Geology, Homeschooling, Life, Local Travel, research, travel blog

A Geologist’s Journey into the Red Zone

Working as a geologist in the industry has given me access to places in the Philippines that most people will never set foot in—areas classified as "red zones," off-limits to tourists, and often overlooked on maps. For nearly five years, I was stationed in Mindanao, where some of the most remote and geologically hazardous sites… Continue reading A Geologist’s Journey into the Red Zone

Geology, Homeschooling, Local Travel, travel blog

A Dry Volcanic Caldera in the Philippines? Yes, we have one!

A caldera is a large, basin-shaped depression. It forms when a volcano's magma chamber empties during a massive eruption. The overlying land then collapses into the void. It is different from a volcanic crater. A volcanic crater is a smaller, bowl-shaped depression. It typically forms by the explosive release of gases at the surface. The formation of a… Continue reading A Dry Volcanic Caldera in the Philippines? Yes, we have one!

Coping with Depression, Homeschooling, My Creations, My Life in Watercolor, Recycling

Building Dioramas as Creative Expression and for My Son’s Art and Science Project

Whenever I feel anxious about recent events, uncertainties, or life in general, I retreat into my creative zone. Crafting with my hands has always been my sanctuary, my way to de-stress, and what I often call my personal zen mode. For my anxiety I have had a few triggers. The typhoons that devastated my country… Continue reading Building Dioramas as Creative Expression and for My Son’s Art and Science Project

Local Travel, Shopping, travel blog

Product Review: JisuLife Portable and Rechargeable Handheld Fan

Disclaimer: I don’t earn any commission from discussing the products mentioned in this article. The following reviews are my honest feedback based on over a month of using this model. With that in mind, please make your purchase decisions with discretion. If you’re a commuter in the Philippines, actually, if you live in the Philippines,… Continue reading Product Review: JisuLife Portable and Rechargeable Handheld Fan

fountain-pen, My Creations, Shopping

Sketching with and Review of Vinta Inks’ A Holiday Feast Edition (Bibingka, Tsokolate, and Puto Bumbong)

The Christmas season has already arrived in the Philippines, and for many of us, that means company holiday parties, camaraderie, reunions, feasts, and, of course, raffles! Raffles are one of my favorite parts of the season because I’ve had a lucky streak—winning nearly every raffle draw at my previous company’s Christmas parties. I’ve also been… Continue reading Sketching with and Review of Vinta Inks’ A Holiday Feast Edition (Bibingka, Tsokolate, and Puto Bumbong)

Life, Local Travel, My Creations, My Life in Watercolor, travel blog

Capturing Waterfalls: Inspired by Core Memories and the Geological Processes Behind Their Formation

For some inexplicable reason, waterfalls became my favorite subject this week. There's something undeniably captivating about them. As I reflected on why, I realized it ties back to a core childhood memory. I love the way rocks are often scattered at the waterfall's base, the lush greenery surrounding them, the soothing sound of water crashing… Continue reading Capturing Waterfalls: Inspired by Core Memories and the Geological Processes Behind Their Formation

Homeschooling, Life, Local Travel

A Stellar Homeschooling Experience at the Philippine Space Week Exhibit at Gateway, Cubao, Philippines

My youngest son has a deep fascination with outer space. One of his many ambitious dreams is to become an astronaut to explore space and study planets and stars. So, when we discovered through their Facebook page that the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) was hosting an exhibit at Gateway Mall in Cubao, we immediately added… Continue reading A Stellar Homeschooling Experience at the Philippine Space Week Exhibit at Gateway, Cubao, Philippines

Foodie, Homeschooling, Life, Local Travel, My Life in Watercolor

Birdwatching and Painting a Bird in UP Diliman Campus with Fellow Homeschoolers

Today is "Araw ng Kagitingan" or National Heroes' Day, an official holiday in the Philippines to commemorate all the heroes who helped build this country from the ground up throughout history. During my son's online class, his classmates mentioned that they missed attending my art classes. It's been a while since I hosted one, so… Continue reading Birdwatching and Painting a Bird in UP Diliman Campus with Fellow Homeschoolers

Homeschooling, Life, Local Travel, My Life in Watercolor

Happy 2024: Local Travel and Recent Watercolor Artworks

Photomicrograph of a rock with a vein of anhydrite and gypsum minerals. I took this photo during my analysis of rock thin sections last week. First off, Happy New Year! The past month has been quite overwhelming, making it challenging for me to extend holiday greetings to everyone. I'm sure many of you can relate.… Continue reading Happy 2024: Local Travel and Recent Watercolor Artworks