Just like in the US, we are at the mercy of private insurance companies when it comes to healthcare. I envy Canada’s publicly funded health care system. PhilHealth is supposed to be the local version of it, but it pales in comparison to the universal health care provided to Canadians. Of course, we can’t compare […]
Author: Issa
Why It’s Perfectly Normal For Everyone to Love “The Queen’s Gambit”
How could a TV series based on a silent, sedentary sport captivate millions of Netflix viewers? Reviewers say that a great deal of its success is likely down to solid casting (starring Anya Taylor-Joy as the female chess prodigy), mesmerizing cinematic style, absorbing drama, and believable chess matches. For someone who used to play chess, […]
An Open Farewell Letter
Knowing we will all die one day doesn’t console a soul who longs for long talks, aimless walks, and unplanned movie nights with you. How do I wrap my head around the fact that you are here in my heart, alive and vibrant, yet I could not even touch your cheeks? Or your hands. Your forehead, I […]
6 Truths About Parenting Every Couple Needs to Hear
More than a year ago, Neil and I sat with a few couples who recently, and not so recently, had a baby. As we talked with them, many of the burning questions on my mind were (honestly) shopping-related. As I previously mentioned, we had a small space so we really needed to be choosy about […]
A Year in Review – 10 Questions on Condo Living Answered
We moved into our one-bedroom condo unit last year during the last week of May 2019. It was still bare then. Except for a bed with a mattress, a work station, a dining table, and three chairs, our place had no other furniture nor appliances. We also found out that I was pregnant, so we […]
Easing Into Meditation As A New Mom
Even if you love to reflect, which I hope you don’t mistake for rumination, starting a meditation practice can still be a struggle. If you are a new mother like me, then that makes it harder. Did you say you are a working mom, too? Now it seems impossible to begin meditating. But please, do […]
Keeping A Promise – A Travel Plan After The Pandemic
“You never really showed me around Manila,” said Neil. I tried to recall all our trips to Manila and concluded he was right. We didn’t get a chance to explore the city where I was from. I was the first person to take him to Mall of Asia, SM Megamall, Shangri-la, and hotels in Manila, […]
42 Essential Skills for New Parents
As new parents, we’re expected to know some basic skills to assure our parents and in-laws that we are capable of caring for a tiny, fragile human being. This list is a work in progress and by no means, a complete checklist of every skill new moms and dads need to possess to prepare for parenting.
Thoughts After Reading “The Giver” by Lois Lowry
Living under quarantine has allowed me to read more. The Giver by Lois Lowry is the latest book that piqued my interest. Haven’t read it yet? Here’s why I think you might like it, too.
5 Inspiring Animes to Watch If You Haven’t Yet
Animes about ambition are not unheard of. After all, a protagonist needs to have a goal, desire or wish for him to be worth watching. Agree?