Recent content in Blog on Kushaiah Felisilda
Every January, I notice the same thing: everything feels like it’s moving too fast. There’s this rush of energy everywhere. People sharing what they’re planning next, renovating their homes, redoing their systems, announcing resolutions, optimizing their routines. But I just want to slow down. So this year, I decided to try something different. I let January be quiet and private.…
I’ve felt this heartbreak before, during Yolanda. But what I’m feeling now after Typhoon Tino is something else entirely, a deeper kind of anger born from watching the same corrupt system fail us again and again. For months now, even before Typhoon Tino hit, we’ve been dealing with the flood control corruption scandal. There were Senate hearings , Blue Ribbon Committee…
Arc Browser has completely ruined me. Vertical tabs aren’t just a nice-to-have anymore. Now whenever I try a new browser, vertical tab support is the first thing I check. Helium Browser I’ve been testing out Helium , a new browser from imput , the makers of cobalt.tools , and it’s really fast. Search results load instantly, and the whole thing just feels snappy. It’s…
I read about Jack Baty’s app deletion fiasco and yeah that kind of thing is never fun. I really hope it doesn’t happen to me especially since I’ve already had my fair share of files being deleted . But it got me thinking that it’s probably time I do my own cleanup, but in a more intentional way. I think I’m ready to start my own “Reduced & Simplified” journey. I have this habit of downloading…
The Philippines has suffered under leadership that prioritizes power and wealth over people’s needs. While “vote wisely” sounds hollow when families must choose between principles and putting food on the table, we need electoral choices that truly serve working people. We’ve been through so much. We’ve seen how corruption, incompetence, and greed have held us back for…
Former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte’s arrest by the International Criminal Court was something I’ve been waiting to see for years. After all his controversial drug war policies and those thousands of extrajudicial killings between 2016-2022, it feels like accountability and justice might finally be happening. During college, I poured my heart into my research paper and thesis…
Feb. 23, 1986, early afternoon: Thousands of citizens in the streets. Photo by Joey De Vera A recent encounter made me reflect on how we perceive historical events and social movements in our local context. During a gathering of film students and artists, someone remarked that Cebu doesn’t “really” celebrate the EDSA People Power Revolution because it’s “so far away”…
7 DAMN YEARS Work has been stressful these past couple of weeks, and the urge to grab a drink hit me hard. But hey, I made it through. Giving myself a pat on the back for staying strong. Seven years alcohol-free and still holding on.
I’ve been on quite a browser journey lately . I gave Firefox a try, but it encountered problems and felt so clunky that I was forced to do fresh installs in the end just to keep it running smoothly. Eventually, I threw in the towel and narrowed it down to Arc and Safari. During this time I noticed Zen gaining popularity on Reddit and YouTube. So I had to try it out myself and now I’ve…
I’ve been using Structured for more than 150 days, and I’m delighted to say that it has significantly increased my productivity. My ability to plan out my days efficiently has greatly improved thanks to the app, and I now have much better time management. The visual timeline feature really shines. Watching my day unfold visually has reshaped how I tackle my tasks. It’s like having a…
So I’ve been trying out this app called Structured for planning my day more productively . It’s pretty cool — it basically combines your calendar and to-do lists into one place. But the way I’ve mainly used it is to block my time for different things I need to do each day. That way I can actually see my daily schedule laid out visually as a timeline, which really helps me plan…
It's a bit late for the IndieWeb carnival February topic on Digital Relationships but I just want to write and share my thoughts about it. Like many others, I grew up with the internet and digital communication fully integrated into my life from a young age. My dad was always tinkering on the computer doing whatever the heck he was doing, while my mom used it extensively for her work as a…
This follow up is already loooong overdue. But just to make things short, I have set every calendar on my devices to Monday. And I think it has made my life a little bit easier especially now that I am writing Weeknotes. It really gets me excited for the week ahead when Monday feels like a fresh start. I know lots of folks still consider Sunday the start of the week, but for your average 9-to-5er,…
I am currently undecided between browsers. I have a love/hate relationship with Safari, and Chrome is a power hog because I use Adobe everyday. Although Firefox is great, it tends to be slow. And with the recent news that they’re going to fire 60 people to “focus on bringing “trustworthy AI into Firefox.” And Edge? Let’s not go there. But then there’s Arc, the new…
As I mentioned in my last Weeknotes , I had a scheduled surgery, which was unexpected. This experience has had a profound impact on me and will likely have a lasting effect. While I generally dislike change, I believe that this particular change is for the better. I had just a few hours to decide whether or not to go through with the surgery, and I didn’t even have the luxury to really think…
