I just turned 40 forty, I haven't written much when I was I'm Thirty back then. I am planning to update this blog continously within the year 2024.
The items and experiences I remember looking back at 40 years old. Life after forty and things I am planning to brace into.
The goals I wanted to achieve after 40 years old, and things I wanted to achieve before 50.
- Attempt to have a small business, experience in scaling a business.
- As a long time game player and who aspired to be a game developer. Release a game in the Android Playstore.
- Utilize available properties, maximize the usage or buy properties.
- As an anime lover. Travel more maybe Japan or Korean. I do not fancy Europe, Africa or the Americas.
- Lose 15 kg my current weight is 82 kg, at least lose 2kg permanently every year until 50.
- Do my best to make Joyce accepted in a science or better school. Maximize Joyce learning potential.
- Help Kat recover from her sickness and be always with her.
- If my business failed, switch to another company. I have been working in NCS for 10+ years, there were ups and downs through those years. I have learned alot in both technical and management skills.
Looking back at pre-school
During my pre-school years I couldn't remember much but these are the following stuffs that I have recalled. We were staying on a two-floor apartment. The location seems to be on this area that I vaguely remember. I recall the sari-sari store where I would buy candies. I try to wake-up early before mama goes to work. She will give me one peso for the day. I remember that my family was teasing me to a girl next door, couldn't remember anything of her at all. Maybe this was may first realization that I'm not Gay hah. I only remember one memorable day that I have fever and my mom was taking care of me. During these years I remember my sister Ting-Ting but have no memories playing with her even with only two year age gap. I think I was an introvert since an early age. I recall papa carrying me on top of his shoulders. I recall having a Christmas gift that looks like a car from back to future. I recall opening my P200 peso savings and spending it for my birthday celebration, which is kinda sad. I remember vick and efficascent oil and mama's massage.
I remember Lolo always bring me to school during preschool. We would often walk from Cityland to Mothergoose. Based from the current google maps it is 30 minute walk with normal foot threads. The school was Mothergoose Pre-school in Pasig, it looks rugged now and wished that they had maintained it. I also remember being with lola when someone stole her jewlery via a scam. The guy pretend to know uncle Eddie.
During preparatory I was scolded because I started eating my Siopao snack even before the prayers starts. I learned how to tie my shoelace in school. There was a huge playground outside the playrooms. We had these pre-school events like an acting play and my role is a tree lol, no chance to be the best actor. I also did a poem presentation of Annabelle Lee by Edgar Allan Poe. I won the second place in the preschool moving up ranking, which until today was unfathomable. It was mama who went up the stage to put the medal on me. Overall my pre-school years seems to be oddly fine.
The year when I was roughly around Grade 1 we move from Pasig-Pineda to Pasig-Santolan. My cousin you was staying on that place decided to migrate to Spain during that time. It was the early 90s. The house at least half of it, was given to my mom and our family decided to live there till this day. I remember the day we move, since it was my first time riding a big mover truck.
Grade School
During grade-school years
Grade 4 I was doing well and ended up on honor section on Grade 5. The pressure was too much during Grade 5. The family decided that I should take a regular Grade 6 class instead, thus me entering Grade 7.
Summer of 98, is th year I experience my first love, which is funny thinking it now. I felt the heart ache and the things experiences as a kid. She was from Naga and I needed to go back to manila to study.
I do remember every summer vacation Tingting and I will always go to Bicol for the summer break. There a few fun things I tried their such as playing tennis, table tennis, quickchow noodle midnight snack. Back in Bicol I tend to listen to music more since from tv karaoke to recorded tape songs.
At this age I played alot of games from Magic the Gathering (I started with Mirage expansion), Video Games, Nintendo / Super Familycom, SNES and Tamiya race cars.
Grade school anime Japanese culture influence me alot, such as Dragonball Z, Sailormoon, Bioman, Daimos, Shaider, Maskrider Black and other primeshows.
I studied in LSGH but I was the nerdy introverted guy. During this time being nerdy and introverted wasn't really that cool. I loved to stay in the library to read books during lunch breaks. I have read hardy boy, my favorite choose your own adventure, where is Wally, Almanac and other fun stuff to read. I also didn't have a group I bundled myself into. I felt abit lonely in school due to this, sometimes I just felt I didn't have a place to Tambay in or fit into. Grade school was just another chore for me, I didn't find it fun. I just felt it was something I need to do.
I find more confort playing in the neighborhood, I remember playing X-Men Textcards, POGs, Playstation, SNES, Tamiya and Magic cards with my neighborhood friends.
