

"He has been preparing for this party behind Tadapi's back and was very nervous about it. Isn't it cute?"

Cherry hid his face behind his fan. "Not gonna lie, it is."

Hiroomi looked at the couple with admiration. He wished he could get the same kind of love too. Oka couldn't stop himself from feeling content.

Here was true love. And it was beautiful.

Reki ran to the stage dragging Langa and Miya with him. He encouraged everyone to take a group picture. He already set up the camera for the shoot. Everyone huddled together with Ainosuke and Tadashi at the center and took a picture.

When the picture developed, everyone's eyes widened with surprise. Tadashi smiled so sweetly at the camera that everyone felt like they got slapped in the face. So he had a reason he was scowling all the time: it was to save everyone from having a heart attack every time he flashes his charming smile. Ainosuke's affection towards Tadashi had been difficult to comprehend, but now they understood where he was coming from.

[elbertoko]

[islifearecipe]

Can anyone guess what ISLIFEARECIPE.net is doing tomorrow in Siquijor, the Philippines? Here's a clue...

[soulsanitarium]

Philippines🇵🇭 Two films, both a bit difficult to find but you can learn other stuff

1. ⭐️⭐️🎥Barang (2006) dir. Neal Tan

Unfortunately a decent copy to watch is difficult to find. In addition, there is a short film of the same name that is quite funny, but it is a bit amateurish. You might find the trailer of the movie to get the idea what this movie is about. Instead of reviewing the movie I focus here on the word Barang.

🪲Barang is the Philippine language (Cebuano) name for a witch, sorcerer or black magician(other, Mambabarang). Effigies, insects and spells are used in the movies.

In 🇵🇭 Black Magic, an insect is typically sent with a curse that invades your human body. However the Filipino healers (Manambal) use different herbs to make many kind of ointments. 🍯

🏝In the late 17th century, Spanish explorers discovered (arrived ) an island called Siquijor. There had been an epidemic in the boat and the Spaniards asked the locals to do all they can to cure their crew. But after learning the process of Siquijor traditional healing, the Spaniards distanced themselves from the so-called sorceries and ‘witches’, and called it the Island of Witches.

2. ⭐️⭐️⭐️🎥Siquijor: Mystic Island (2007) can be found online. Directed by Espina. A TV crew for a paranormal reality-television show haunted by an unknown entity after they visit Siquijor.

This is a much better quality film thanks to international crew perhaps, reviews have been bad but I liked the idea.

Beautiful place, I would like to visit there.

There is also Death Metal band called Barang

After this you should find also real healing videos from Tube (link below)

[itsjanetimbengan]

Siquijor and its Exquisite Charm

It was a cold, rainy, and cloudy kind of morning when we arrived at Dumaguete Airport. After a peal of thunder, we decided to take a tricycle going to Dumaguete Port. We touched down Siquijor after an hour of ferry ride and rode a tricycle again to reach our hotel.

Palm trees swayed gently in the breeze, fresh air filled my lungs and my eyes felt refreshed with the lush of greens around me. Siquijor might be notorious for black magic, mystic, and sorcery, but I got a sense of serenity in this place.

For an island known for witchcrafts and folklores, Siquijor boasts its exquisite charm with its unspoiled palm-fringed beaches, scenic water wonders, and laid-back setting.

HOW TO GET THERE 

We booked our flight to Dumaguete because this is the closest airport with frequent flights from Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines.

From Dumaguete-Sibulan Airport, charter a tricycle or a cab to get you to the port. Several ferries like Oceanjet, Montenegro Lines run as early as 7:00 am until 4:30 pm going to Siquijor which fare ranges from P130 to P240.

From Siquijor Port, there are a lot of tricycle drivers you can rent to bring you to where your accommodation is. Tricycle is the usual mode of transportation in the area so tourists normally prefer to hire tricycles for the island tour.

WHERE WE STAYED

Located in San Juan area, Eastern Garan Seaview Resort offers an amazing cliff top views and not to mention a super chill vibes with its outdoor swimming pool and beach front view (and incredible sunset!!!).