Happy New Year! Although 2023 felt like an eternity, here’s hoping that 2024 brings you joy, success, and endless possibilities. I’m grateful to have checked off a few of my personal goals this past year. Let’s welcome the new beginnings with optimism and hope. Given the current enshittification in quality of social media platforms , many are reviving personal blogs. This is a…
My media diet: an eclectic mix of discoveries from 2023, spanning coffee, apps, movies, and everything in between. Films I didn’t watch many films this year, but didn’t feel guilty about it for the first time. But I plan to go through my watchlist this year and gradually check off each one. Crying Ladies (2003) by Mark Meily Barbie (2023) by Greta Gerwig Oppenheimer (2023) by…
I’ve been reading others’ subscription posts and I am taken aback by the considerable amount many people shell out for monthly or annual app subscriptions. So here’s mine: Cloud storage: Google Drive (200 GB) (₱1,659.50/year) - I keep my images and files here, allowing me to access them from multiple devices. This includes important documents such as my vaccine records, passport, and…
Attempting to rename multiple files with a specific filename was more challenging than I expected, especially when it required the use of RegEx. The applications I tried didn’t solve the problem. I asked ChatGPT which software I could use for my task. It suggested Automator. This tool is built into Apple’s macOS, offers various solutions, and best of all, it’s free. I was in the…
The digital world is immense and filled with countless online spaces, but there are just a handful of these spots where I genuinely relish the feeling of getting lost and going down a rabbit hole. There’s an indescribable beauty in immersing myself into the depths of other people’s creations. It’s not just about viewing or reading their work; it’s about allowing myself to…
I consistently make an effort to declutter my clothes and digital files every year. This time, I’ve made more progress than ever before. Previously, I would often stop halfway through the process, but this year, I’m committed to seeing it through. I have a large amount of digital files stored across my hard drives and cloud services. Initially, I thought I had them organized by putting…
When I was a Political Science student in 2014, I had this strange longing to find a community I could truly connect with. This longing stemmed from years of being stuck in a small town with nothing interesting to do. Sure, I had friends in my classes, but I wanted to explore beyond the confines of my university. I had this strong feeling that there was so much more out there than just the…
Inspired by Kev Quirk’s post , I decided to share my list of default apps. This idea stemmed from episode #097 of Hemispheric Views , where Andrew Canion hosted a ‘Duel of the Defaults’ with Jason Burk and Martin “Mr. Default” Feld to see who was the most default Mac user. In other words, who used the most default Apple apps and services on their Mac. Robb Knight has even…
Shot on iPhone frame at the end of their Scary Fast event Apple’s “Shot on iPhone” frame unveiled at the end of their “Scary Fast” event exceeded my expectations. The integration of CGI was so sophisticated that it challenged my perception of what’s achievable with the iPhone 15 Pro Max. It left me eager see the behind the scenes right away. Apple then promptly…
Apple has launched its new M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max chips, accompanied by updated iMac and MacBook Pro models. These chips provide enhanced performance and optimizations, thanks to a 3nm fabrication process. The refreshed iMac now incorporates the M3 chip, which is purported to be twice as fast as its predecessor, with no major design changes. The M3 Max can be configured with up to 128GB of RAM.…
Calendars have always been a bit of a puzzle for me. I can never quite figure out the best way to manage my tasks and events. To add a layer of intrigue, I’ve got not one, not two, but four calendar apps on my devices. However, I’m only using two of them. You might wonder why – I suppose I enjoy making life a bit more interesting. Last week, I had an interesting conversation with my…
Hair is everything. We wish it wasn’t so we could actually think about something else occasionally. But it is. It’s the difference between a good day and a bad day. We’re meant to think that it’s a symbol of power, that it’s a symbol of fertility. Some people are exploited for it and it pays your fucking bills. Hair is everything. - Fleabag, S02E05 We all have this sort of dilemma about our hair…
On September 23, 1972, the Philippines experienced a significant event when the dictator Ferdinand Marcos declared martial law. This decision granted Marcos immense authority and control over the nation, allowing him to exercise his power without limitations. The imposition of martial law marked a turning point in Philippine history, as it led to a period of repression, human rights violations,…
I feel like I didn’t appreciate the Sinekultura class enough. It was a class where we watched films, both old and new, and that’s all we did. We would just watch the films, and sometimes our professor would ask us to write essays about them. We even had workshops and talks and we invited professors and film scholars anywhere in the Philippines. Sinekultura: Sine means…
