The HodgePodge Lifestyle Chronicles

By Remedios Lucio

"Remedios Lucio is an author and a journalist, who owns The HodgePodge

Lifestyle blog and YouTube channel since 2010. She has written The

HodgePodge Lifestyle Chronicles book series 10 Years After, Season is

Changing, and Back to the Homeland. She loves to share her life experiences;

go on travel adventures; meet people f

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ukiyoto Publishing
• Release date: Oct 27, 2022
• ISBN: 9789360495589

Book preview

The HodgePodge Lifestyle Chronicles

10 Years After

Remedios Lucio

Ukiyoto Publishing

All global publishing rights are held by

Ukiyoto Publishing

Published in 2020

Content Copyright © Remedios Lucio

ISBN

All rights reserved.

No portion of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any electronic system, transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the author.

Events, locales, and conversations have been recreated from memories. In some instances, in order to maintain anonymity, names of individuals and places have been changed. Some identifying characteristics and details such as physical properties, occupations, and places of residence have been changed. The names, places, and/or people are fictitious. Any that seem real is created from the imagination of the author.

The names of cities, towns, and characters are also a fictitious form of writing.

This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated, without the publisher’s prior consent, in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published.

CONTENTS

A Magnitude 6 Earthquake on top of a building      1

Beating Lupus, a ghost disease      4

Undergoing steroids treatment 2007-2008      7

A new chapter, living abroad and meeting a fellow Lupus patient      8

Going back to media after four years      9

How Julius Babao inspired me to go back to media      11

My Ex-boyfriend Died      14

What’s more in Siargao than just surfing (Part 1)      17

Siargao, a trip to the teardrop-shaped island (Part II)      20

The Hidden Gem of Port Barton, Palawan      23

Ralfe Gourmet: A Chocolate Heaven in Cebu      28

Mesmerizing Island Hopping at Caramoan Peninsula      31

A Solo Traveller’s Guide to Exploring Boracay      33

The Streets of Medellin, Colombia: Spanish, Casa, Transportación y Calles Part I      41

Cerveza, Empanada, Chocolate con Quezo: Satisfy your palate with Colombian Dishes Part 2      45

About the Author      49

A Magnitude 6 Earthquake on top of a building

Yesterday was quite a traumatic event in Manila when a magnitude 6 earthquake hit the Philippines. I was alone at TriNoma mall in Quezon City at one of the top floors when it hit.

I was at The Spa about to get a massage. It came out of nowhere. At first, I thought the masseuse was moving the bed and I heard a couple of loud thumping sounds at the same time. Then it stopped. Probably I was so tired that I didn’t realize the earth was already moving. 

It stopped for a few seconds then the bed moved back and forth again. This time the masseuse said while she had her hand on my back leg, Ma’am earthquake. Let’s not move until it stops. It was the longest time in my life, it felt like eternity. Automatically in my head, I was praying for it to stop. Please not now.

Finally after the longest minutes, the earthquake stopped. Everything was eerily quiet. We went out of the room’s tent designed room, greeted by one of their staff. I immediately went to the wet area to retrieve my things and immediately tried to dress myself, shaking hands and all.

I can’t even lock the accordion restroom doors but I keep telling myself it’s okay just do it fast then go out. I went out and the receptionist and other staff were completely calm, trying to repress their panic inside.

I walked out The Spa when an Ayala mall operations worker went in. Outside, people were on their phones and some guards were guiding  people to calmly go down. I was looking for the fire exit but I couldn’t, despite the fact that I was at the garden area on top of TriNoma where stairs are mostly leading to the ground floor.

I realized I need to go inside the mall and go down one more floor where all these stairs are since all elevators and escalators were shutdown. How do I go out as fast as I can without panicking?

I was