PLACES TO VISIT

Siquijor, located in the Central Visayas, is the third smallest province in the Philippines, thus can be toured in one day only. It is locally known as “Esla del Fuego” because of its mystical fireflies.

We rented a tricycle for the whole day tour around the island.

CENTURY-OLD BALETE TREE

Believed to be enchanted up to this day, the 400-year-old Balete Tree lies in Lazi which is considered to be the oldest and biggest in the province of Siquijor. Apart from being said that mythical creatures live in Balete Trees, what makes it really mystical is that a natural spring flows right underneath the tree. If you’re up for a quick foot spa, just dip your feet and let the fish doctors nibble around your feet!

There are stalls that sell some souvenirs, voodoo dolls, and love potions!

CAMBUGAHAY FALLS

Less than 200 steps going down, you will be mesmerized by Cambugahay Falls’ clear and turquoise warm water originating from natural spring. Lots of locals and tourists go here and enjoy making their sway to the falls.

This falls has a three-tiered level, the top and middle which usually serve as swimming areas and the bottom and the largest as the jumping site. It usually gets crowded in the afternoon but just a tip, the top tier is the least crowded area where you can do unlimited swings for only 20 pesos.

SALAGDOONG BEACH

Ahhh, I have to say that this is my favorite place in Siquijor! You will be lured with its magnificent stretch of translucent blue waters and fine white sand. Salagdoong Beach is also famous for its cliff diving area with almost 35 feet high, waiting for adrenaline junkies and daredevils to take the plunge straight into the water.

GUIWANON SPRING PARK

Guiwanon Spring Park is a mangrove preservation and protection area which is managed by the fishermen and environment organization in this community. 

A minute of walk on wood and bamboo bridges, you will be led to an open area or seminar hall which offers a magnificent view of the sea with a crisp, fresh air, surrounded by a lush mangrove forest. This sanctuary is a refreshing stop with an entrance fee of 10 pesos and in fact, there are small cottages you can rent if you want to stay overnight.

PALITON BEACH

The giant palm trees lined up at the shoreline, the powdery white sand, and the sparkling blue waters make Paliton Beach a nice spot for basking under the sun. 

It was 3 in the afternoon and the sun shone brilliantly, making the water in the ocean glitter invitingly. Definitely a perfect tour-ender – we just unwind and chill by the beach until it’s time to go back to our hotel.

Other tourist spots in Siquijor:

Saint Francis de Assisi Parish Church

Hapitanan Cafe Restaurant

Lazi Church and Convent

Lagaan Falls

Capilay Hot Spring

FOLLOW ME!

Instagram: https://instagram.com/janetimbengan

Twitter: https://twitter.com/janetimbengan

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrBSwTcWdhohq2UCPzUOs_Q

[astoryinred]

Balete Trees: Eerie or A Sign of Life?

The balete tree is one iconic aspect of Filipino folklore, said to be a dwelling of spirits and an entity worthy of reverence. This tree features heavily in many stories, including the comics and Netflix series Trese.

But what is a balete exactly? Scientifically the trees called balete are actualy several species of the genus Ficus, under the family Moraceae. This means that baletes are related to figs and the famed banyan tree of India, and even more distantly related to mulberries. One characteristic that baletes share with banyan trees is that they both start out as "air plants" and grow their roots downwards over their host tree till they touch the ground. Some species of baletes and banyans are also called "strangler figs" since this growth pattern kills off the host tree, leaving a dead wooden core within. In fact some baletes get so well established long after their host trees have died off, to the point that the woody roots form a sort of enclosure large enough for an adult (or two) to squeeze into. Very large baletes are excellent residences and nesting sites for a myriad of birds, lizards, insects, and other small animals.

The Science of Baletes: Where There is Balete, There Is Life

How did baletes get their eerie reputation? Some have thought that this is owing to the baletes' reputations of being strangler figs, others ascribe it to the balete's unsettling appearance especially when its stringy aerial roots are billowing in the breeze of a moonless night. Some balete species are allergenic, and exposure to their bark, pollen or fruit can cause respiratory symptoms that can be mistaken for...yes, a supernatural malady. However some people will tell you that there is a reason that baletes should be revered: where there is a balete, there is water. Baletes thrive in areas where the groundwater is readily accessible. In fact there is one balete in the province of Siquijor that has a stream emnating from the very base of the tree. To the ancients groundwater and surface water meant life. Where there is a balete, there life can thrive.

