Yes, a book for kids. Reading a controversial book “for kids” with an open mind in this conservative Catholic society.

To quote “Many people don’t follow a religion or believe in a god, but still lead ethical and meaningful lives. These people use reason, science and compassion to live fulfilling, moral lives…you can be a good person with morals and values without a religion.”

My thoughts: Religions say they preach LOVE, but it’s ironic how they argue that one or the other is the True Religion.

Say for example Christianity alone, we believe in Jesus, but Religion creates division.

Catholic VS Born-agains VS Iglesia Ni Cristo VS Dating Daan VS Pastor Quiboloy’s. All pray to Jesus with love, but argue and divide each other with hate. Sad reality religion creates.

Continue to believe what you believe. As they say, to each his own, respect each other and continue that faith.

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Looking back, I can confidently say it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. From the moment we stepped into the professional kitchen, the experience was an absolute whirlwind of excitement.

I had so much fun learning the mechanics behind the culinary arts—from mastering precision knife cuts to understanding the delicate science of balancing flavors under pressure. The energy in the kitchen was infectious, turning tough, fast-paced challenges into moments of pure joy.

The hard work paid off in a big way. After months of intense training, sweat, and dedication, I was proud to share that I passed the TESDA Cookery NC2 assessment somehow. Holding that certification feels amazing, but as validating as it is, the greatest lessons I took home weren’t printed on paper.

While ISCAHM taught me world-class techniques and technical standards, the real education began when I looked beyond the classroom discussions.

I’ve come to realize that being a truly effective cook isn’t just about memorizing a recipe. It demands active, continuous practice. It’s about getting your hands dirty, refining your instinctual muscle memory, and building the confidence that only comes from spending time at the stove.

Most importantly, this journey taught me the ultimate truth about food: cooking is only ever truly tasteful if it is cooked from the heart and from experience. You can follow a recipe to the exact gram, but without genuine passion, intention, and love poured into the pan, a dish is just food. The most unforgettable meals are seasoned with our own stories, our memories, and our mistakes. ISCAHM gave me the tools and the foundation, but life and love will always be the ultimate ingredients.

Here’s to the next dish, practicing every day, and always cooking with heart!

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We grow up and become what we envisioned ourselves to be–doctors, lawyers, architects, engineers, artists, et cetera. And there are also those who rebel and do the opposite of what’s expected of them–they do this, they do that, they do a little bit of everything. Often they are called the “Jack of all trades.”

There is no doubt that it feels good every time people compliment us for being good at everything. “Wow! You’re so multi-skilled!” “How can I be like you?” It feels great every time we are seen as somebody who can do a lot of things and knows a lot of things. But most of the time, it comes with a price.

We can’t avoid it. There are some people who look down on the well-rounded. To them, we’re known as the “Jack of all trades but a master of none,” implying that we’re not good at doing a specialized task. We then doubt and question ourselves: “Am I really good enough?” Yes, you are good enough. Being multi-skilled is a gift, and never doubt that. It will be overwhelming at first, but as you continue the journey to self-discovery and finally know what you want, then being a Jack of all trades is absolutely fine. We can’t blame these people for looking down on us, so in a way it is also constructive feedback for us to assess what we really want to accomplish in life.

Growing up, I always wanted to become a national athlete. That’s all I ever wanted to do. I was part of the school’s track and field varsity that competed in local and national competitions. That was my dream. But when I had my appendectomy and was not allowed to run for some time, I was forced to withdraw from the varsity team. I felt bad thinking I would never achieve my dream of representing the country. So I had to do something else.

I explored my other interests and was brought to the arts. Since then, I have dabbled in anything–theater, TV, film, creative writing and other artistic endeavors as I bid goodbye to my dream of becoming a national athlete. I was left with no choice but to take another direction. When I graduated from college, I worked as a writer despite my doubts if I was really good at writing. There were so many things going on in my head that my close friend (who was also my devil’s advocate) had to ask: “So, what is it that you really want to do? You’re good at things, but where is your focus? You’re such a scatterbrain.” I felt really bad at that point in my life.

In my journey to rediscovering myself years ago, I met a lot of Jack of all trades. Some are still in the process of discovering themselves, and there are some who are already successful individuals. I have a friend who is good at a lot of things, too, from table set-up to dress making, cooking and interior design. She also told me that she was clinically diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Then she found her love for chocolates, focused on it and started a business with it. Now, she is known for her chocolates and continues to do things she loves.

One day, over hot chocolate, she told me: “You’re a good communicator and a likeable guy, so why not start your own PR & Events team?” I was hesitant at first, doubting (again) if I could ever pull it off, even if my friends think highly of my public relations and events management skills more than my writing. Then it hit me. Maybe the reason I can’t move forward is that I am not doing what I am designed to do.

