The Manila Trip I Didn’t Want to Take
I had not gone back to Manila for over a decade. The last time I was there was when I had to pick up Ralph after he first arrived in the Philippines — and that ...
An Anti-Rabies Shot, a Story, and the People Who Made It Easy
I walked into Dr. Care in Villamonte for an anti-rabies shot. Not a spa day. Not a self-care appointment. An anti-rabies shot. The kind of thing you do because something with teeth made a questionable life ...
From Shy Boy to Runway Boy: I Did NOT See This Coming
If you told me five years ago—heck, even five months ago—that my son Ken Matthew Navarro, the same kid who used to hide behind me when a stranger so much as looked in his direction, ...
A Love Letter to My 14-Year-Old Generator
You’ve been with us since the days when buying you was a leap of faith. Back then, we didn’t have much in savings — just a desperate need to survive my love-hate relationship with Noceco ...
From Hinigaran to Bacolod: Living the Manifestation (With Mosquitoes)
So it’s officially been over two weeks since Ralph and I packed our bags, our dogs, cats, parrots, and yes—our monkey Davie, and relocated to Bacolod City. Specifically, to the “small” house on our property ...
Buying a Foreclosed Property: From “As Is, Where Is” Nightmare to a Happy Ending
When my husband and I first considered buying a foreclosed property, we were hesitant—very hesitant. We had heard all the horror stories about the dreaded "As Is, Where Is" clause. In theory, it sounds reasonable: ...