I recently met someone: He was everything a fairy tale protagonist falls short of description: He has those penetrating, enigmatic eyes; smile that could make my heart skip a beat at every flash; way with words so smooth, the mulberry worms would fluster; those hands so strong and big, they could hold all planets in one’s universe. He looked like…
Hello Hallyu: My first Seoul trip
I am not going to deny that I am a huge fan of Hallyu and K-pop. So when my boss hinted that she was sending me for a work assignment in South Korea, I immediately volunteered. Getting a visa for this trip was another story though. With all those requirements needed to submit to the travel agency, I almost had…
Of spray nets and iconic hairstyles
This new ad from a personal care brand hit home…” My hair, my say” goes the battle cry of its shampoo brand. I have had my share of bad hair days too: bad because regardless of how the cut would look on me, it would be the take of other people …friends and family members alike who would size up…
A near death experience: perspective of the bereaved
My mother has transitioned four days before Christmas of 2018. It was sudden yet anticipated for, at least by me, because the last few months and weeks, I just knew something inevitable was looming. I have had this knowing that mom was going, but to a certain extent, I was not acknowledging it. Possibly I was in denial that mom,…
Renting a home: how common apps [and patience] can help
Renting a home required a lot of things from the lessee. To rent a “decent” looking place means putting in a third of your monthly income. In many instances, a number of property brokers impose their “standards” of leasing, including paying out a month’s rent in advance and an equivalent of two months’ rent for deposit. They would also demand…
Truths during the Mercury retrograde
Yesterday a construction crane crashed down on a power pole that is supplying electricity in our area. Good thing, no one was hurt and power has been normalized after less than 10 hours. I attribute it to Mercury retrograde. Mercury is in retrograde when it moves in an opposite direction to the Earth. Communication is said to be affected when…
When waiting becomes toxic
Quitting a job? Wait until a new one comes by. Want to find love? Wait for the right person. Feeling something is wrong with the body? Wait for more symptoms to show before going for a check-up. Why do we wait when we can do things now? Why do we procrastinate? Does waiting shield us from making mistakes? Does it…
It takes a village to heal depression
I have read about personalities who died by suicide, allegedly because of depression, including Korean K-Pop Shinee’s Jonghyun, and Korean actor Jun Tae Soo. Their deaths put on spotlight certain realities many of us have chosen to overlook. [ See related story here: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/south-korean-actors-death-triggers-concern-countrys-high-suicide-rate-1076861] I have family members who battled with depression. And while they suffered, I also suffered, and…
Beware of bad business practices
The other day, I attended a local business forum where I got insights on how local entrepreneurs, the SMEs operate. Not generalizing, but I feel that if all business mentors think the way the forum facilitator does, our industry will just be one coliseum for rat race, and espousing a rabid dog eats dog structure. First of all, I am…