November monthly blog. This month I visited Santolan for All Souls’ Day and checked the final renovation progress. The work looked fine overall, though some details weren’t ideal. I also went to the cemetery earlier than the actual day, and it was peaceful with fewer visitors.
We delayed buying a car until after the Santolan renovation to ensure funds were secure. Once completed, we purchased a Toyota Raize at Toyota Bicutan. We chose it for fuel efficiency, compact size, and good ground clearance compared to a Vios. It was also cheaper than other crossovers like the Yaris or Corolla Cross. We opted for a new car instead of used, remembering the costly repairs of our old ’97 Toyota Corona. The Raize feels like a fresh start, promising convenience and fewer headaches.
This year marked my 42nd birthday, and I reflected on milestones and goals. I aim to lose weight down to 70kg, move to Santolan, and install solar panels. Turning 42 feels surreal but motivating, as I now count projects and victories instead of just years.
My Apple Watch Series 6 broke after three years of daily use, while my Series 3 lasted longer. I opened the watch for the first time, guided by YouTube tutorials. Though I considered replacing the battery, the cost was nearly equal to buying a new Android watch. Instead, I fixed the dislocated battery myself, a small DIY success that keeps it running for now.
We also collected ayuda for persons with disabilities at Parañaque City Hall for our son Jace, who has Down syndrome. The process was faster than expected, finishing in less than 1.5 hours. The queue in our barangay was messy but manageable, though improvements could cut waiting time to 15 minutes. Compared to underperforming barangays, Parañaque and Barangay Isidro did fairly well. Still, Santolan, Pasig, has smoother systems and stricter staff, making the process less draining. Overall, the experience was good enough, and finishing without losing the whole day felt like a win.
This Month's Quote
Put your first order where you would put a stop loss...
All souls day
I did a quick visit to Santolan for All Souls’ Day and also checked out the final progress of the renovations there. Overall, the renovations look fine—though there are a few details I wasn’t too happy about. Still, it’s done, so I’ll just make the most out of it.
I also dropped by the cemetery a bit earlier, before All Souls’ itself, and it was surprisingly quiet. Not too many people were visiting yet, which made it feel more peaceful. By the actual day, I’m sure it got busier, but that early visit gave me a chance to reflect without the usual crowd
Toyota Raize
Our second car...
We originally planned to buy a car right after I got back to the Philippines earlier this year. But I decided to hold off until the Santolan renovation was finished, just to make sure we had enough funds to cover any unexpected risks. Thankfully, the renovation costs stayed within budget—even though it was a bit delayed—so we were able to move forward with the car purchase. We ended up buying our car at Toyota Bicutan, and settled on the Raize. The main reasons? Fuel efficiency, compact size, and that nice ground clearance compared to a Vios. Plus, it’s way more affordable than other crossovers like the Yaris or Corolla Cross. We also debated whether to go for a used car or a brand-new one. In the end, we chose new because of our not-so-great experience with our first car, a ’97 Toyota Corona we bought back in 2006. That thing was a money pit with all the repairs it needed. Lesson learned. So here we are—new car, fresh start. Hopefully, this Raize gives us the convenience and flexibility we’ve been looking for. Honestly, just the thought of smoother trips and fewer headaches already feels like a big win.
Birthday
Forties...
Ok, so it’s my 42nd birthday—I’m officially crawling deeper into the forties now. A lot has happened this past year, and I’ll be sharing more in my soon-to-write 2025 year-ender. But looking ahead, I’ve got a few personal targets lined up for this year too: Get back in shape and drop down to 70kg (time to fight the dad bod!), Finally make the move to Santolan and settle in there. Push through with the solar panel installation project—because saving on bills and going green feels like a win-win. It’s funny, hitting 42 feels both surreal and motivating. I’m not just counting years anymore; I’m counting milestones, projects, and little victories. Here’s to making this year lighter, brighter, and more sustainable.
Fixtures Apple Watch
Opening an Apple watch...
After about three years of daily use, my Apple Watch Series 6 finally gave up on me. Funny thing is, my old Apple Watch Series 3 actually lasted longer than the 6, which I didn’t expect. This was my first time opening up the watch, and of course I just relied on YouTube tutorials to figure things out.
Luckily, I already had the tools since I like tinkering here and there with gadgets. I originally wanted to replace the battery, but when I checked the price—wow, it was almost the same as buying a brand-new Android watch. Not worth it at all.
So instead, I did a minor fix myself. The battery had gotten dislocated, and I managed to put it back in place. Not a perfect solution, but at least the watch is running again for now. Honestly, it feels good to pull off a DIY repair, even if it’s just a temporary fix.
Government Ayuda for the Disabled
Paranaque ayuda for people with disability...
We just picked up the ayuda for persons with disabilities at Parañaque City Hall. Our son Jace has Down syndrome, so we lined up for him. Honestly, I was expecting it to take forever, but surprisingly the whole process was done in less than 1.5 hours—which, by Philippine standards, is already considered fast. The staff were accommodating, though the queue itself was a bit messy in our barangay. People were cutting in line here and there, but it was still manageable if you kept your patience.
If they streamlined the process, I feel like it could easily be done in 15 minutes—imagine the hassle saved! Still, compared to other barangays that really underperform, Parañaque and Barangay Isidro did a decent job. For comparison, we used to stay in Barangay Santolan, Pasig, and I have to say their system is way smoother. The lines are more organized, the staff are stricter about order, and you don’t feel drained after the process. Parañaque could definitely learn a thing or two from Pasig’s management style. Overall, I’d say it wasn’t perfect, but it was good enough. At least we got the ayuda without spending the whole day there. And hey, any government process that doesn’t eat up your entire morning already feels like a small victory here.