I first heard this during a trip to the Manila botanical gardens, while standing underneath a shady balete on the premises. I didn't think much of it till years later when I got around to counting how many strangler figs and baletes in my neighborhood. I grew up in an urban village right next to a creek, and some parts of the street have been built over the water. Not even a quarter of a kilometer away from the creek's intersection with a wall, there were once a dozen small baletes/strangler figs that had been cleared away for a road widening project. Further inside, within the village, was a fully established balete that was a good sport enough to permit people hanging Halloween decor on it every October. Other fig species relying on a little less water grew throughout the area.

It would then stand to reason that people would be reluctant to cut down a tree that signified the presence of groundwater, and certainly had a part in keeping the aquifer clean. The presence of supernatural elements would be a bonus deterrent.

Baletes in Other Stories

Baletes are also said to be the places for some of the ancient babaylans to have spiritual encounters or revelations essential for their training and connection with the Filipino spirit world. This is the reason of course that Alexandra in Trese was sent to a balete tree for her trials as a young girl. There is no one account as to what a young babaylan was supposed to encounter among those great woody roots, but it was understood that returning from the balete was a step in the babaylan's journey towards becoming a fully fledged healer and guide for the community.

In Jose Rizal's novels Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo, a balete tree features as a key location for the Ibarra family of San Diego. In the first novel, the balete tree on the edge of town is said to be a site for misfortune as well as a refuge against the heat and other entities. In the early chapters of El Filibusterismo, two characters return to find something left behind in that great tree.

And lastly...the lady of Balete Drive? Yes, there is a Balete Drive located in Quezon City. This street is an oddly quiet thoroughfare between two busy neighborhoods, lined with this eponymous tree. Some people say the White Lady does not exist. Some swear up and down on her existence. No one really wants to hang around after dark to find out.

What Do You Do If You Encounter a Balete?

Leave it alone. The tree will not harm you.

But maybe you just might want to say "tabi tabi po" as you pass by. Who knows what is watching you from among those roots?

[shellwanders]

Kawasan Falls and Caves Siquijor: A Must-Visit Destination for Nature Lovers

Kawasan Falls and Caves is a stunning natural attraction located on the island of Siquijor in the Philippines. The site boasts a series of waterfalls and caves that are sure to take visitors’ breath away. Traveling to Kawasan Falls and Caves Siquijor for the first time? This detailed and curated travel guide will make it easy for you to navigate your way inside, save money, and maximize your…

[hanalwayssolo]

1, 2, 10, 18, 20 for the writing asks!

1. Tell us about your current project(s)  – what’s it about, how’s progress, what do you love most about it?

By 'current' projects, I'd take that as the ones actively consuming my brain, and they are:

What We Ought To Give, part 3 and final series under The Burden We Share. It's an Uncharted fanfic centered on my OC Darcy Kingsley and her absolutely tumultuous relationship with Sam Drake. For the progress, I'm on my last stretch for the remaining chapters (6 more to go!) and I am stressed lmao. Anyway, what I love most about it... a lot, strangely enough? I love Darcy and her twins, the special family dynamic, and the notion that you can still find love (and love can still find you!) at whatever age or phase in life you're in. Also, I rarely read stories that revolve around a woman in her late thirties/forties who gets to do shit that’s more than just about being a mother, that they can be both a mother AND whoever they want to be, so here’s that, too.

Laws of Motion, part 2 and final series under The Science of Us. A FFXV fanfic I had to put on hold because the lore is bigger than my own life!! 🤣  But I'm writing and rewriting bits and pieces just so I can keep it moving even at such a horribly slow pace. What I love most about it is the big-ass found family energy, my dearest baby Briony, my Messengers, Cor the (not so) Immortal falling in love with an actual immortal that is Candela. 🤍

Renegades. A BNHA fanfic that's been in progress for quite a while, and since I have no time to focus on it, it does pick at my brain with plotbunnies from time to time. Tells the story of people discovering their Quirks for the first time and how they come to terms with it. Features POVs of people from different parts of the world. What I love most about it: Kit Fujiwara, her friendships with Xiomara, Tala, Miguel, and Odessa.

