Aside from the usual rain showers and occasional typhoons, the month of July passed by in the blink of an eye. It felt unusually fast, almost as if the days melted into each other. Much of the time was spent on K-drama marathons—Kat especially indulged in long sessions of watching, which also meant more late nights, extra snacking, and, as a result, a little extra weight gain. On my end, I found myself diving back into nostalgia by revisiting the first and second versions of Kingdom Rush, a classic tower defense game that never fails to pull me in with its strategy and charm. Meanwhile, Joyce has been busy with her school intramurals, juggling both academics and sports, which kept her schedule quite packed.
Outside, the Santolan renovations are still underway, with progress being slow but steady; hopefully, everything will be wrapped up by late September or October. On a different note, I started reading a new web novel titled Hundred Regression, where the protagonist—along with countless other youths—is forced into a brutal death match, creating a mix of suspense and excitement that makes it hard to put down.
Financially, I made some moves in my portfolio by adding STI and URC. However, the market wasn’t too kind—barely a week after I bought URC, its value dropped by more than 10%. What stung even more was that I attempted an early round of cost averaging, which unfortunately dragged my overall average down instead of improving it. It’s a tough lesson in patience and timing, but one I’ll carry forward.
This Month's Quote
Love, like a typhoon, can shake us to our core — fierce in its arrival, but leaving behind a sky clearer and brighter than before.
Binge Watching Kdrama
From superhuman battles in Moving to ghostly romances in Hotel del Luna, watching K-dramas is like living many lives—each story a mix of laughter, tears, and lessons that stay long after the screen fades...
Recently, I’ve spent a good amount of time catching up on several Korean dramas, each offering a different flavor of storytelling and emotion. The lineup included Moving, Dream, Mercy for None, Melo Movie, The Sound of Your Heart, and Hotel del Luna.
Joyce Birthday
Eleven years of joy, love, and laughter—happy birthday to my wonderful daughter, who makes every day brighter...
Joyce recently turned 11 this year, and it’s hard to believe how quickly time flies—it feels like only yesterday she was still a little girl, and now she’s growing up so fast. We had originally planned to celebrate her birthday with a small food treat in school, but classes were suspended due to heavy rainfall, which meant a change of plans. Still, this year’s celebration was meaningful in its own way. It was my first time celebrating her birthday since returning to the Philippines for good, and that alone made the day special. Instead of the school gathering, we enjoyed a simple get-together at home with her cousins, sharing food, laughter, and happy memories. As I watched her celebrate, I couldn’t help but hope that this fast passage of time leads her toward good things, and not into any terrible changes as she continues to grow and evolve.
St Cyr Intramurals
Intramurals aren’t just about winning—they’re about teamwork, school spirit, and memories made on and off the court...
Joyce enjoyed her last intramural year at St. Cyr, which is somewhat like a school sportsfest. Since she’s not particularly athletic, she chose to participate in the chess competition instead. Overall, it was still a fun experience for her—a refreshing change of pace from the usual study routines.
Santolan Renovations
Home renovations come with surprises—sometimes the plans change, the goals shift, but in the end it teaches us patience and flexibility...
The Santolan renovations are still ongoing, but significant progress has already been made. The stairs are now fully completed, and the second floor is more or less finished in terms of structure. The target for overall completion is still set around the end of September, although there are a few pending tasks that need attention. On the second floor, electrical work is still in progress, along with several additional fixtures that were identified after heavy rains revealed some areas that needed adjustment. Meanwhile, the first-floor toilet is scheduled to be completed by next month, along with other finishing touches and fine details that will tie the whole project together. While there are still a few hurdles left, it’s encouraging to see the renovation steadily taking shape.
Kingdom Rush
A battle of strategy, timing, and the thrill of holding the line against impossible odds (and infinite retries)...
’ve recently been spending some of my free time replaying Kingdom Rush and Kingdom Rush Frontiers, and honestly, it reminded me why these games are considered classics in the tower defense genre. The first Kingdom Rush hooked me right away with its simple but challenging gameplay. Every stage felt like a puzzle where I had to carefully plan out my towers and upgrades, and the mix of enemies kept things exciting. What I really enjoyed was the humor and personality—whether it was the quirky voice lines, funny enemy designs, or the bright fantasy art style, it always kept the game light and entertaining even when the levels got tough.
When I moved on to Kingdom Rush Frontiers, it felt like the perfect sequel. It took everything I loved about the original and expanded it—more towers, new heroes, exotic maps, and tougher challenges. I found myself experimenting with different strategies and combinations just to see what worked best, and that made the experience even more fun. It’s definitely a game that keeps you coming back for “just one more round.”
For me, both Kingdom Rush 1 and 2 are more than just games; they’re a mix of strategy, creativity, and nostalgia. They’re easy to pick up, but mastering them takes patience and planning—which is exactly what makes every victory feel so rewarding. Even after all these years, I can say these two remain some of the best tower defense games I’ve ever played.
The Max-Level Player’s 100th Regression
Every reset is not just a second chance—it’s a brutal reminder that survival demands both courage and sacrifice...
I recently started reading The Max-Level Player’s 100th Regression after seeing some clips on YouTube Shorts, and it immediately drew me in. The story follows a protagonist who has already lived through ninety-nine failed cycles of a deadly survival game, now entering his 100th regression. Unlike the other youths forced into the death matches for the first time, he carries both the burden and advantage of experience, making him sharp, calculating, and almost weary of the endless struggle. What I enjoy most so far is how the novel balances action and strategy. The battles are intense but never mindless, and the sense of survival keeps each chapter gripping. Beyond the fights, it also explores the loneliness of restarting over and over again, and the question of what true victory really means. Overall, it’s a dark but refreshing take on the regression genre, and definitely worth reading if you enjoy survival and strategy-driven stories. Read it throught this webtoon The Max-Level Player’s 100th Regression.
Stocks add STI and URC
Wrong buy entry point for URC, decent returns for STI...
Lately I’ve been keeping an eye on my portfolio, particularly on STI and URC. STI Education Systems Holdings has actually been a bright spot, currently trading around ₱1.44–₱1.45, with a solid one-year return of about 33%, easily outperforming both its sector and the broader market. Its fundamentals remain attractive with a low P/E, steady earnings, and a modest dividend yield that make it feel like a stable long-term hold. On the other hand, my position in Universal Robina Corporation has been much more difficult. The stock is hovering in the ₱83–₱84 range, and while URC remains a blue-chip company with a strong market presence and reliable dividends, its performance over the past year has been underwhelming, lagging behind the food industry and the broader PSE index. Unfortunately, because of its recent drop after I entered, I’m currently sitting on a considerable loss with URC—made worse by my attempt at early cost averaging, which only pulled my overall average down further. It’s a hard lesson in patience and timing, contrasting the steadier gains I’ve seen with STI.