It's me, Kristelle!

I love Manila! I was born and raised here—you can never get me lost anywhere in the National Capital Region.

If you’re also from—or have been to—Metro Manila, you already know how livable it is. Almost everything you need is a stone's throw or an app away! Even before the pandemic, Manila peeps have already been enjoying app-purchase of food, drinks, medicine, and groceries. There’s also a vast array of choices for dining, shopping, and other leisure activities.

Of course, you would also be familiar with the heavy traffic, the overly-populated malls on weekends, the noise and air pollution, and the paranoia when a suspicious man (or group of boys) lurks around, and the waiting game in parking areas.

In one of my recent blog, I listed a few ideas on how to prepare if you’re planning to move out – stuff I learned when I moved to Iloilo City on my own. I’m halfway through my 4th year in Iloilo City and I hope I can already pass to be an Ilongga --though sometimes my Ilonggo vocabulary (local dialect, aka Hiligaynon) still fails me and my accent still gives away the Manileña in me.

Today, I’m sharing the changes I experienced when I first moved here—plus additional tips to make Iloilo City your home away from home.

Traffic & Commuting in Iloilo vs. Manila

When I was working in BGC, there was no one sure way to get me to work on time. I’ve tried it all – having someone drive me to work, riding a motorcycle (you can just imagine the struggle of a skirt-wearing um, lady, side-saddling a motorbike that’s going 80 on the highway!), hailing taxi cabs which often has picky drivers who would also haggle for higher rates instead of going by the meter, book from ride-hailing apps that can either: get lost, cancel on you last minute, or have terribly high surge rates, and the regular commute – which I will not even bother with.

When I first came to Iloilo City, I. Walked. My. Way. To. Work. I wrote about it in my very old blog. In Iloilo City jeepneys– they don’t rush you to your seat. Most of the jeepneys in Manila? You would be head bent looking for a vacant seat while the jeepney has already accelerated to oblivion. Although, I did have trouble getting off once because I kept saying “Para po!” – a phrase used in Manila when you reach your stop and want to get off a public vehicle. I was a few meters away from my stop when all the passengers chorused on my behalf with “Sa lugar lang!” – which is the Ilonggo version of "Para po".

Here are other phrases that I learned on my commute:

“Bangga lang” – imagine my shock when someone shouted that on the jeepney. ‘Bangga’ in Tagalog means ‘crash’. Apparently, that meant ‘the next corner’ here.
“Sa babaw lang” – Yes, ‘babaw’ can mean top or above, but it can also mean ‘a little ahead’ if you’re speaking of proximity.
“Kambyo” – No, that doesn’t mean to shift gear, but here it means ‘change’ (from your payment).

Here is where I’m always wrong:

“To-o” – means right
“Wa-lah” – mean left

I always talk to taxi drivers in local dialect because if they find out I'm not from here, they often ask questions like, “Taga-diin ka?“ (‘Where are you from?’), “Ga-ano ka diri?” (‘What are you here for?’) and it can get tiring to answer the questions (LOL -- they are way too friendly for me.) BUT then – I would forget these local terms for directions so I would end up saying, “Liko ka dira, ‘nong -- sa LEFT” .

*face-palm*

Traffic? What traffic? It’s surprising that a few minutes at a stoplight would disgruntle a taxi driver here.

Abaw, manong!

Food Delivery & Dining Out: Iloilo vs. Manila

When I first came to Iloilo, they already had the GREEN food delivery app. BUT there was no store catering past 8 PM yet. So I had to make sure to order before then, or suffer the whole night craving. This is a huge lifestyle change for me as we would often order in or drive to a fast food or coffee shop in Manila at any given time.

Eventually, the PINK food delivery app was introduced, and just right on time too, because the pandemic hit, and more stores were extending their hours. (There are 24-hours food chain here now!)

Dining out, just like in Manila, can be hit or miss. If I have to recommend good food and restaurants, here are my top choices (I can—as a matter of fact, I do—eat from the following almost everyday, in turns) not in specific order :

Akamon Ramen Bar
Healthy Kitchen Café
Nicolette’s
Buto’t Balat
Monkey Grounds

Safety & Community Life in Iloilo vs. Manila

I have seen people get robbed on the streets of Manila, in broad daylight. First experience was when I had the car window down in the backseat and my brother was twiddling with his phone in the front passenger seat when a man in his twenties just grabbed his phone from MY window-- and ran away. Well, we were dumbfounded and I’m still sorry until now LOL.

Second experience happened when I was in an Uber along C5 and a teenager just opened the door of the car in front of me and took the lady passenger’s bag and ran away.

The traffic was at a standstill both times.

So, can you just imagine an Iloilo cab driver’s look when I got in --- and locked all the doors? They never bother doing that here! I bet you he got dubious of ME! But still – it doesn’t hurt to practice caution and be mindful of your surroundings. I actually had a horrible encounter with a bad cab driver here recently, but he wasn’t from Iloilo (according to him). Overall, people here are honest, polite, and friendly.