2. Tell us about what you're most looking forward to writing – in your current project, or a future project.

There's this original story I've been keen on writing soon. The premise: it's set on one of the most beautiful islands in the Philippines but also believed to be one of the most mysterious. Siquijor holds a special place in my heart, and so does Corazon, a former classics teacher who came home from NYC to look after her mother. But her homecoming is soon mired by the faces of past lovers who have wronged her, and memories are quite a trigger for her need for blood. 🥴

10. How would you describe your writing process?

A fucking mess, that’s what 🤧

18. Do any of your stories have alternative versions? (plotlines that you abandoned, AUs of your own work, different characterisations?) Tell us about them.

God we can talk about this all day, but The Burden We Share in particular has tons of AUs. @oc-musings​ knows this all lmao

20. Tell us the meta about your writing that you really want to ramble to people about (symbolism you’ve included, character or relationship development that you love, hidden references, callbacks or clues for future scenes?)

I have a lot of these in What We Ought To Give!!!! 🥺  And I remember going on full on meta on this lovely reader who asked stuff about Darcy’s connection with the twins and how I’ve been hinting at that ever since the beginning of the chapter. As an avid reader, I love paying attention to details - like some nicknames matter, and how mannerisms are described, and I love incorporating these things into my writing. Just leaving a trail of crumbs and all that. 

Fun meta asks for writers

[woosohn-archived]

[ at the moment tag ] heh the tag games are backkk

favorite color

~officially~ it’s lilac / lavender! tho most of my things are in pale / dark green as a calming color... i think i prefer lilac in digital design, or in smaller accents

three favorite food

this changes a lot depending on my mood but i do love sweets and dessert in general! so: 1. sans rival; 2. blueberry cheesecake; 3. chocolate crunch brownies (google says that’s what they’re called? chocolate fudge brownies with rice crisps on top)

song stuck in my head

akap by imago

last thing i googled

“bra strap bracelet” don’t ask; edit: it’s the choco crunch brownies now lol

dream trip

i can think of a lot of places but since the panoramic ? panini ? panasonic ? started i’ve just been missing our local beaches </3 i’ve been thinking of siquijor and siargao mostly

time

2:13 pm as i write this

tea or coffee

i mean... there’s milk tea :’) but considering all varieties i drink coffee more

last show i watched

last one i finished was sweet home a few weeks ago i think

currently reading

kitchen by banana yoshimoto

currently watching

fruits basket. i say currently but tbh it’s been postponed for months and i haven’t been in the mood to finish like the last 3 eps of it hfjdks

sweet, savory, spicy

sweet > spicy > savory

last song i listened to

last words of a shooting star by mitski

last movie i watched

dahil mahal na mahal kita (1998) dir. wenn v. deramas! it’s the old fil movie i was talking abt giffing :’) the set is in @filimi‘s drafts but i’m still iffy about the quality so it’s just collecting dust there

ult groups

tbz :) just them officially bc i can’t rly give proper attention to more than one group lol but i have a lot that i casually stan! and my fav rookies (?) would be drippin since i have a sb for them and all lmao

cravings

rn a mango graham float, i think. and physical touch but we don’t talk abt that

hobbies

hmm i am v inconsistent wt “hobbies” as i burn through them quick and then pick them up again, but i go out in my quad skates at least 3x a week??? that’s the most consistent one ig apart from retail therapy

feeling

uni resumes in a few days and i am anxious but also a tiny, tiny, tiny bit excited at the prospect of working on my productivity lol also bc i impulse bought a fkton of stationery i’ll be guilting myself into using

tagged by @24hoursofdaisy thanks julia! :*

tagging @seunqs @l-sangyeon @filmopen @pearlhoon @minki-s @k-sunwoo @yeonjuins @dontflirt @sxnwoo @gneocchi @oraclegazes ​

[cyriloh]

Here’s a confession...