So I took a leap of faith and started my humble PR & Events team. At first, it was daunting to run a client-based business, but it went well with God’s grace and everything has been okay for three years now. I have a team both in Cebu and Davao handling marketing and events projects where I still get to practice my other interests in the arts. It feels really good to do the things I love. And being the Jack of all trades that I am, I recently enrolled in a culinary program so I can learn to cook. As they say, life is a continuous learning process.

There are so many of us in this world–so many of us searching for what we really want to do with our lives. We may be judged for being “lost” and doing a lot of things and mastering none, but don’t feel bad. We are all designed differently, and in this ever changing world, being a Jack (or a Jill) of all trades is perfectly fine.

Note: This is one of my articles for the Youth Page of SunStar Newspaper published in 2018; My 1-pager essays were published every Mondays.

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Looking back at the milestones, the late nights, and the continuous process of creating, I realize how much of my foundation was built on the wisdom, discipline, and generosity of these legendary mentors. It was an absolute honor to be trained by the very best:

Michael Williams (One of the original casts of Miss Saigon) for teaching me the fundamentals during the “Basic Theater Workshop” under Little Boy Productions. He taught me the discipline it takes to command a space.

Gabe Mercado (of SPIT) for opening my mind to Improv Theater at PETA. He showed me how to think on my feet, trust my instincts, and find magic in the unexpected.

Pinky Amador, whose Acting Masterclass pushed my boundaries and taught me what it truly means to dig deep and commit to a character and a vision.

Tatang Ricky Lee, for the masterclasses in storytelling during his Creative Writing Workshop. He didn’t just teach me how to write; he taught me how to see the human condition and give it a voice.

Julie Ann Fran from Star Magic Philippines, for the brief voice lessons, even for a very short stint! I miss you, teacher!

Every “Action!”, every script written and every creative risk taken carries a piece of their mentorship. To be shaped by their brilliance is a gift that keeps on giving.

To my mentors: Thank you for passing on the torch.

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I poured my days like water into stone,
To find a well where they could freely drink,
I carried weights they could not lift alone,
And pulled them back when standing on the brink.

I watched them rise, I watched their world expand,
They wore the armor that my patience made,
But once they stood securely on the land,
The memory of who helped began to fade.

They treat your kindness as a debt they won,
A casual right they somehow were decreed,
And rewrite history when the work is done,
To prove they never really were in need.

It hurts to watch the feathers that you gave
Be used to fly away and block the sun,
To know you broke yourself so they could save
The very lives that now leave you undone.

But let them go, with all they took away,
The bitter truth is theirs alone to keep:
A house built on the things they can’t repay
Is just a shallow place where shadows sleep.

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Stepping back onto a bustling set holding an actual script was an incredible rush. Knowing my voice would be live changed everything.

The absolute highlight was trading dialogue directly with the main cast. I shared the frame with the phenomenal Kim Chiu, whose on-set energy is infectious. I also got to deliver lines alongside Elle Villanueva—who plays the fierce Atty. Vanessa in GMA’s intense drama Apoy sa Dugo.

Watching them switch instantly from casual banter to raw dramatic focus when the director shouted “Action!” was a masterclass. Delivering my lines smoothly alongside them and hearing “Cut, good take!” was incredibly validating.

This experience reminded me that passions never really leave you. It was a fun, exhilarating return that reaffirmed my love for the screen. I am officially back, and I can’t wait for the next role!

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Think of it in terms of the human body. An ordinary person looks at the body and understands its basic functions: it breathes, it moves, it digests, and it performs its daily duties. That knowledge is perfectly sufficient for survival. But a doctor sees the body entirely differently. Where the ordinary eye sees smooth skin, a doctor visualizes the complex network of nerves, the cellular regeneration, the microscopic electrical impulses, and the intricate anatomical systems keeping the person alive. The doctor knows there is infinitely more to the body than what meets the eye.

That is how I have come to view Christianity. There is a deeper spiritual anatomy to this faith that the ordinary mind rarely encounters. Beneath the structured dogmas and Sunday obligations lies an expansive, esoteric side to spiritual practice—a landscape of mysticism that only a few truly explore. This isn’t a rejection of my Catholic identity; rather, it is an evolution of it. It is the belief that our faith holds keys to unseen dimensions that go far beyond basic catechism.

This realization has completely reshaped my personal practice. I don’t just pray for the sake of repetition; I engage with the living, breathing spiritual ecosystem that surrounds us. My daily walk with faith involves actively working with spirits and communicating with angels—the celestial messengers and guardians that scripture mentions, but whom we rarely teach people to truly interact with. I have developed a personal language of prayer, utilizing intentions and spiritual alignments that feel authentic to the deeper truths I have come to understand.