K’s Final Thoughts 💜

I wanted to cover shopping and leisure activities, but I rarely go out and I’m dull on shopping trips, even in Manila. I do miss the huge malls though. Iloilo only has a few malls here but the store outlets and food chains are becoming competitive. I do wish they would have North Park and Army Navy here soon. Oooh and Mary Grace. And Lord Stows. LOL.

I guess the major change that happened is that I rarely go out here. I think everyone has been forced to stay at home during the pandemic too, but that made me discover the joys of being alone with my thoughts – well there are downsides, but still preferable for me. I still use social distancing as an excuse to get me out of a social situation.

I still have a lot of places and things to discover in Iloilo City! What would you recommend? Diin kita makadto? 😁

xoxo,

December 2020 was probably the saddest holiday season for most people due to pandemic travel restrictions. This would also be the month of breakthroughs as most countries started rolling out vaccines and people began to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Exactly 11 months since I last came home to Manila, December 2020 would have been the best time to go home what with Christmas, New Year, and my birthday coming up. However, as there were lots of travel requirements (which at that time would have had me going around different government offices to be able to board a plane), I decided to travel somewhere near – and saw Nature’s Eye Resort’s Facebook page. After reading a few reviews and a lot of self-convincing, I booked a room and packed my bags.

How to Get There?

solo travel via ferry boats to Nature’s Eye Resort, Guimaras

Nature’s Eye Resort is located in Brgy. Tando, Nueva Valencia in Guimaras. While there are many different ways to get to Nature’s Eye in Nueva Valencia, there’s only one means to get to Guimaras—and that’s by sea travel. As of now, there are 3 major ways to get from Parola Wharf in Iloilo City to Jordan Wharf in Guimaras, and vice-versa:

1. RORO (Roll-On, Roll-Off) – only means to transport vehicles like car and motorbikes
2. Ferry Boats
3. Fiber-glass motorboats

All three of them operate almost on an hourly basis depending on demand, and would take only 15-20 minutes travel time on calm waves and weather.

Once in Jordan Wharf, there are public jeepneys, tricycles, or motorbikes which you can charter to get to Brgy. Tando. As I was travelling alone and unfamiliar with the place, I got with a private car owner to rent and take me to Nature’s Eye Resort (staff provided me with his number).

What to Expect

Nature’s Eye Resort advises guests to contact them when you’re near the drop-off point so they can send someone to take you to the main gate. From the drop-off point, there would be around 10-minutes’ walk to get to Nature’s Eye Resort’s so be sure to wear comfy shoes! The path can also get muddy on rainy day, so DON’T. WEAR. WHITE. SHOES.

The entire area stretches as far as (my) eyes can see, so seriously— wear comfortable shoes! There will be a lot of walking and stair-climbing so bring your iron lungs too! I guess I noticed this a lot because the room I had was the one at the peak, and also because I was walking all by my emo self. If you are here with someone though, it would be like a walk in the park (literally), but still be prepared for a lot of walking around the resort.

The best thing in Nature’s Eye Resort is the view—nature thrives wherever you look! It was the perfect place for me to be at while alone because the calmness and quietness of the place matched my mood at that time. I wanted to be home for the New Year’s Eve celebrations, which can be usually very festive and loud. But it didn’t feel like a time to celebrate, especially with the hardships and losses that this pandemic had brought.

💔 Side Story:

I lost my grandmother in March 2020, and I didn’t even get to see her one last time due to travel restrictions. That was another reason I wanted to be alone—to process everything and just breathe. And Nature’s Eye Resort offered the perfect place for that.

What to Bring

Insect Repellant Lotion/Spray – As advised by Nature’s Eye Resort staff, I did bring a lotion with me and I was glad I did. The place is surrounded by plants and trees so there would be a few mosquitoes especially in the evening.

Private beach at Nature’s Eye Resort with clear water, rocky shore, and stunning coastal scenery in Guimaras.

Water Shoes – Nature’s Eye Resort has their own private beach area, but it’s rocky so aqua shoes are recommended. The water is clear though, and there are also other white-sand beaches around, and the best ones can be reached by renting out a boat for a 2-hour island-hopping activity.

Book or Kindle – There are a lot of good area to spend the hours to read a book here! With only the sounds of birds, waves, and trees to distract you, you’ll be sure to get the best out of your book.

Drinks and Snacks – The resort offers food choices, but eating is not allowed in the rooms to avoid a swarm of ants. They will provide a pitcher full of water for consumption, but if you run out of it in the middle of the night, or even during daytime, the walk to the receiving area and back to your room can take a while.

