RACE DAY: Cebu City Marathon 2026

I'm in week 10 (out of 16) of my Half Marathon training and below is a quick summary of what happened. The longer version is HERE.

• Trained while still healing and still very aware that my body has limits and opinions
• Mixed road runs and treadmill runs (treadmill saved my knees)
• “Easy runs” that were sometimes easy, sometimes not
• Tempo runs that never felt easy
• Long runs slowly building up to 16–17km, with walking breaks
• Strength training I actually enjoyed. Pilates and yoga.. attended inconsistently
• Right knee acting up early on
• Fueled mostly by bananas, Pocari, coffee, and vibes
• Training squeezed in between work, family time, trips home, basketball games, and real life
• Learned that showing up slightly tired still counts

Anyway, as a sort of practice ( B Race), I ran the Cebu City Marathon yesterday.

My first half marathon. And yes, I’m very proud of myself.

Quick throwback: 

I had a stroke last year. My left side took a hit. I worked hard for my health! This run is about me checking in with myself and seeing what my body could do NOW.

I was originally going to try for a sub-2:30. Then I got my period the day before the race. So I changed the plan. I slowed down, listened to my body, and decided to just.. run.

And honestly? I enjoyed the whole thing.

The first part felt manageable. Then KM 17 happened, CCLEX climb! Naglisngag2 jud ang akong ilong! I walked a little over a kilometer, waited it out, then ran the rest of the way to 21K. Conquering CCLEX is officially on my personal brag list.

Update: here's the official results! I can't believe I cracked Top 500 Women! Not bad for someone who was relearning how to move months ago!

Huge thanks to my husband, who has supported me through all of this without question, and to my cousin Titi for showing up on race day. That mattered more than you think.

About the Cebu City Marathon 2026 issues. Yes, they’re TRUE. I got my medal (some didn’t). I won’t get into it, but unless the organizers change, I won’t be signing up again. Still, big thanks to the hydration station crews, hype people, photographers, police, and medics. You're all solid!

Here’s a quick video of pretty much everything that happened.

And now, I rest. Then I continue my training tomorrow! 

'Til next blog! 💛

RACE DAY: Puma Cebu Half Marathon

So.. I signed up for a 10K. Because apparently, surviving a stroke, managing diabetes and hypertension, and leading a team full-time wasn’t challenging enough. I decided to suffer in public with a bib number. Hahahaha

But honestly? I’ve never been happier to suffer.

I trained for 13 weeks with Runna (Pilates, strength, and yoga in between). I started with a 10K time of 1 hour and 27 minutes, and finished the race at 1 hour and 7 minutes (fine, officially 1:08:44, but my watch says 1:07:46, so opkors we’re going with that).

Let's me first show you my race results:

Chip Time: 1:08:44
Gun Time: 1:09:16
Pace: 6:52 min/km
Overall Rank: 278th out of 1,451 runners
Female Rank: 63rd
Age Group: (40–44): 9th

9th? 9TH???? THAT'S SINGLE-DIGIT CATEGORY, BABY!  I mean.. PAKPAK!!! 

Opkors this has to be the first pic aka the cover photo 😁

The week leading up to the race felt different. I was excited in a way that’s hard to describe, like aside from my husband and family, this race was something I was living for.

The night before, I laid everything out (just like every rookie runner), shoes (I wore my Puma Deviate Nitro 3 and brought along my Adizero as a back-up pair), bib, socks, and my orange race shirt. I couldn’t even sleep properly. I woke up at 11 p.m. like an excited kid on Christmas Eve. My husband, of course, slept peacefully until the alarm at midnight because someone in this marriage is normal, at least in this case.

I didn’t overthink my fueling this time. The night before, I had a proper carb party; Bentang's Pancit  with half rice and a fried egg. It has veggies and meat so I call that balance. The last time I did a 14K run (see blog here), I ate the same thing and felt great, so I went with what worked. On race morning, I had two slices of wheat bread with peanut butter and a banana. Then, right before the race, I drank half a bottle of Pocari Sweat.

By the time we got to the venue, my heart was racing because of excitement. I LOOOOVVEE THE VIBE! I finally get why people pay money for races like this!

my life and my everything!

this tetta is exzoited!!!

Gun start was at 2:40 a.m., and I appreciate that it started on time. And you know what, I cried at the starting line when the announcer said, “Thank God we’re alive.” It hit me so hard because yes, THANK GOD IM ALIVE!

