2026 Boracay during Monsoon Season

This is the first time I visited Boracay during rainy monsoon season. The advantage is that the airfares are cheaper but it is quiet risky to take air flights if the weather is erratic. I am fortunate that the weather during my flight back and forth is a fairly good and was able to experience to swim and play with the waves of Boracay beach.

                       

The waves in Boracay Station 2 beach is similar to the Pagudpud beach waves in Ilocos, There is a lot of surfing activity offers around the area but you can still swim and enjoy playing against the waves. We have stayed at Henann Crystal Sands beach resort as this is a beach front hotel, to experience convenience and comfort.

Court Hopping for Pickleball Open Plays

 I am in my sports era this 2026😅.

If my time permits, I play pickleball 2-3x a week. Aside from playing in DragonSmash Taguig, I have also tried court hopping to compare various sports venues and amenities. This is also to get excited to feel something new.

What I have tried so far:

SM Paloo Muntinlupa

This is near my hometown. What I love about this venue, it's inside mall so it's air conditioned. The players are also intermediate and advance. The open play is organized, like my rest time is only 15 minutes. I was just adjusting to the cement floor that time since I am accustomed to wood flooring in Dragon Smash.

Pickleball Sports for Newbies and Beginners Open Play

 I was a varsity player of volleyball in grade school so I have  an idea of how to serve a ball. I played badminton as a kid but I only played it as a hobby. This year, it tried a new racket sport.

My office friends are inviting me to play pickleball. Pickleball is on hype now as you can see in social media. For ladies, it's fun also to wear sports OOTD similar to tennis. For anyone new like me, I suggest to try joining newbie training to understand the game and to get the correct body form for serving, volleying and returning. There is a sports app known as RECLUB where you can join open plays and newbie training for a minimum fee and you can choose your preferred location spot.

                               

For my newbie pickleball training, I have joined the CCF BCG Pickleball Sports. They have open plays every Wednesday night which is conducive for me and the location is near my residence. What I loved about this community is that they do quick 10 minute talk about Christian faith and they offer free food for players. Thank you to Coach Martin of Pickleball Mindset who was our Newbie Coach in our CCF BGC Newbie training.

Binondo Food Trip with Kalesa Tour

My father lived and stayed in Binondo during his college days since he is a working student. He works for a Chinese man who treated him like one of his sons. He helps in their distribution business of fresh fish to Manila market. 

My vivid memory of Binondo as a young child was going up to the Binondo building high stairs to visit this Chinese family. The first chinese words I learned are the Chinese numbers below which I love to recite repetitively during gradeschool.

1 - it
2 - nung
3 - sa
4 - si
5 - go
6 - lak
7 - tsit
8 - pwe
9 - kaw
10 - tsup
100 - pa

My parents could still recall that as a toddler, I grab an apple in one of the Binondo fruit stands and took a bite but they pay for it eventually. They often repeat this story until now.😅

UP Diliman Oval Walk, Ayala Ave Free Car Sunday and Nuvali

When I had an elbow bone fracture in Q4 of 2025 due to slip and fall accident, it made me quite immobile. I could not do my usual swimming routine exercise and it made me feel sulky. In September last year up to January of 2026, I could only do moderate walk and started controlled weight lifting of kettle ball when my bone gradually healed in the last week of February.

Due to that long medical leave, I realized more the importance of health as top priority. Health is Wealth and it is good to start little by little until all exercises are becoming habits.

To make long walks interesting, I have tried this January three (3) outdoor places where I can freely walk with nice view:

1. UP Diliman Academic Oval (Weekends)

2. Ayala Avenue on Sunday (Free Car)

3. Nuvali Park, Sta Rosa

UP Diliman Academic Oval

I have seen frequently in social media that more people are flocking to UP Diliman every weekend for fitness run and long walks. If you go there on Saturdays, half of the oval is car free. If you visit on Sundays, entire oval is car free based on my reading in the news.  UP Diliman is my alma matter and it brings nostalgia whenever I visir. After doing walks, you can eat mangoes, tusok tusok fishball, carioca and yellow corn. You may also visit D Mall (the previous shopping center) to eat lunch and buy UP merchandise.