Peping's Personal Blog

My Japan Trip Panic: A Visa-Obsessed Adventure   Last December 2024, I booked a family trip to Japan for March 2025. Japan requires a visa, and while I'd heard whispers that things were more relaxed for tourists, my December was a whirlwind of Christmas parties and family gatherings. Checking the Japan Immigration website? Not on my priority list!   January rolled around, and suddenly, securing visas became a top priority. On a Saturday morning, I headed to Relic, a popular agency handling Japanese visa applications. The counter had a stark reminder: due to the high volume of Filipino applications, submissions needed to be two months prior to departure. My heart sank – we were exactly two months out!   Panic mode engaged. I immediately texted my family. Over the next four days, we frantically gathered all the required documents. It was a stressful blur, but we somehow managed to complete everything. However, Relic couldn't accept our application beca...

My Samgyup Adventure: A Run for Love (and a Lost Phone!)   So, there I was, in Mandaluyong, craving the new Korean Samgyup place in Imus, Cavite. My sister Badet was meeting me later, around 5 PM, so I decided to take the bus from PITX, enjoying the usual commute routine: Spotify playlist on, and of course, those inevitable chicken naps. I must have slept like a log because the next thing I knew, I woke up in Cavitex, then blinked and I was in SM Bacoor. Another blink, and BAM! – I was in Anabu, the bus conductor already yelling about the stop. I got off the bus in Anabu, Imus, and that's when I realized my spare phone was missing.   Panic mode engaged. I frantically checked my phone – only my main phone was there, still blasting my Spotify playlist. My spare phone? Gone. My backpack? Empty. Crossbody bag? Nada. Pants pockets? Zilch. In a split second, a primal instinct kicked in: CHASE THE BUS!   Picture this: me, sprinting after a moving bus lik...

My ID's Unexpected Siquijor Adventure (and How It Found Its Way Home!)   Story time! So, today was a ridiculously awesome day. Why? Because I got my ID back, picking it up at LBC. My precious, irreplaceable, government-issued piece of identification, which I’d somehow managed to leave behind in Bucafe, Siquijor, during my recent vacation. Let's just say my ID clearly enjoys a good vacation more than I do! 😉   Now, Siquijor is known for its magic, right? I’m starting to think my ID decided to extend its stay, embracing the island vibes and soaking up the sun a little longer than planned. Maybe it was enjoying the crystal-clear waters, the laid-back atmosphere, or perhaps it was simply captivated by the legendary Siquijor magic. Whatever the reason, it definitely made me sweat!   The backstory is a bit embarrassing, to be honest. I left my ID at Bucafe, completely spaced out. I didn't realize it until I was already on the ferry, heading back to reality. Panic s...