Fall

Hello, October! I just finished a month-long social media detox to reset my life—fixing my sleep, budgeting, and daily schedule. So, what did I miss while I was away?

On September 21, there was a nationwide rally demanding accountability from corrupt government officials who pocketed funds meant for flood control projects. Instead of serving the people, they used taxpayers’ hard-earned money to fund their lavish lifestyles, while ordinary Filipinos are left wading through floods, risking leptospirosis, and struggling just to make ends meet. It’s infuriating. How do these people even sleep at night knowing they’re stealing from the nation? Every month, a huge part of my salary goes to taxes, only to end up in the pockets of thieves. It’s unacceptable.

The people’s anger is justified—especially when these officials can escape floods by hopping on a helicopter while everyone else suffers. Just to share, my Dad served as a government official for more than three decades. He chose to retire early rather than join the corrupt system.

He believed that being a public servant meant serving the people, not serving oneself. Sadly, his honesty made him a target. His colleagues, who thrived on corruption, conspired against him because he refused to feed his family with stolen money. I still remember my mother telling me about the day people came to our home with a sack of cold cash to bribe my dad. He sent it back without hesitation, even though it meant receiving death threats. But he stood his ground, because doing the right thing mattered more.

Anyway, before I get too fired up, let’s shift gears—it’s the first of October, and I’m excited for Halloween! I already planned a trip to the candy store to stock up on treats for the neighborhood kids. Last year, they were thrilled because I gave out goodies with Halloween stickers, and I can’t wait to do it again this time.

And yes—the Christmas breeze is already in the air. 🎃🎄Ⓕ