Before my stroke, I couldn’t even finish 8K. I struggled with 7. But now, 10K is easy. And this? This race is proof that I am making use of the second chance God gave me! YES!

I wrote about my stroke here and my recovery journey here.

😁

Anyway, I enjoyed the first 5K. It was easy, I was singing, my playlist was amazing. And also, I’d say that I loved the route. It was roadside, then riverside, and it’s so cool because the lights just looked like stars. I stuck to my planned 7:00/km pace, though it's really tempting to sprint early. I didn’t take water until the 8th kilometer to avoid feeling heavy like in my past long run. From kilometers 6 to 8, I slightly sped up to around 6:45–6:55/km, then went all out in the last 2K, hitting around 5:00/km at one point. The road was wet. There were slippery spots, but honestly, it made it even more fun. I was hopping and skipping around puddles, laughing to myself. It was so fun and yes, I can hop now. hahha

Then my watch beeped,10 kilometers done. I decided to walk, and honestly, I still regret that moment. If I hadn’t slowed down, I might’ve landed in the Top 5 for my age group. With just 120 meters left, I started running again but by then, it was too late. Still, no complaints. I’m happy with my result. SO HAPPY!!!

As I neared the finish line, I slowed down to look for my husband, and there he was, smiling proudly and taking a video. That same warm smile he’s always had since day one made my heart full. After crossing the line (yes, I flexed a bit, hopefully they caught it on camera), I grabbed my loot bag and met him there. He asked how it went, and I couldn’t stop talking about it. When we saw the “PR Bell” for runners who beat their personal record, of course, we lined up. It was the perfect way to celebrate.

After that race, I just felt this overwhelming need to tell everyone, that this wasn’t just a 10K. This was me finishing as a stroke survivor, someone honoring the second chance that God gave me. This medal doesn’t just represent running, it represents everything I went through, the hospital days, the slow recovery, the tiny victories, the hard days, and the decision to keep showing up.

Right after I grabbed my medal, I took a selfie and sent it to my husband, mom, and siblings. 

With my friend, Vino, who finished strong, waaayyy faster than me! 💪

Then we finally sat down, talked some more about the race, ate the classic post-run banana, and decided it was time for breakfast. Ofcourse, I ate a lot. Of course, it had to be Bentang's pancit. After that, we grabbed some coffee, and I took a quick nap before heading out to watch the CESAFI games, our usual Sunday routine.

We didn’t finish the whole game this time though. Exhaustion hit us hard. I’d been up since 11 PM, my husband since midnight. We’re definitely not in our twenties anymore. It was the first time we didn’t stay for the final match, which was a bit of a letdown since it was USJR (my favorite team this season!) versus UC, both really good teams.

But honestly, by the time we got home, we were done. Completely wiped out. I slept for nine hours straight, and my husband for ten.

And that, my friends, is how my 10K went. 

I’m so thankful for my husband, my mom, and my siblings who’ve all been part of this journey and who’ve patiently listened to my endless running talk. Actually me and my brother, Kab, we always talk about running. He's my distant running buddy (he's in the US) who just crushed a half marathon in under two hours. UNDER TWO HOURS!! He’s amazing! I’m so proud of him! I can’t wait for the day we run together back home.

And to you, thank you for being here. Whether you found this on TikTok, Threads, Twitter, or (most likely) Facebook. 'Til next blog.💛

Chapter 42 (A Birthday Blog)

 How do you celebrate a birthday when you know you almost didn’t get here?

Right now, there’s about half an hour left before my birthday ends. My head is crowded with thoughts, and I’m not sure which ones to share first. This birthday isn’t just another candle on the cake. It’s a reminder that I fought hard to be here.

And here’s the part I can’t sugarcoat, the stroke I had was my fault. My lifestyle, my choices, my “I’ll be fine” attitude. All of it played a part. Admitting that stings, but it’s also what keeps me moving now.

I woke up at 12:45 a.m., realizing I’m 42. I’ve made it. While lying, I heard the rain outside and thought, “Please let it stop.” I had a 7.5 km run scheduled, and I didn’t want the weather to cancel it. By morning, the skies cleared, and we went to my favorite running ground in Ayala. I ran the full 7.5 km and walked another 1.5 km to cool down. Since I’m signed up for a 9 km race at the end of the month, I wanted to feel that distance on my legs. The verdict: VERY DOABLE!

