My Week in Fitness (Jan 20 - 26, 2020)

I only hit the gym once this week, because of Dinagyang transportation disarray, but I was also able to do a round at Esplanade.

I guess doing more physical activities this year has paid off because I joined my first race this year last Saturday, and I still managed to get below the 90 minute mark for my 10km run despite getting only an hour of sleep prior to the race.

Too bad, Rheane missed the beers! Haha!

I also did quite  a good amount of walking, but the biggest culprit of this week's high calorie intake is spending the weekend at Mam Melds' hahahuhu

Found myself indulging in ice cream and eating rice more than once a day.

The good news is I wore my belt this morning and it's back to the last "eye" so I guess I've lost a bit of the weight that I gained late last year?

The weighing scale at Doctors' begs to disagree, though, because I'm heavier by a kilo there.

Anyway, hopefully I'll be able to get back to the grind this week.

Dinagyang Weekend 2020

This morning, Rheane and I stood in separate lines in a fastfood to grab breakfast before she goes to the office.

"Your love surrounds me like a lullaby// Singing softly, you are mine oh mine" - Maybe the Night, Ben & Ben

Ben & Ben's Maybe the Night played on the speakers and we giggled and held each other's hand and giggled some more and I couldn't help but think how an immensely satisfying punctuation it was to the weekend that we just had -- one that we initially planned to be packed with party activities but turned out to be more fulfilling: it aptly started with a leisurely breakfast that gave us enough energy for Friday night fangirling as she took part in the float parade (my cutie sparkling jellyfish 😍), half and half concerts and a late meal bonding before going home to Mandurriao Mansion;

"It's like our time together is just ours. It's our own creation. It must be like I'm in your dream, and you in mine." - Celine, Before Sunrise

an out-of-condition 10km run for me that i still managed to finish in less than 90 minutes early Saturday morning followed by a gift of good luck, which we badly needed after finiding out Rheane's sister gave birth to Baby Cloud, a looong day of waiting that rendered us too physically exhausted to even consider partying that night;

Knotted cherry stalk. 😏

 Sunday morning visit to Shing and then church, lunch and much needed rest at MM, ended the night with finally watching Before Sunrise, one of Rheane's favorite films, on Netflix.

 "If there's any kind of magic in this world. . . it must be in the attempt of understanding someone." - Celine, Before Sunrise

We probably would've had more socmed-worthy pics and cooler memories to look back to if we decided to go out and party, and sometimes I worry that Rheane could be misising out on a lot of fun stuff because she has to prioritize my needs over hers, but then she holds my hand and looks at me in ways that constantly silence my insecurities, and many times I catch myself thanking the universe for this awesome, awesome presence in my life.

"Inalay mo sa akin ang gabing walang hangganan." Himala, Rivermaya

I do not always feel worthy, but I am always, always grateful.

My Week in Fitness (Jan 13 - Jan 19)

Last week was quite productive in terms of trying to reach my fitness goals.

I was able to hit the gym twice this week, doing an hour on the treadmill and another hour on dumbells at both times.

I've been trying to eat healthy, too, and this Buddha Bowl by Monkey Grounds is a current favorite. It's loaded with beans and grains and vegetables, and has a really yummy garlic tahini sauce.

It was also my first time to join the zumba session at Esplanade, out of Rheane's plodding. Lots of fun!

Recorded some workout vids, but I really don't know what to do with them yet. Haha!

It was Ati-atihan weekend and I did my best to eat (and drink) healthy to compensate for eating a lot. This peach tea was really yummy!

Stayed physical throughout the weekend through sadsad and commuting via walking. Yey!

Loving how I'm being all dedicated to my fitness goals this month. Let's hope I get to keep it up!

Day Off

Buringot si Lunes samtang nagatulok kay Martes nga masako ang pag-Facebook.

“Kadugay gid sa iya pirmi mag-abot,” kumod ni Miyerkules sa natuyo nga si Huwebes.

“Ara na sya!” syagit ni Sabado sang makita si Biyernes.

“Maayo,” siling ni Dominggo. “Sulod na kita kay masugod na ang misa.”


Editor's Note:
This flash fiction was first published in Mirisi: Hiligaynon Flash Fiction by Kasingkasing Press in 2017.

My Week in Running (Jan 6 - 12, 2020)

I did 12 kilometers on the treadmill last Tuesday, and I could've probably done more, except I wanted to have time for a few minutes on dumbbells.

I really love my blue Nike shoes because they're very light. I have yet to try them out on the road for longer distances, though.

Meanwhile, my gray Under Armour shoes are quite heavy! My legs felt like lead when I ran 10 kilometers last Thursday. Well, technically, I jogged 9 kilometers and then met up with Rheane to wrap up the 10k.

On Friday, just to mix things up on the treadmill, I just sped-walked for 6 kilometers with incline varying from 5 to 10.

I'm really doing my best to engage in as much physical activities as possible because I feel that I am putting back the weight I worked so hard to lose.

Maybe in the next couple of weeks, I can get back to kickboxing (and let's see if Rheane will be convinced to join).

