Yesterday, @jeccarrillo and I joined a special tour at the Destileria Limtuaco Museum. In celebration of #ManilaDay, they opened the museum for 90+ guests despite it not being open to the public *yet*. This is one of the photos I took during the tour. I'm guessing these are the old bottles where they stored the spirit. 🤔

About 3 weeks ago, I went out with @earthloveskin. We attended this videography workshop where @shodensan taught us A LOOOOT of things. Then we had a late lunch and discussed my blog's progress. I had this vision and she gave me that push. I may not have 100% accomplished what I wanted to do, but I still found a "look" that really works and speaks for me. And I'm so glad she gave me that push. She's my #1 enabler when it comes to my visions and goals. ❤️ Blah blah aside, I'm launching #thebaeblogs new look. ☺️ I also have 2 new blog posts waiting for you. Ahhh, now I feel so driven to blog more! Show her some love! thebaeblogs.com

Escolta Doggo #ManilaDay 🇵🇭

Escolta Tour tomorrow! 🇵🇭 Have you registered yet? More info on my previous Instagram photos. 📌

Confession: in 24 years, this is my first time to cook pancakes. 🥞

Hey, guys! I noticed I have a couple of friends who are always interested in going to Escolta but never have the time to do so. And I always tell them that there's always something happening in Escolta. And it's true! So now I'm gonna plug once again. Hehe! 🤓 Escolta's holding a tour this Saturday (June 24th) - primarily diving into the history of the famous heritage buildings, some tales of intrigue in what once the country's center of commerce and industry, and, of course, the current efforts being done in reviving Escolta and promoting its conservation. A Php 300 fee will be charged - this is inclusive of museum tickets, tour fee, and snacks. 🇵🇭 For more info, contact Kat Candelaria at 09776505873 or register here: http://bit.ly/2sU3Ssr. 📍

I love discovering phone apps since I'm on my phone 24/7! I'd like to introduce this new app in the country: #PeraSwipe. You can read the full article on my blog (thebaeblogs.com). Oh, and if you're thinking of trying this out yourself, you can refer me! Use my ID: thebaeblogs. ✔️

Not an entirely pretty picture but this is one of the best days I've had. I spent 18 hours outdoors. It was the most tired I've ever felt in my life but also the most fulfilled. I saw Traslacion for the first time, braved the nasty crowd, met ancestral home heirs, and learned from the experts. This was taken at around 10 pm. We spent dinner + a few more hours in this ancestral home (Padilla's if I'm not mistaken) but waited for a few more hours for the Salubong. It was so exhausting. I could have slept in Sir Paul Iturralde's couch and not notice everyone else has already left. During this post-dinner talk, I could barely keep my eyes open. I couldn't absorb anything anymore and I was already running low on patience. But again, it was so fulfilling. I went home tired with a lot of stories to tell. Indeed, #squadgoals. 🇵🇭 #BaeExploresManila #ManilaExplorer

20′s Sex

Sexually Exploring In Your 20’s: What They Don’t Tell You About Hooking Up

Ashamed. This is how I feel for the most part. I don’t even know how to begin to tell my story. But I will tell you this – I haven’t gone to hell and back but it sure was a test for me – physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

I couldn’t pinpoint what was wrong but I knew something was. I was looking for something I was unsure of. I had this certain craving in the pit of my stomach and I wish I knew then that it wasn’t a physical craving. I wish I knew then that, indeed, two wrongs don’t and never will make a right.

It wasn’t a death or life situation for me but I’m still ashamed to have undergone that phase. Luckily for me, I realized the consequences of my actions before the wound got deeper and the damage got bigger.

I am currently hooked on watching #makeup tutorials on YouTube and watching this girl show her possessions and problem-free (at least from the many videos I've watched so far), I'm glad I have my problems and that I have to deal with them and nobody else should. Because they're mine. It's humbling to know my experiences are not of others, they're mine. I didn't have a perfect life, oh dang, no, but that imperfect life molded me to be tounger, to be stronger, to be more mindful of myself, of my craft, to be kinder to myself and to strangers. Wow, that #vlog sure made me realize things. Btw, here's an insanely awesome photo of the sunset I took hours ago. 💕

Christian Minimalism

Many people are getting engrossed in this “craze” called minimalism and it has gradually reached us here in the Philippines as Filipinos slowly realize the burden material things are putting in everyone’s lives instead of uplifting them.

There are many definitions of minimalism and each person practicing it has a unique way of explaining according to his or her belief.

For instance, some think of it as living in a small home or apartment with the fewest possible furniture and items inside.

Others think that it is about keeping your personal possessions under 100 things and your wardrobe to 33 items or below.

Some people believe that minimalism is depriving one's self of all desires and pleasures and just be content with what and who you are in the moment.

In other words, minimalism is as uniquely explained as the individuals who defined them.

My definition of Minimalism

I have defined minimalism as “about eliminating the unnecessary things in life so we can focus on the necessary”.

When it comes to “focusing on the necessary”, what I mean is focusing on my values and principles in life and aligning them to what I do every day.

It is about avoiding “compartmentalization”, when, for example, I separate myself as Raymund who is a husband and a father, Raymund who is a writer, and Raymund who is a servant of Christ. That should not be.

Minimalism helps me integrate each of my roles in life into a seamless blend that complements one another and does not cause friction and confusion.

This allows me to focus my life on doing my personal mission and life purpose and becoming who God wanted me to be, providing lasting impact to those I encounter every day in this temporary earthly journey.

Christian Minimalism

I am never ashamed to call myself a Christian because I don’t see Christianity as a mere religion but as a personal relationship to my God and Creator.

Religion depends on man-made rules, traditions, and notions while a personal relationship with God is based on spirituality.How others see it and how others represent Christianity is not my problem.

With that, I believe that what I am practicing right now is “Christian Minimalism”, and this is what I came up with trying to personally define it:

Now, when it comes to “calling”, you should know that every one of us has a unique, divine calling. And it is up to each one of us to discover it.

Discovering your God-given calling involves a lot of time seeking God through prayer, fasting, and studying His Word. And it is not a one-time event, but a daily lifestyle.

I believe I’m called to be a child of God, a husband and father, a servant of God, and an inspirational writer and those are the things I’m focused on right now.

Definition of Christianity?

For me, the Christian Minimalism definition I mentioned above could also be the same basic definition of real Christianity itself. Why? Because Christianity is all about denying one’s self (removal of focus on one’s self) and focusing on the One who deserves all praises and glory.

I believe that true biblical Christianity is about loving the Lord God whole-heartedly, with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength.

It is not half-hearted dedication, but a single-hearted devotion to the God of the universe who loves us and who is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

The Bible says that Jesus Christ came to earth “just” to do the will of His Father in heaven and nothing else. Now, that’s the supreme example of what a minimalist is.Jesus was never stressed, worried, or flustered about material things, his status in life, and other "worldly" things. He is focused on fulfilling His life purpose, the mission God has sent Him to accomplish while here on earth.

In Matthew 6:19 to 21, Jesus said that we should not store treasures on earth that moths and rust can destroy and thieves can steal. But instead store treasures in heaven that moths and rust cannot destroy and thieves cannot steal.

He then ends it with the words, “Your heart will always be where your treasure is.”

Christian Minimalism at its very core is prioritizing God above all else and the work he has set for each one to do, which, by the way, a true follower of Christ should look deeply into.