Recap: April 2019

April came too swiftly but it never failed to leave me breathless, both literally and figuratively. I had a few string of firsts in the past month but mostly were just the tedium of my work-to-home (and vice versa) routine. I was getting busier than before that I didn't notice those thirty days just passed by like a moving bullet train in a span of minutes or hours. Yes, my life is kind of bland sometimes, just like everybody else. Nothing really special happened except that I made a handful of unforgettable memories with my chums. Anyway, here are some of the highlights why April was a month worth remembering!

Organized an event with Instagram friends

My April experience kicked off with an epic Instameet that my online buddies and I organized. A few months ago, we formed a group of creative Instagrammers here in Cebu and named it Grammer Sessions Cebu. We aim not only to share our knowledge on curating an awesome Instagram feed but also to build a connection with other Instagrammers in the metro. We would love to make the Instagram community here in Cebu be active again just like its glorious days.

During the first installment of our mini Instameet, which happened last February, each participant shared their stories—from how they came up with their witty usernames to curating and maintaining their Instagram feed to connecting people online to real life. And who would've thought a simple gathering like this would've resulted into another Instameet but a bigger one?


On the first week of April, we had the second edition of our mini Instameet and called it Grammer Session Cebu 2.0: Summer in the City. Some of the attendees were the ones we've met on the previous Instameets, but most of them were new faces. It was exciting and scary at the same time because the new ones were Instameet virgins, meaning it was their first time to attend such an event. Luckily, we were able to keep up with their expectations. Haha!




The participants were divided into group wherein they've brainstormed on how to get picture-perfect moments in different places in the hostel—from the arcade to the swimming pool to the bar to the rooms. We had lived up to our theme as we held it at Mad Monkey Hostel Cebu City, a new and one-of-a-kind hostel in The Queen City of the South. The hostel just got what we needed to have that perfect summer in the city experience.

[Read: Experiencing that thing called 'Monkey Madness' at Mad Monkey Hostel Cebu]

It's always nice seeing how these online friends turned real-life friends getting together and brainstorming ideas on the things that they love. Also, organizing events may be tedious and draining, but it will always be a fun and rewarding experience at the end! Can't wait for the next Instameet. (Special thanks to Aldrin for the event snaps, btw.)

"Science motif for a cafe? Ground-breaking!"

Please don't tell me you didn't read these lines in Miranda Priestly's voice from The Devil Wears Prada movie adaptation. Lol. My good friend Marco and I just found a new cafe to hang out to called Microscoffee. As a logophile (lover of words), I must say, I like the wordplay of their name and how their quirky interiors related to its unique name and motif. Cafe owners in the city are really stepping up their games as they make their cafes surely millennial-friendly and Instagram-worthy. I kind of know geeks would love this place. Plus, we got to peek a special room on a corner in which, in my opinion, might serve as a study area for students or anyone who wants a lesser noisy or more peaceful ambiance.



Microscoffee offers a variety of delicious food and thirst quenching drinks. My favourites are their waffle and Thai milk tea. And when I say quirky, they even served our drinks in Erlenmeyer flasks and Marco's ketchup with an unused syringe. Not to mention these foods and drinks are quite affordable. I don't know if this is necessary but they have cute and friendly baristas, too. (Wow! I can't believe I actually have to write that down here. Hahaha!)


To experience all these great things, all you got to do is to visit their place on the second floor of Dr. Bb Tiu Medical Clinic, at J. Alcantara Street in Barangay Sambag 1 in Cebu City. Enjoy!

Saturdates and art tambay with the bestie

I must admit, it's really hard to keep up with a low-maintenance friendship with my bestie Sarah since we both have different work schedules and priorities. I kind of know that a lot of struggling (young) adults out there can totally relate on this. Haha! So I was so happy the Saturdays of April were filled random art dates. Imagine catching up with each other while making art, from late afternoon until it's almost ten in the evening. Time flies really that quick when we're together, sans the dull moments.

When Lana del Rey said, "I got that summertime sadness," I really felt that

You know it's really the peak of the summer season in the country when it barely rains as the humid weather was killing me. In this kind of weather, I usually imagine myself heading to the nearest resort, chilling with my pals and listening to summer tracks by the beach with a bottle of cerveza in my hand. Too bad, I was so caught with tons of workloads that this just remains a daydream and wishful thinking at the office. But at least I had an awesome summer in the city experience early this April. Anyway, I'm looking forward to May since I might be hitting the salt waters! Fingers crossed.

On writing more but also learning to take a break

In the beginning of this year, I swore to myself that I should keep this blog alive again. That I should write more often no matter what. I never consider myself a writer but whenever I try to write a blog post, I usually get writer's block. There was a long weekend in which I decided to stop doing my usual weekend hand lettering drills, sat down in front of my laptop, and really tried my best to write something but believe it or not, it took me couple of hours just to compose the introduction. Haha! I know it normally happens to me but sometimes it can be frustrating. Until I came across this article, and found out that I was not alone after all! This is really helpful and I've also learned that I should take a break or lose myself sometimes, like as singing or dancing like nobody's watching. I might be making a special playlist for this!

Another hindrance I've been facing while creating blog posts is the lack of free time. It's really difficult juggling between having a daytime job and doing the things you love. I can't help but feel amaze to those people you can do both and at the same envy them. I really do. Lol! I hope someday I can master the art of multi-tasking.



One thing I like about writing this monthly recap is that it always keeps me on track if I was productive or not on the past month. With all these happenings, I guess last month was kind of a balance, even if I was on a constant battle with procrastination and creative block. Haha! But I'm glad that I'm slowly learning how to fight them. And I think it is a good sign. I may be taking baby steps now but I'm pretty sure I'm getting there. ☺