After the run, we had breakfast at Bentang’s, because Sundays without their pancit feel incomplete. Then it was straight to Mass. The Gospel hit me hard. It was about selfishness and what happens when you only think of yourself. The priest spoke from his own experiences instead of taking jabs at others, which I loved. Somewhere during that Mass, my husband and I decided Sunday Mass should be part of our tradition again. We used to go every week, then laziness crept in. 

7.5k run and 1.5k walk after...

I signed up for Runna. I love it! It has everything-yoga, pilates, strength, mobility, pre and post run stretching. AND, their customer service is so responsive!

Bentang's pancit is a favee!!

From church, we went to SM city for my birthday buffet at Vikings. It’s tradition (buy-one-get-one promo for birthdays) and we’ve been doing it since 2017. The food’s definitely improved since last November (new chef, apparently). I avoided the dumplings because they still felt like chewy stress balls, but everything else was so good. I loaded my plate with salad, drank only infused water (okay, and one tiny sip of Sprite), and skipped rice and fried food entirely. My husband, now my unofficial “food police”, was quietly inspecting everything I ate. This is the same man who used to bring me random greasy food from the office, buy me cakes for no reason, and supported my “eat now, think later” habit. Times have changed, and I’m grateful.

We had planned to watch a movie after lunch, but we were so sleepy from waking up early that we went for a massage instead. I don’t remember half of it because I slept through the whole thing. Then it was home, and more sleeping. Here's a quick vid:

My birthday weekend started yesterday. My husband and I went to Zane's 1st birthday and Zach's  christening, where I was a ninang. They're both Janjan and Binbin’s son. Janjan is my husband's childhood friend.  I hadn’t slept since my night shift, so the trip to the church left me weak. Heat and exhaustion tend to lower my voice, and I felt it again that day. We still stayed for a while, enjoyed catching up with my husband’s friends who truly feel like family, and laughed watching him dance during the party. Thanks, langlang, for saying yes to sharing this video because it’s too funny not to!

children's parties are soooo fun!

So... how do you celebrate when you know you almost didn’t get here?

You celebrate with purpose. You run four times a week, you do Pilates (even if the side planks on the left side still feel like an Olympic event), yoga twice a week (and yes, I can now do a side stand on the left side! Progress!), and strength training once a week. You pass on fried food not because you’re vain, but because you’re fighting for your life.

Because I want to grow old with my husband and make fun of his wrinkly face
Because I don’t want my mama to lose me so soon
Because I want to be there for my nieces and nephew and see them grow old
Because I want to grow old with my siblings (laughing at the same dumb jokes)
Because I want to teach, lead, and train more people
Because I want to travel until my passport can’t keep up

Because I don’t want to lose me so soon

I still have fears, especially about food and health, but those fears keep me careful. My faith in God is what anchors me. I know I’m still here because of Him, and I’m choosing to make that mean something. 'Til next blog! 💛

Solo

I spent Sat-Sun without my husband. His team is having a team building activity in Bohol, and if you know me, I never join those. I want my husband to really enjoy without thinking about me, especially after my stroke. I MISS HIM!!!!!

Right now, I'm in Kaayoo Cafe and it's so silent. I'm alone and not used to not having him to talk to about everything, or eavesdrop or just gossip!

This is what I'm having here.

I think this is the most post-stroke friendly food item they have. I was gonna go to Birdseed Breakfast Club but they open late and I’m hungry, so here I am. It's clean. It's silent. It's 8AM so that could be why. The embutido is not dry. I didn't eat the rice and just ate half the embutido and eggs.

Anyway, yesterday after driving my husband and his teammate to Pier 3, my team and I went to IT Park for karaoke. I was afraid I couldn’t handle the noise, especially the bass from the speakers. I was so hesitant to go in and was thinking of walking out the whole time, but I kept thinking about the quote that says not to avoid something just because you’re afraid. So I observed for a little while and actually began enjoying the noise.

My team is hilarious and I was trying so hard not to exert so much energy because I don’t want to go home with just 5% body battery left. I’m a changed person now. Before, I used to still do my long runs with just that much. Yeah, I did abuse my body, but definitely not anymore.

After that we went to Taoist Temple. I’ve been there probably almost 20 years ago. I forgot it had looooong stairs! We made it to the top but not without a few minutes' rest and my knees shaking. My gosh! I need to do an incline walk!

Thanks, Irish, for the photo!