High School
High school wasn't much different from Grade school except that I was able to find people I can play with. I found friends in school by playing Magic the Gathering, or people with common interest in playing Playstation. I bought my first playstaying from my classmate since he wanted to shift to PC games instead. High school was really about video games and MTC for me. I burned alot time designing my deck and burned alot of time playing playstation.
What I remember uniquely was I tried to join a band by trying out to be a guitarist or bassist. I didn't push through though, since I lacked practise and my ability to play the instruments was really poor.
The four years of my life was a breeze. I remember that I can take the transportation to go back home. I remember I didn't have a service when I was 3rd year high school. I would spend my after school hours playing magic or sorts. Thinking back, I wonder if my parents are worried or maybe times were different back then.
I celebrated the 2000 new year in Bicol and still remember how I reflect on the roof top, and somewhat felt lonely and lost there.
College
I wanted to go do computer related stuff and ended up enrolling in Mapua. My dad graduated there and it seems he did ok. I took computer engineering without know what it really is. I passed UP but not in Diliman, I passed the opportunity to study in UPLB or UP Bagiuo. I can enter DLSU or Benilde but avoided going there since I don't want to see my highschool batchmates. I tried to get into a difficult course in Ateneo thus preventing me from getting in. During that time Mapua wasn't really a bad choice, looking back it really suited my introverted nature.
Sometimes in life we do silly things, to certain point we are too ashamed to even go out. Like any 16 years old we do have our crushes, I made this move of asking if I can court someone but was rejected. During that time I was too immature to handle the situation and ended up impacting my confidence. Being an introvert I believe I had this low self-esteemed which affected my decision making.
Papa had his stomach operation, and the eventual financial problems. During college we were selling perfumes and detergents. The house basically became a factory to produce these goods.
Trigometry medalist. Due to various family difficulties I was quite motivated on my first term in college. I got this medalist award after scoring decent scores in the exams. I know I wasn't that gifted and talented and belive things can be covered by effort.
I got a mixed of full and half scholarship award back in College. Every quarter there was always an opportunity to get scholarships if a student can meet the grade quota.
Failed an optional subject Unix since I didn't study enough. This is the only subject I failed, even it didn't reflected in my transcript. It was an extra subject if one wanted to learn extra stuff.
Won the C++ interschool contest with Ken. I would say I didn't did much but somehow it gave me the push to pursue software development.
Hajime No Ippo, One Piece and Bleach was the go to anime during my college days. I stopped playing Magic the Gathering when I was in college since I didn't have the time nor the community to play with. I have also reduced time playing with my playstation, and spent more time in playing PC games such as Warcraft 3, DOTA, Counter Strike and various MMORPG. The MMORPG I spent alot playing was Ragnarok Online, Tantra, Gunbound, Flyff and Rose Online.
Insecurities
Working in Manila
Years working in Philippines for three years. Graduating after 4 years is a relief at the same time I felt that I don't know anything. I'm concern if anyone will ever hire me. I would say that luckly I love coding and did lot of casual Java, C++ and .NET development.
Worked in a terrible company on the first year and shifted to HP Philippines after that. In terms of long standing acquaintances I have found them in some of my HP team mates despite not having much contacts. Through the years I didn't really invested much time with any of my friends or put much effort in keeping contact to maintain them.
I have met my first team lead Markku who actually influenced me to write blogs despite my terrible writings. I have been practising for years but I see no improvements. I believe I just don't put much thought in the construction of my writing and just say things that comes out of my mind. I dont even bother correcting some entries.
Usually me and my girlfriend Kat would meet during weekend. Now that both of us are earning we have more money to spend for ourselves and our wants. Basically we are able to travel more together and dine better on dates.
Bought our first car together and at the same time was able to get our drivers liciense. We got in a few accidents and violations, overall it was part of the experience. We have driven to various places and had fun togther.
Boracay and Bohol was one of the few domestic travels I had with my HP team mates it was fun and enjoyable.
First few year working in Singapore
Years working in Singapore
NETs
Lived in Hougang, Compassvale Crecent,
Long distance relationship
Married life
Getting married and setting in Singapore
Married life
Rivervale Walk, Compassvale Street and Sengkang Square.
Having Kids, Baby Years
Life with a special child
Life with a daughter
Having Kids, Toddler Years
Life with toddlers
The Covid Pandemic of 2019
Covid life
Losing mama in the midst of the pandemic. She
Accident of 2022
My wife' ailment and health condition.
Purchase 3 unit of condominium for rental income.
Planning to leaving Singapore on 2025
As mentioned I was writing this entry the entire year of 2024. The entire year where I'm 40 years old. Hopefully by 2025 I can pursue my goals and targets to go back to the Philippines.