Offline Entertainment (Pre-downloaded movies/music) – Just like what I wrote on this blog article for Mamaley’s Resort, good network can be scarce in this area of Guimaras. Bring good music, a movie, or even playing cards for a good time while waiting for that iconic Guimaras sunset!

Sunset at Nature’s Eye Resort, featuring a relaxing view of the ocean and nature-filled surroundings.

K’s Final Thoughts

If you’re looking for a solo retreat to escape city life or just some well-deserved me-time, I highly recommend Nature’s Eye Resort.

✔ Helpful & friendly staff
✔ Good food
✔ Different room options for unique experiences

I booked the Cliff Room, which had an open bathroom overlooking the sea—(like seriously! Talk about being one with nature, right?)

I’d definitely go back someday and explore more Guimaras resorts!

📍 Have you been to Guimaras? Any resorts you'd recommend?

xoxo,

The pandemic has made working from home possible and appealing for many employees. Who doesn't like skipping the early morning battle with the alarm clock, the hassle of the traffic, and the daily dilemma of "where should we go for lunch?"

As preferable and blissful as it is (especially for those who scored 20/100 on sociability scale—ehem!), there are still struggles to this work-from-home arrangement. I've listed a few of them below and added a few tips on how to counter these common challenges and make the best out of it.

Minimalist home office setup with a laptop and natural lighting for a productive WFH day.

Struggle No. 1 – I Have No Social LIfe

This is a common struggle, but definitely not one of mine. Even during the time when the most social interaction I've had was with food delivery riders, I didn't mind the WFH setup at all. However, for the GenZ's out there, there is so much pressure as they see other colleagues posting after-office-hour photos or other in-office events.

Workaround: Do not limit yourself from after-work activities. Be it with your friends or family, try not to slip into your bed right after work. Pretend you're working in the office (without the hassle of commute) and allot a few hours to socialize even through video chat or phone call, if physical meet-up is not possible. If you're living alone, you can join art classes, book-reading club, or even hit the gym!

During the weekends, you can also schedule a small get-together to catch up (be sure to practice safety protocols!), attend virtual or self-paced training for self-improvement or do volunteer work at a local animal shelter.

"The key to a meaningful social network is the quality of your relationships, and not the number of friends you have."

Struggle No. 2 - I'm Getting Tired of the Routine

Whether you are working from home or working in-office, routine is the worst enemy for the most of us. It just seems more dull when you're in WFH set up because you don't see anyone else struggling with it.

Workaround: To make the repetitiveness of our daily tasks less boring, you can try to do any of the following:

- Dress up (even if it's just for yourself)
- Set daily and weekly goals (and achieve them!)
- Take breaks and lunches outside (or anywhere, just be sure to take them away from your desks)
- Take time off work (come on, use up your PTO hours!)
- Join online challenges such as 30-day challenges or any hobbies like Photo A Day (I highly recommend the FMS Photo-A-Day challenge: IG link here)

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A post shared by Chantelle Ellem (@fatmumslim)

Struggle No. 3 - I Have So Much Time

The work-from-home setup—for sure—has been well-received by family members since they can barge in on you anytime, but that privilege can also be distracting and hurt productivity.

Workaround: Setting boundaries and letting them know your specific work hours should do the trick, just be sure to be firm about it.

We also tend to overwork ourselves because office-hour is limitless now that our workstations are just a few steps away. This was one of my greatest challenges -- I used work as a means to keep my mind busy and to kill time during weekends. I don't recommend it at all. It would make you be hard on yourself if you don't finish a task during regular work days, and you are prone to abusing yourself (hello, eye fatigue and sleep deprivation).

Workaround: If you want to kill time, do something that compensates --whether by learning a new skill or doing gigs that would earn a few extra bucks. 😊 I recently accepted a content-writing gig where I get paid for every 1000-word article submitted, and it was (absolutely) so rewarding. Imagine doing the thing you like and getting paid for it? I also keep an online shop (The F Shoppe) where I get to choose products to sell, design their lay-out, and even choose funny names!

Of course, if you're doing a side hustle, or other hobbies, be sure that you don't:

Use company time
Use company equipment
Let it affect your regular work in any way

I strongly believe that nothing is more rewarding than achieving things in the right and virtuous way.

"Integrity is doing the right thing, even when no one is looking."

Struggle No. 4 - I Fear I'm Missing Out

As exciting and comfortable as it has been for the longest time, now that the restrictions have been easing up and most workforce are going back to the office, there is this irrational fear of being left out. I've read an article where an employee feared that because he's not always seen in the office, his boss would forget about him when the next promotion opens.

Workaround: Show your best at work daily -- and when there are days that you don't feel like you're able to do 100%, that's okay too. Just be sure to communicate with your boss or colleague, because everyone goes through that phase once in a while. (If you're working in a non-toxic workplace, time-off are actually well-received.) You can also ask for regular feedback from your leads or colleagues so you are both aware of any issues that need to be addressed.