After that I went to an empty and silent home. It's so different without my husband there. I watched some episodes of Desperate Housewives (which I’ve rewatched more than 10 times) and ate my leftover roasted chicken breast, kimchi, utan Bisaya, and lugaw. Had a looong sleep after that.

At around 3:30 AM this morning, I ate my pre-run oatmeal and a slice of wheat bread with peanut butter.

This is my run today!

There’s a running event in Ayala, so I had to park at the office. Sooo happy with my run. This is my longest, even pre-stroke, and I am not tired at all! I walked the first 10 minutes, jogged for 20, walked for 5, and jogged for 20 (repeated 2x).

After here, I’ll again go home to a silent home. Uli na, tweet! 😁

Update: Okay. So I didn't go home. I went grocery shopping for the prep meals. Happy Sunday! Now I'm home. Here's the pic I sent to my husband to show off!

'Til next blog! 💛

STROKED

From training for a 10K race to this:

April 27:

I was getting ready for my Sunday run with my husband when my left knee started buckling. My body kept pulling toward the left side. Something in me immediately thought stroke. So, I searched online what the symptoms were. It said to check the mirror for facial drooping. Mine wasn’t obviously drooping, but it lookd off.

Then my husband said he couldn't understand what I was saying That was it. I told him we had to go NOW. We rushed to the nearest private hospital in Talisay.

I got immediate assistance, and after a CT scan, I was admitted.

The symptoms progressed fast.

April 28 (Monday): My left leg felt heavier.

April 29 (Tuesday): I couldn’t control my fingers.

I cried every night for the first three nights, too much binhod in my arms and legs. It was the worst.

My husband was with me the whole time, my rock Truly, a blessing.

That Tuesday night, we decided to transfer to a better hospital in Cebu City.

April 30 (Wednesday):

We made the move.

A super, super HUGE THANK YOU to the Red Cross volunteers who helped me during the transfer from Naga City to Cebu. The doctor on board was so inspiring. We had a great conversation throughout the trip. Actually, all of them were inspiring.

I’ll never see the Red Cross the same way again. I now have the utmost respect for what they do. I’ll never forget it.

At the new hospital, I was immediately seen by multiple doctors in the ER. They asked tons of questions; what happened, what I was feeling.

One of them asked, “Who’s the President of the Philippines? I totally blanked. Guess that says something! (Definitely nothing to do with my illness though haha!)

BUT, I aced the Math questions, thank you very much!

I went through another set of tests. The MRI was the worst.

I’ll write down all the tests I went through when I can.

Fast forward to today, May 2, 9:44 AM.

I still don’t have control of my fingers. Lifting my arms feels like lifting something super heavy.

BUT, my facial imbalance is getting better. And just now, on my way to and from the CR, my left leg didn’t buckle as much. I could actually stand longer. That’s progress.

Most importantly, inside, I feel strong. I feel inspired. And I feel overwhelmed with love and support from my family and friends.

I received this from my boss. Thhe hospital didn't allow the vase. I cried. ❤️

May 4, 2025 - 5:53 pm

They removed my IV today, finally! That means during tomorrow’s PT, we can start focusing on my left hand and fingers. I could barely control them, but earlier, with every ounce of strength I had, I managed to form a fist and move my fingers just a liiiiiittle. My husband and I had a small but sweet celebration over that tiny victory. It meant everything.

I can now also raise my left arm straight! It's HEAVY!!!!

I also had my first walk outside my room today. Yes, friends, I literally had to learn how to walk again.

But hey, if I pulled it off as a baby, how much more now, right?

Today is a great day. A hopeful one.

May 7, 2025 - 2:55 pm

I’M GOING HOME TODAY!!!

We’re just waiting for the final bill, and then we’re outta here! I’ve been counting down to this day since last week, and now it’s finally happening!

Quick health update:

My left leg is stronger.

I can control my left arm better (I can now reach my right ear. Progress!).

Blood sugar and BP are stable.

My face is almost back to normal.

On the flip side, my fingers are still on their own little journey (minimal control so far), and yes, the meds just keep coming (hello,  insulin). But in short: ALL IS WELL.

I’ve still got a long road ahead, but I’m fighting, and def not stopping.

I’m beyond grateful for the overwhelming love from my family and friends.

And a huge shoutout to the incredible doctors, nurses, PTs, food staff, and cleaning crew at Chong Hua. They’ve all been so kind and trust me, when you’re sick, kindness is everything. Also, not a tightass in sight. I SWEAR! That alone deserves a standing ovation. 🫶

I can’t wait to breathe fresh air again. Let’s gooooo!!!