Living and practicing faith on this level can feel solitary, as it moves away from the conventional path trodden by the crowd. But just like the doctor who finds wonder in the hidden complexities of the human form, I find an overwhelming sense of peace and purpose in exploring the deeper layers of the divine.

Christianity is not a flat, two-dimensional set of rules. It is a multi-dimensional spiritual reality, filled with mysteries waiting for those who are willing to look past the surface and seek the deeper architecture of the soul.

The post Looking beyond the surface of my faith – Folk Catholicism. appeared first on kimocea.

It was during the pandemic in 2020 when I decided to buy a lot at Foressa Mountain Town, a development of Aboitizland, at the mountains of Balamban. As we all know, almost everything went low, including this, so I took the opportunity to inquire and buy one.

One of the reasons why I pushed myself to invest on land is because my late father used to invest on land and properties as well. This is my first time to buy a piece of land, and I believe it’s worth the investment.

I’m curious as to how much it costs now that it’s 2023, so I chanced upon a property specialist just a few days ago, and to my surprise a sqm of land went up to 30% up from the rate I got it for. As they say, you’ll never go wrong with real estate. 

Looking at the development of Foressa, there is something to look forward as it said to be the future getaway at the Midwest of Cebu since aside from having houses, there will be commercial spaces and adventure activities to be offered.

I have also heared that sometime in the future, there are plans that the Cebu Provincial Capitol will be transferred to Balamban, and having a place in Foressa Mountain Town is an advantage for me if I, God willing, will go do business with the Cebu Provincial Capitol in the future.

Also, I chose this development is that I want to be closer to nature, and having a place near the mountains in a secured community such as Foressa Mountain Town is a good choice.

I was excited when my property specialist informed me that my lot is ready for turnover. So, here’s me together with my mama and my 2 younger sisters for the turn over. It was around 2 hour drive from the Cebu City proper, and it was all worth it.

I still have no plans yet if I will build a rest house here, or sell it in the future… For now, all I know is that I have a piece of land as an investment, and something I can call mine. 

Here’s to more small wins with you. 

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I drove from Manila City to Subic just to try the Discovery flight that was offered by Capt. Mich & Capt. Daryl.

It was 2pm when my younger sister, Kristiana, and I arrived at the Subic International Airport Gate 5. We first had a pre-flight briefing and then we started to do the basics of taxiing – and then we flew.

With us on the flight was Capt. Daryll, giving me the 1st officer seat for me to have a worthwhile pilot experience as I maneuver from taxi, take off, flight and landing – of course with his guidance and care.

Giggles – the perfect word that described what I felt during that flight, and still the feeling I have now while writing this story.

This experience was a perfect decision-maker for me – if I really wanted to do flight school or was it just a random interest. So, for those who want to try out flying school, you may experience this first, and decide after.

When we took off, it literally scared me to the bones, but after some time absorbing all the mechanics of the aircraft how many feet above and observing the outside environment, especially understanding the wind, my fear turned to cheers – I had an unforgettable experience.

Here’s a raw clip. Enjoy.

Fly with you soon!

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I still remember the day when I was on my way to the city, exactly nearing the end of the bridge, I was so fascinated with my friends who are called by clients for their services. I was so much inspired and hopeful, then I asked myself “When will the day come when people call for my service? When will the day come when I am needed because of my capabilities? I hope I can be like them…” These questions kept on recurring and I always remained hopeful. But one day, I decided to take a leap of faith and started to do something that I really wanted. Like any other driven person, especially that I am using my own money to start something, the risk was high and was afraid to lose; but thankfully, I prosper.

I trusted the process. I started with very meager resources and accepted projects with minimal to no fees just for me to hone my skills and get into the industry, and I wasn’t complaining at all. I actually had fun doing things I love. I had fun clients asking me for help and solving it for them.

So you ask… What is the process?

In Psychology, they call it Dopamine. It is a chemical in your body that acts as a reward center. It makes doing the hard things pleasurable because you know that in the end, you will be rewarded.

Which is definitely true. Being dedicated to the things you do always pays off.

One time when I was in my city condo, I was looking outside the window where an on-going construction was taking place. For months, I watched it from ground zero until the building was erected; it was a year in the making… but when it was still ground zero, and I was looking at the workers, I felt that it was hard to construct a building.

With all the mason works and the heat of the sun, it must be very exhausting. Every day I look at them dig, carry cement, do wire works and all… it was such a messy scene, and I can’t figure out how they do things… but days and months passed by, a majestic construction was erected. Just like that.

What I realized with this is that it will always look and feel impossible at first, there will definitely be a lot of trial and error, but if you are consistent with what you do, you will always get there.

Just trust the process.

For now, I can’t say that I have already made it but I am proud that, at the very least, I can say that I am thriving and starting to feel the rewards of my perseverance.

For me, there is no other way but to move forward.

Just keep going, my friend.

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