Sa Math Lang Ako Magaling

Sa Math Lang Ako Magaling

Huwag na nating pag-usapan

Kung paanong naging parang

Linyang may negative slope

Ang damdamin ko para sa ‘yo

Nahulog, patihulog

Falling from left to right.

That’s right.

I fell really, really hard

Really, really fast.

But you left.

And all the while, akala ko

Parehas ang patutunguhan

Ng feelings ko at feelings mo

Pero ayun, feeler lang pala ako.

Huwag na natin itong pag-usapan

Kagaya nang hindi natin pinag-uusapan

Ang walong libong namatay

Na pinatay dahil nadamay sa digmaan

O nanlaban sa pulis, kabilang na

Yung may edad

Disinwebe Katorse Disisais.

Mga bagay na hindi natin

Pinag-uusapan dahil die-hard DDS ka

At sabi mo, die-hard Dilawan ako

Samantalang yung totoo

Eh sa ‘yo lang naman ako

Patay na patay nang todo-todo.

Siguro, in a parallel dimension

Magkakaroon ng pagkakataon

Yung intersection

Ng damdamin nating dalawa.

Siguro eh magkakaroon ako

Sa ‘yo ng halaga,

‘Yung sana naman ay mahigit

Sa isang libong pisong budget ng mga ahensya.

Ewan ko ba,

Ang point ko lang naman dito

Ay ito:

Huwag na nating pag-usapan

Ang lines na hindi coinciding

Sa plane na hindi cartesian

At space na hindi euclidean,

Kagaya nang hindi natin pinag-uusapan

Ang mga linyang iginuhit

Ng mga imbestigador sa kalsadang

Di hamak na mas magaspang

Sa graphing paper

Na nakasanayan na nating guhitan.

Huwag na nating pag-usapan ito

Dahil sa math lang ako magaling

Hindi sa feelings, o pag-amin,

O pagtatanggol sa paniniwalang

Walang buhay ang dapat

Walang habas na kinikitil

So unless pag-uusapan natin

Na ang nararamdaman ko para sa ‘yo

Kailanman ay hindi magiging equal

Sa nararamdaman mo para sa akin

Huwag mo na lang muna

Akong kakausapin

Dahil hindi naman ito tungkol sa math

At sa math lang ako magaling.

(The poem was published by The Kill List Chronicles here)

First Weekend of 2020

It was a wonderful weekend escapade to launch the year 2020 to a good start.

We drove by motorcycle from Robinson's Place Iloilo where Rheane bought chips and bread for snacking.

Because it was a long drive and we were quite hungry already, we stopped over at Iloilo Coffee House.

We ordered a grilled cheese sandwich and a cold Mt. Apo coffee. (Pro tip: It costs extra to have sugar syrup and milk but it's worth it. Ask for some ice and the drink's perfect for a hot afternoon!)

I was able to book a room at OYO Sheridan Boutique Resort for two nights via Agoda. We arrived at the resort at around 4 PM. We got the deluxe room, a spacious one bed-room with a hot and cold shower, a mini-ref, coffe and tea, and other hotel room basics. The place has a nice pool and plenty of spots where you can get nice shots for your IG!

We had dinner at Ayanna Restaurant (within the resort) and took a dip in the pool afterwards.

The following morning, we got up to avail of the breakfast that came with the booking. There was a choice between American and Pinoy breakfasts. We sat by the pond, and while it's brighter than inside the restaurant, be prepared to be assaulted by flies.

We initially had plans to swim after breakfast but we dozed right off and it was already past noon when we woke up haha!

We decided to have lunch at Beb's, a 3-5 minute ride from Sheridan. We had baked talaba and liempo, and Rheane's fave: Dan Eric's ice cream!

Rheane had initially requested for Baybay, Balas, and Beer but we couldn't go to Guimaras or a good beach, that's why we settled for an inland resort. On impulse, we decided to drive to Sol y Mar. It was a really good decision because Rheane was able to get her Baybay and Balas requests haha!

We waited for the sunset by the beach, and then headed back to the resort. We didn't have dinner anymore, and just settled for bread and chips (and Rheane's beer) before going to sleep.

We went to mass at the Parish of Immaculate Conception (but not before getting a flat tire urgggh).

Then, back to the resort for breakfast (and fliiies).

After getting our fill, we went around the resort to look for photoshoot spots. And found em! Haha!

We took another swim in their pool, took videos for our first vlog (haha ain't happening), and because the restaurant was swamped, we decided to just have lunch in the City.

Spent the rest of the afternoon with Rheane's friends before settling down for a quiet nightcap at Dunkin (our first for the year!).

Spending time with Rheane is really a lot of fun, and a really great way to get away from the toxicity of work, and life in general. It doesn't really matter if we do a bunch of things or just spend some quiet time together.

But the weekend must have taken a toll on her because she got sick today. And I felt really bad but hey we're messaging right now as I wrap up this post, and she sounds bubbly and not at all sick and I remember how earlier tonight, I was watching her eat her lomi with such faintness and I kept getting overwhelmed by how much I wanted her to be well and not feeling any amount of discomfort and I felt so helpless aaarrrgh.

Anyway. Here's my poem, Coming Up for Air, to end this post.