May 12, 2025 - 5:43 pm

After 2 weeks, I can finally slightly open my fingers! It took all my strength (and some very deep breaths), but we’re moving, baby! It might not seem like much, but this is a big deal for me. Progress is progress, and I’m sooo happy! Slowly but surely, we’re getting there!

May 20, 2025 - 7:17 pm

Walked slow and hit 1km! Balance is still off, and I’m working on it. Making sure every step is perfect is tiring, it took a bit of effort. I was sweating, but I felt so good after. I stretched my legs a little bit afterward. To be honest, I felt like I could do more, but the goal this week is just 20 minutes, and I decided to stick to it. I think I did really well!

May 22, 2025 - 7:53 pn

I just joined a stroke survivor support group today and I cried.

Because it’s true, only stroke survivors really know the strugle. The horror of being fully aware, but feeling helpless. Knowing your body isn’t doing what you’re telling it to do. Watching parts of yourself stop working just like that.

Who am I kidding? I’m crying as I write this.

Yes, I’m doing well and I’m healing. I’m out of the woods. But every single day of recovry takes so much strength. So much willpower. And the fear that my life might never be the same again? That’s something I still carry with me. It’s terrifying.

But today, reading the stories in that group, seeing people share their recovery, their grit, their wins, I felt something else too. I felt hope. Because I know how hard it is. I know that pain. I know that fight. And seeing how they pushed through it? That gives me courage.

So to all of them, to all of us, hats off. We’re surviving something that tried to break us. And we’re still here, we're still alive!!! 🫡

Training for a 10K with My Watch’s Plan

Now that I’ve wrapped up my 5K training (very successfully, if I may add—you can read all about it here), it felt only natural to take on the next challenge: training for a 10K. This time, I’m using my watch’s personalized plan, which is tailored based on my overall well-being and health data from the past few weeks. It sounded like the smartest move. Why not follow something built just for me, right?

I took a peek at the first week of training and… it’s definitely a step up. No more gentle 10-minute runs like in NRC’s beginner plan. 

Honestly? The hardest part might be saying goodbye to Coach Bennett and the comforting voices from NRC. But hey, new plan, new pace, same goal: to run strong and feel even stronger.

Let’s do this! 🦵🦵🦵 #beatyesterday

Week 1
Run 1: Base - 45 mins, 8:46/km

Coming off a 5K yesterday, I knew it would be challenging, but I still went for it. The thing about running around my neighborhood, though, is that every time I pass the road to the house, the urge to just call it a day and go watch TV is very real.

Today, I gave in.

I was tired and out of breath mid-run. Should I just go back to using NRC? Damn...

Run 2: Base - 45 mins, 8:35/km

I completed the workout as planned, and while my pace was a little slower than the target, it was still within range, so I’m counting that as a HUGE win. 

I felt good after but I can’t say the same during. It was tough. I was tired. But I showed up and pushed through!

After the run, I squeezed in some leg work and gave myself time to rest, watching 48 hours in YT. 

Run 3: Base - 53 mins, 8:30/km

Kalibangon the whooooolllee time! Oh my goodness! Hahahahaha!

Anyway, this is literally a fun run because I found out that there's a 175 BPM playlist on Spotify, and the songs are pretty cool! I found my groove early on, until after 40-ish mins.

I also cheated because, at this point, I avoided the "hill" parts. GUILTY! After that, I was parched and hungry, so I walked about 800m to the nearest convenience store.

Tomorrow is supposed to be a "VO2 Max" run, but for some reason, my watch changed its plan. It's now a base run for 55 mins. Probably because I have not been hitting the required pace. Wish me luck!

Run 4: Base - 55 mins, 8:30/km

Run 5: Base - 36 mins, 8:30/km

April 30, 2025 - 1:02 pm

Hitting the pause button on this training for now. I’ve been hospitalized due to a stroke. Not exactly the plot twist I had in mind, but here we are. I have a long fight ahead. Pray for me! Still blessed because I have the most amazing husband and family and, I'm still alive!

Week 2
Run 1: Base - 36 mins, 8:30/km

Run 2: Base - 36 mins, 8:30/km

Run 3: Tempo - 46 mins, 4x5:00@7:25/km

First Fast Run. I MADE IT!

