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.

The post How do you live without a God? appeared first on kimocea.

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!

The post ISCAHM Culinary Class appeared first on kimocea.

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.

The post A proud Jack of all trades appeared first on kimocea.

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.

The post My Creative Mentors appeared first on kimocea.

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.

The post The Architects of Bridges appeared first on kimocea.

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!

The post Back to TV acting – after how many years. appeared first on kimocea.

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.

You give, but receive less. You give, but you are appreciated just for that moment. You give, but you’re still the last on the list. Don’t worry because I feel you. When your love is not reciprocated, you feel empty. You start to question your worth. Is it still not enough? Am I not enough? So, you continue to give your love, until one day you suddenly realize, there’s nothing left for you anymore. When all you ever wanted was only to be loved in return.

Love passionately, but leave some for yourself. Don’t allow yourself to be drained with doubts of your worth just because you loved too much, you gave too much, and you allowed yourself to be treated as an option for too long. If you have been treated this way, leave without the need to explain. Regain yourself and give that unrequited love you have given away just for yourself. For now, you are your own priority.

But just because you gave in and experience a rather bitter situation like this, please don’t forget to remind yourself that you are worthy to be loved as much as you love, and never regret the love you once give, because in life, what matters most is your generosity, and not what you receive.

My love, I pray that you will meet someone out there who will love you as much as you love them. To make you as part of their life, and their priorities. What is it in loving a person if you just put them on your bottom list? I hope someday someone will find you who will be happy to have you, who will be excited to see you, and who will put you in their plans and their future and make every effort to stick around.

You are worthy of a reciprocated love. Remember that.

If there’s one person who you will give your purest love first, this person should be you – the person who loves unconditionally and true. Invest in yourself first, not with the wrong people.

I hope you find a person that will treat you good and will understand and accept you for who you are, who will not take advantage of you and not question you for being you, and will accept you as you are without standardizing and judging you; and will love you without reservations.

But my dear, when you love, leave some for yourself because sooner or later it is when the well runs dry that you realize that there’s nothing left for you anymore, because you have given too much – of your time, of your effort, of your love – to people who you dearly love but take you for granted.

My love, I say this again, Love, but don’t love too much, and I hope that if you love again, love and leave some for yourself.

You are too full of love to be only half loved by someone.

The post Love, but leave some for yourself appeared first on kimocea.

I was born, baptized, and raised Roman Catholic. My mama was religious, but my papa was not; My mama brings us all to Sunday mass but my papa was left at home. My mama prays with us every single day but without papa.

I never questioned why my papa was not religious and did not seem to bother. All I know was that even though he was not religious, he was a good father to us, and somehow professed that there is a God — he was agnostic, perhaps.

When I was in Grade 2, I had time with my guidance counselor, Ms. Elena Yee (God bless her soul). She asked me the usual question asked to young kids “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I replied “Ms Yee, I wanted to be a priest.” God bless my good soul for having this innocent decision when I was just 8 years old.

But when I was in Grade Six, I began to get interested in the metaphysical, the paranormal, the religions outside Christianity, the Occult, and the other worlds outside our world. This vastness made me rethink of my reality and made me question my existence, our existence. That in reality, we are just a spec of dust in this universe that bible stories or creation stories can’t justify.

Don’t get me wrong but I was told before by a religious friend that we should not be taking the Creation Story literally. The Holy Bible is full of stories with symbols, and it’s our responsibility with the intellect given to us on how to decipher the messages behind these stories.

Faith and Whys

“Who is the real religion? Aren’t religions just a result of cultural differences that lead to the same awareness? which leads to the same God?”

“Is there really life outside Earth? Are aliens real?”

“If Egyptian Magic was mentioned in the bible several times, Magic must indeed be real. Are there spiritual planes we are not aware of?”

“Who takes care of this planet? Why is the cycle of nature so precise? Do elementals really exist?”

“Is anyone really listening to my prayers?”

“Are prayers just the result of the Law of Universe?”

“When is the End of the World? Many people have already died before me. Is it really near?”

“How can we work with Angels to aid us with our lives? How can we meet our Spirit Guides?”

