297 – On The Manam Experience And A Birthday Post (Part 1)

Today is ironically my birthday, but I don't want to celebrate it. I chose not to celebrate it mainly because I still live with a family that infantilizes me. Look, I'm already 31 and these people still think of me as a kid – a seven to 10-year-old kid who can't decide for himself. It …

Advertisement

294 – On The Pompano Pomp

(AUTHOR'S NOTE: While the recipe itself is true, some elements of this narrative have been fictionalized. I won't tell which parts as it would ruin the post – so I'll let you do the work.) Pompano (talakitok in Filipino, pronounced tall-ah-key-talk) is known as a meaty fish, making it a mainstay of many Filipino mealtimes. …

293 – On 3 Unorthodox Blogging Tips For The Plebs

As someone who blogs with a much more long-term goal in mind, I don’t usually keep track of how long I have been on the WordPress platform. Heck, if not for a reminder I received – I wouldn’t realize that I’ve been blogging for eight years already! (I started The Monching's Guide in September of …

289 – On Lifting Away Earthly Pain: A Eulogy

We have heard stories of many a woman who triumphed in the face of adversity. Hidilyn Diaz was one of them, giving us the first Olympic gold medal in almost a century. On August 15, another name  was added to that list – our dearly beloved Mama. Mama wore many hats in her more than …

262 – On Eating Out In The New Normal

The Covid-19 pandemic has definitely shaken up how we live and work today with remote work arrangements, cashless payment methods, online shopping portals, and food delivery apps becoming part of the new normal. Governments worldwide have been exhorting people to stay home and step out only when absolutely necessary to avoid the spread of the …