After a rough start last week, I finally conquered my speed run today! This time, I made sure to eat a light snack and drink plenty of water beforehand. Lesson learned.

Last week, I attempted this same run but had to stop midway. Coming off a flu and running on an empty stomach? Not the best combo. I felt lightheaded and had to sit it out. Instead of pushing through recklessly, I decided to restart my Nike Run Club beginner plan. I spent the past week easing in with slow runs, focusing on consistency rather than speed.

And today? It paid off. I felt stronger, more in control, and finished my run without issues. Here's what today's workout looked like:

• Distance: 1.25 miles
• Time: 13:30
• Average Pace: 10’45”

It was about showing up better prepared. And honestly? It felt great. 

'Til next blog! 💛

Today’s Running Attempt

I've been eager to get back into running. This morning, I tackled my “fast run” session (Week 2 of the beginner plan on the Nike Run App). Or at least, I tried.

By the third interval, I felt lightheaded and had to stop. My heartbeat was below 130, but I still felt like I might faint. I shut down the app, sat in the car, and took a moment to recover.

Okay. So, 2 things:

1. I skipped all running or walking last week because I was down with the flu.

2. I hadn’t eaten anything since dinner at 8 PM the night before.

It made sense why my body wasn’t up for the challenge. Tomorrow, I’ll try again and restart the plan. It feels like the right call to rebuild properly. (Update: I did! I restarted with Nike Run Club Day 1 Easy Run, and I felt good.)

And hey, no regrets about yesterday’s feast at Café Bai. I ate a lot, and it was absolutely worth it. Tomorrow’s a new day, and I’ll show up for it better prepared. 

Here's how today's workout looked like (replaced the screenshot from yesterday):

'Til next blog! 💛

Let's Get Physical (Best Effort So Far..)

Alright, folks, let’s talk about two things I never thought I’d say about myself: I ran 5 kilometers, and I walked 6 kilometers without whining (😛). That’s right, I’ve hit some pretty cool fitness milestones, and I’m here to humblebrag about them!

5K Run: Who Even Am I?
If you’ve been keeping up with my fitness journey, you know I once declared running a no-go thanks to my herniated disk and, well, laziness. But look at me now, 5.01 kilometers in 46 minutes and 24 seconds with a 9:15/km pace! Sure, Usain Bolt isn’t losing sleep over my stats, but hey, this is huge for me.

The best part? I didn’t die. My feet kept moving, my breathing didn’t betray me, and before I knew it, BAM, 5 kilometers. I asked my husband to record a video of me running so I can see how I actually look with my T-Rex arms and stout legs.  We’ll do it tomorrow! (UPDATE: We didn't do it. :))

6K Walk: The Longest Stroll of My Life
Walking has always been my thing. It’s like the non-committal cousin of running, no pressure, just vibes, especially when I cue up my favorite Jennifer Love Hewitt songs! Recently, I set out to beat my personal record and ended up walking 6.01 kilometers in a little over an hour. 

This wasn’t a power walk to the grocery store. Oh no. This was a full-on “admire the trees, soak up the sun, and occasionally curse the slight incline and pebbles” type of walk. I even took time to reflect on life because, you know, why not get philosophical while crushing your longest distance ever? 😁

(Update: 8.06k is my longest walk - Dec. 14, 2024)

I'm never taking my Strava photos like this! 

If I could go back in time and tell my 86-kilo, herniated-disked self that I’d be running and walking like this in my 40s, she’d laugh in my face (and then eat 3 slices of cake). But, here I am.

Remember my husband’s advice from my birthday? The whole “pretend you’re still in your 30s” mindset? Turns out, it’s working. I may not have the knees of a 20-something anymore, but my attitude? That’s staying young forever, mother effers!

What’s Next? I thought about joining a 10k run, but I know I am NOT ready for that yet. So for now, I’m just enjoying the feeling after every run and walk. It's that post-run/walk high that makes it all worth it!

To anyone out there thinking about starting their own fitness journey, let me tell you: IT'S WORTH IT! Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to eating my reward, which is that!

Enjoy your weekend, guys! 'Til next blog! 💛

Dumaguete Trip with the Ghorls

So, last weekend, I finally went on a much-awaited trip to Dumaguete with my ghorls Irene, Lei, and James. You guys, this trip has been two years in the making, no joke. Being the only married one in the squad, I guess my availability was always the key issue. But the stars finally aligned when my hubby had his two-night team-building trip. That was my cue to pack up and head off for some much-needed friend time!