My questions about life’s mysteries are endless, and being a religious Catholic won’t help me in discovering the answers of my whys and how comes.

Being religious means being limited to a set of restrictions on religion. That if you are not with us, you are against us. That if you don’t believe like me, you are not with me.

I was part of a charismatic group when I was a teenager, and it was a part of my life story that I will forever cherish. I was full of the spirit, from the time I wake up to the time I sleep. I do nothing except praise. I stopped watching TV, stopped listening to secular music, stopped wearing black (because they said it was a color of darkness, and that God was light.) I was living a restricted and disciplined lifestyle, but I liked it anyway. I was contented and happy even when society thinks otherwise.

But I stopped and went separate ways with the group. Though Jesus is in my heart, I know that there is more to what I am believing and their set of rules. I was wrong when I said I was contented because I was not.

Journey to Discovery

In my journey of discovering the answers to my questions, I studied World Religion and immersed myself with their beliefs. And to be honest, as I search for answers, I got lost and confused. I wanted to just go back to my religious life but my mind has already been tainted with more whys. It’s like I have eaten the apple that Adam and Eve ate.

For how many years now, I have had encountered many faiths. I immersed myself by becoming a Born-again, a Muslim, a Buddhist, a Pagan, a Hindu, even becoming a believer of the other worlds. But through all these, I grounded myself to the promise that even if I go far, my faith is still with Christianity. My faith is still with Jesus Christ (Mighty is his name.) I will never compromise my Christianity in any way. It was not easy, but it was life-changing and interesting.

One thing that these religions have in common – all religions lead to the teaching of Love, and that most religions somehow originated from a single source that sprouted to become religions on their own. And that through these differences, we are bound to live a life co-existing with other creations of this universe.

My encounters with different faiths made me appreciate the uniqueness of their beliefs. Each of these religions taught me a thing or two on how to live my life pleasing to the creator.

There won’t be divisions of religion in heaven, anyway. And you won’t go to hell for living a good life but believing a different faith. It doesn’t make sense at all. In the end, when we die, it’s how we lived a fulfilling life and helping our fellows that matters, and not much on personal beliefs.

The Complexity of God

I may not completely comprehend God, but I know the higher energy or whatever you call him is here to guide us with our lives. I believe that God is out there, but his or her complexity is far from our human understanding. Even the gender of God I cannot understand. How does God really look like? Is he the usual White-bearded guy in a white wardrobe? or just a ball of bright light? Ah, I don’t know. All I know is God is there above and we owe our lives to him.

That’s is why I prefer being Spiritual than being religious. To cultivate my spiritual life than continue my whys without clear answers to my questions, because it will be an endless search and I had enough.

To Each His Own

For now, my belief system is a collection of beliefs from all that I find beneficial in my life. I still pray my morning prayers, but I also set my intentions to the Universe. I follow the holy commandments, but I also follow the wise sayings of the enlightened buddhists. I believe in God, but I also believe that there is more to human life and this Earth.

A lot of people, maybe including you, may say I am wrong with my beliefs, but this is mine, and whatever gives me contentment, even if it doesn’t make sense to others, won’t matter anymore.

I now understand my father even better. May his soul now in peace. I believe what I want to believe in, and you believe in yours, let’s just live ethical and meaningful lives, and respect each other and continue each of our own unique faiths.

May God gives us all our hearts desires.

The post My Spirituality appeared first on kimocea.

After his call, my 20-year-old self innocently asked him “Sir, why don’t you accept the order? More orders, more money!”

He looked at me and replied, “Young boy, this is not about money. This is about protecting your brand. The reality is we can’t serve everybody. We just can’t accept projects just for the money. It’s not like that.” And that hit me hard.

He taught me this value that I still carry on until now.

In the corporate world, there will always be competition and politics. Competing with each other, and proving to the clients/ bosses who’s the best to make them look worthy than the other.

My point here is there will always be competition, and that is normal. But pulling someone down for your gain is not normal. Even so, as much as we fight for fair competition, there will always be these people, so all we have to do is to be vigilant and be on guard.

My wish to my fellow professionals: Stop unhealthy competition. There is enough for everyone. May we all make our hearts desire. 

The post Fair Share appeared first on kimocea.