The truth is, I knew that one day, I’ll talk about it here. The difference is that I thought I’ll write it when I’ve already recovered from it.  

I knew I had a problem but like most people who are struggling with it, I was in denial. I thought it wasn’t that bad because I didn’t do it regularly. But I think it’s time to acknowledge it now before it gets even worse.

Now is the time I have to face my problem: I have an eating disorder.

I’ve been bulimic for years and only Ryan knew about it. I don’t know how it started and when, but my earliest memory of it is this one time I was traveling with Ryan. We went to this nice restaurant in Siquijor and I had some seafood pasta. After that, Ryan ordered pizza and I had more. I felt so guilty and threw up.

Then it happened again and again and again, although it’s not something I did every day. There was also a time when I thought I will never do it again, but then the same thing happened.

I’m tired of it. 

I don’t have an idea until when I’ll struggle with it. What I know is that every day, I’m trying to fight it. It's not easy, but I know time will come and I’ll be healed.

[greenurban101]

Did you know that the enchanting Balite Tree is more than just a myth?

Balete tree in Siquijor, a province in the Visayas (Photo by Belle Piccio)

This plant species is commonly known as Balite tree (Ficus balete Merr.)

Do you happen see this plant?

Or as you pass by the bridge did you always see this plant present?

For you, do you find this as important animate object in the City?

Well, when seeing balite tree, people usually think horror stories. In my twenty-two (22) years residing in Cagayan de Oro City, I always encounter this kind of plant and I wonder even it is not planted intentionally this species grow naturally in the backyard. Even though the community tried to remove a huge balite tree in our barangay wherein instance people avoid as possible this tree by which mostly influenced by their superstition beliefs from legendary urban stories and not as much appreciated as one of the important tree in our environment. Also, the other reason was to plant other native tree they planned that would contribute to the community in times of flood control and to promote green urban space. Which indeed sounds reasonable at all, since planting native trees is one major factor that contribute in our environment today and becomes a vital protection for communities against floods and water pollution.

However, did you know that this enchanting balite tree is more than just a myth?

Balite trees are plant species endemic in our country, a native tree as shelter of indigenous flora and fauna that depends on their food, soil will not erode by grappling the strength of this tree, and the community itself benefited as their extra shade as well as refreshing air that could not be altered by any kind of air condition unit. In addition, balite trees provides the community valuable natural resources and can utilizes as herbal medicine of its root, bark of root and leaves.

Moreover, planting trees that was not adaptable in the area does not necessarily to introduce other kind of plant instead planting trees that are present already in the area is advisable to address specifically endemic species that will survive is a great advantage in the community and of its term endemic species aside from providing oxygen, this trees help recover and expand habitats in the forest for threatened native species of flora and fauna. Also, develops the continuity with the local natural landscape.

Before the total lockdown in Cagayan de Oro City caused by the spread pandemic of Covid-19, I also experienced doubts of balite trees that I found in our community because this looks like nothing to help in the environment aside from trees releases oxygen by photosynthesis and can store and absorb large amount of water that helps to alleviate against flood and are anchored deep down into the ground that are not easily get toppled by strong winds. Eventually, as I moved up to college currently a student taking up as an environmental science I grow to find it interesting to explore information about this plant and by the help from our instructors my thoughts were then gradually learns fundamental significant of this trees as well as in other organizations that promote green society and supporting native flora species.

Photo taken in Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental, Philippines. 2021.

This balite tree grows in our backyard, the old huge balite tree was cut down three (3) years ago yet this plant still grow in our community and was decided to regrow naturally where an advantage of seminars that educate people of how these tree contribute not only for its shady effect but how this help in flood risks and promoting sustainable green urban forest. And thus, there is nothing wrong to stand of what people believed after all we have our different opinions and as part of Filipinos known of its legendary urban stories. However, limiting ourselves ruins our chance to change productively thereby educating ourselves about the environment this enhanced our actions to maintain healthily of the biodiversity. Also, engaging planting trees activity this strengthens inside the community, so let us support planting native trees and forest conservation in our community!