Dumaguete isn’t just any place for me. I spent 4-5 years of my life there for college at SU. I LOVE THAT CITY. It’s where I made some of the best memories, learned some life skills (like how to drink, smoke a cigar, and, well, there was that one time with weed). No regrets, it was fun! It’s also where I met some of my lifelong friends and learned to fend for myself. No parents around, just us figuring life out together.  Oh, and it’s also where I realized that mestizos are hot, but band boys? Definitely hotter. You get the vibe, right? 😁

Anyway, Dumaguete wouldn’t be complete without seeing my dear, dear friend April. She lives there now, and catching up with her was an absolute must. April and I go way back to my early days working at my first BPO job in the mid 2000s. She’s one of the very few people I still meet regularly to chat about life. So, needless to say, I was buzzing with excitement for this trip.

The only downside of this trip? No hubby. But hey, it’s a girl’s weekend, and sometimes you just need that break.

And now, without further ado, here’s a play-by-play of our Dumaguete adventures through photos! Warning: most are food pics! 😝

Bus Ride - I slept the whole time!

Our first stop after checking in was Sans Rival. I had their BLT sandwich, along with a Walnut and Dates cake and a cup of brewed coffee.

Buko Juice in Hayahay is only Php60. 

Boulevard: I threw out the idea of getting tattoos while we’re here, and everyone was on board! 

Dinner and drinks at La Mensa. I loooove this place! It's silent.

La Mensa - Tocino (Starving)

La Mensa - Mango Daiquiris

La Mensa - Irene, April, Me, and Lei! At this point (9pm-10pm), the Tettas are sleepy. Thanks, Lei, for the pic! Also, I loooove my husband's Nate Diaz (I'm a fan!) tee, it's practically mine!

2nd Day - Breakfast at Crispy King. This was super cheap and delish!

Descansa Resto and Cafe (Dauin) - We stayed here until around 2 PM, and it was so peaceful. The beach was amazing, but unfortunately, the food didn’t live up to expectations. The service was slow too. We think the place was just a little too chill, same goes for the staff! :) We didn't mind because we love the place so much!

Descansa Resto and Cafe (Dauin) - I totally forgot to snap a picture of the Pulled Pork Sandwich I had for lunch, probably because it was pretty forgettable. On the bright side, lansones (Thanks, James)!

Here are my new tats! The "groovy" design is totally me - CHAR (got it from Pinterest), and I’ve always wanted something for luck so I finally got a clover tattoo!

Their shop is called Black Rose Tattoo and is located at the Twin Arcade Bldg. The artist's FB page is called BINHI. What’s awesome is that you can share your concept or ideas with him, and he’ll create a custom design based on what you want. If you're interested, you can reach him at +639157924241. Thanks, Lei, for the video!

The Henry Hotel - It’s peaceful, quiet, and surrounded by lots of trees and greenery.

The Henry Hotel - Ha! Irene and I rarely take photos of ourselves, so big thanks to Lei for capturing this moment!

The Henry Hotel - Family dinner! April, Lei, Me, Irene, James, and James' friend, Ed. Sad that our vacay is almost over at this point! Thanks for the pic, Lei!

The Henry Hotel (Popolo Pizzeria- Panino Alla Pollo) - Man.. This thing is HUGE and I love it! I've already eaten the biggest portion when I remembered to take a snap. The hot sauce was the bomb!

After devouring this, I also had Cassava Cake and coffee.

During dinner, we talked about heading to the boulevard to do the famous tempura and balut Dumaguete experience, but we were all so sleepy that we decided to just head back to the hotel instead. It was only around 10 PM. 😄

Final stop before heading back to Cebu: Sans Rival. I was really excited for the Baby Back Ribs, but they were only serving breakfast, so I was a bit disappointed. Ended up ordering the Pancake Breakfast Meal and the Cheesy Lasagna. The pancakes were a little dry, but the lasagna was absolutely delish!

And just like that, our Dumaguete trip has come to an end. It was everything I hoped for, fun, nostalgic, peaceful, and filled with delicious food! The wild “walwal” plans may have been skipped (because, well, we're not as young as we used to be), but honestly, it didn’t matter. Some places and friendships are just timeless, and Dumaguete will always hold a special place in my heart. 💛

Thank you so much to my dear dear (because 1 dear is not enough!) friend April for being with us and for being our compass! I MISS YOU!!!