This April was a month of diverse activities, blending family celebrations, cultural reflection, technological exploration, and personal growth. A simple but heartwarming birthday celebration for Nanay Noemi kicked off the month, filled with shared food and familial warmth. The K-drama "When Life Gives You Tangerines" sparked a nostalgic reflection on the challenges faced by past generations in the Philippines, highlighting the value of familial stories. Technological curiosity led to an exploration of AI-generated art in the Studio Ghibli style, showcasing the impressive advancements in AI's ability to replicate complex artistic aesthetics. Financially, the month saw the initiation of day trading on the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE), investing in TEL and JFC shares, with the aim of generating additional income amidst market uncertainties influenced by Trump's tariff policies. Family pride was a highlight, as Joyce received High Honors at her recognition day, a testament to her perseverance despite academic challenges. Joyce also addressed dental concerns with a checkup and preparations for braces. Finally, the month concluded with a focus on personal introspection, as the author and their family utilized the Lenten period for self-reflection and goal realignment, choosing a personal approach over traditional religious observance.
This Month's Quote
"Those who forgive themselves, and are able to accept their true nature... They are the strong ones!"
― Itachi Uchiha, from Naruto
Nanay Noemis' Birthday
Another year of life...
Nanay Noemi's birthday was marked by a simple, cozy celebration at her home. During our visit, we presented her with a birthday cake we'd picked up. Complementing our contribution, a generous serving of flavorful palabok and an additional cake were already set out, making for a lovely, albeit modest, birthday meal shared together.
Kdrama When Life Gives you Tangerines
Life and born in the 50s...
While Kat and I were watching the K-drama 'When Life Gives You Tangerines,' it struck a chord with us. Even though we were born in the 80s, the show depicted scenarios and values that felt familiar, strongly reminding us of the stories our own parents shared about their younger years here in the Philippines. It really highlighted the significant challenges and sacrifices our parents' generation faced, painting a vivid picture of the difficult times they navigated.
Ghibli Art
AI generated Artwork...
A popular trend recently involves leveraging advanced AI tools to create images in the unmistakable style of Studio Ghibli. While earlier AI could perform basic style mimicry, today's generative models are far more adept at capturing the specific nuances of complex aesthetics like Ghibli's, thanks to significant technological improvements. This increased capability means the AI-generated results are not only more stylistically accurate but are also steadily improving in terms of overall image quality, detail, and artistic coherence, making the trend more prominent and the outputs more impressive.
I recently went through my photo collection, dug up several interesting pictures, and decided to experiment with an AI tool to transform them into the Studio Ghibli art style. I was curious to see how the AI would reinterpret these familiar images with that iconic, painterly animation look.
Trump Tariffs, Risk of Recession
Uncertainty...
The increasing tariffs being imposed by the United States are creating significant issues and contributing to a climate of considerable uncertainty and volatility within the global market. These tariffs, often implemented on imported goods from various countries, have the potential to disrupt established trade relationships, increase costs for businesses and consumers, and ultimately dampen economic growth. Consequently, investors are reacting cautiously, leading to fluctuations and unpredictability in stock prices and other financial instruments as they attempt to assess the potential long-term impacts.
Investing again in Stocks
Times of uncertainty are also times of opportunity...
I've started investing some capital in the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) for TEL (Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company) and JFC (Jollibee Foods Corporation) shares. My goal is to explore day trading as a way to generate additional income.
Joyce Recognition Day
Awards and merits...
The family celebrated a truly wonderful recognition day at St. Cyr Academy, as their daughter, Joyce, was awarded High Honors. This achievement was particularly significant because, despite facing challenges with lower scores in Filipino and Araling Panlipunan, Joyce demonstrated remarkable perseverance and dedication to excel in her other subjects. Her hard work and commitment clearly paid off, making the entire family incredibly proud of her accomplishment.
Joyce Dental Checkup
Teeth falling off..
Noticing that two of her molar teeth were becoming loose, Joyce had a timely dental appointment, which also happened to be scheduled for her regular teeth cleaning. Visiting her dentist in Parañaque, she underwent both a thorough checkup to assess the loose teeth and her routine cleaning. Additionally, the dentist advised her to begin the necessary dental preparations for the future application of braces, addressing both immediate concerns and long-term orthodontic needs.
Lenten Season
Reflection and adjustments...
While not conventionally religious, particularly during this time which doesn't carry the traditional Lenten observances for us due to our infrequent church attendance, we are intentionally using this period for personal reflection and the re-evaluation of our goals. We believe in the importance of inner examination and aligning our actions with our aspirations, finding our own meaning in this season rather than adhering strictly to religious customs.
The Infographics Show: What Are TARIFFS And Do They Work
For the last few months and recent days tariffs is being pushed by US to the entire world...