Ever met someone who’s been burnt out from life and work? Nope, because she’s been ignoring people for the past two months. I was already tired before our trip to Manila last June. I was working on a project for two and a half months and it was really draining, mentally and physically. I complained to Denz everyday about the company and our client. And while I was in Manila, I received…
This review of the Leica M10-R is not overly technical, it is more of a personal account of my fascination with the camera and the Leica brand. One year ago, I was gifted with the most expensive item I have ever owned — a Leica M10-R. It was a moment that I will never forget. I remember opening the bag and feeling a rush of excitement as I held the camera in my hands. The craftsmanship and…
Apple announced on March 29th that its 34th Worldwide Developers Conference will take place from June 5th to June 9th, 2023. The event will begin with a keynote on Monday, June 5th. I’m not a developer but as an Apple Power User, I have my own needs and wants from Apple. Here’s my #WWDC23 wishlist. iOS 17 / iPadOS 17 📱 Redesigned home screen and lock screen ⏰ Refined Focus Mode…
Many service providers price their services at $5 per month, as they believe that most people can afford this. They often compare it to the cost of a single cup of coffee each month. Now, let’s say you’ve stumbled upon a new service that only costs $3 per month. At such a low price point, you might think it’s a no-brainer to subscribe, right? But have you taken a moment to…
On Kev Quirk’s Anti-Social Update , he wrote: I rarely pick my phone up now and I certainly don’t doom-scroll… …because - you guessed it - instead of doom-scrolling, I’m either ignoring my phone completely, or reading RSS feeds. It’s much more enjoyable. I can relate to this. I often on my laptop rather than my phone, which can cause frustration for my family and friends when…
Nicolas Magand who runs The Jolly Teapot recently published a post about the process of developing ideas for blog posts, the importance of reading, and the need for a focus on blog content. When my day job consumes a little too much of my brain, I find myself incapable of reading, let alone spending time articulating my thoughts into written words. I can definitely relate to that feeling. I work…
I have to admit, I try to avoid movie trailers as much as possible because I don’t want any spoilers. Even though they’re only a minute long, most trailers reveal too much in that short amount of time. I know even as filmmakers we make them for our projects, even if they’re just shorts, because they’re effective. 1 One of my favorite things to do growing up was making film…
I hate the fact that I can’t leave Facebook Messenger. My family and friends use it, while others use Instagram. I still use Instagram because art and film exhibits post their events there, and pet shops are also there. Nowadays, businesses run everything within Meta’s bubble. I don’t blame people for this because everything on Meta is easily accessible.
I've been sober for 5 years badge from IAmSober app Today, I celebrate five years of sobriety. I don’t recall much of the night that led to my decision to quit drinking, but I’m glad I did. It wasn’t an easy journey, but it was certainly worth it. I had my first bottle of alcohol in sixth grade. My friends and I experimented with it, just having fun. In high school, I drank…
I think it’s time to replace Fantastical with Calendar 366. Right now, I’m using three calendars in total. Fantastical is my main, Calendar 366 for my Apple Watch, and Cron for beta testing use. The default Apple Calendar app is meh for me. Lacks a lot of functionality and features for everyday use. I’ve been using Fantastical ever since. I REALLY love the menu bar feature. I’ve…
Hello World!
I have always wanted my corner of the Internet. The World Wide Web has had a profound effect on my life in ways I could never have imagined. I never thought it would be possible to access so much knowledge with a single search. It’s truly an amazing experience to be able to take advantage of all the opportunities the Web offers Keep It Simple I want this blog to be simple and functional.…
In recent years, there has been a surge in the talk surrounding productivity, with everyone from influencers to the average person on social media discussing it. However, productivity can be an elusive concept. We are constantly bombarded with the idea that a productivity app can help us get more done in less time, but we rarely stop to consider what it is we are actually supposed to be…
I have been struggling to form a writing habit for a while now, and it’s been a source of guilt for me. I admit that I’m not naturally gifted at writing, and it’s something that I’m insecure about. However, I do enjoy writing, so I feel bad when I don’t do it. I’ve attempted to form this habit many times, but I always encounter the same problem: I don’t…
It’s been two weeks since I’ve been trying to recover my WD Passport hard drive for the third time since I bought it, and it’s been frustrating. I don’t think the hard drive is faulty or aging; it’s more about accessibility issues. The problem is that we have a mix of Samsung and Apple devices at home, and they don’t seem to work well together. We’ve had…
I grew up in a province where only 4 buses pass by every hour. The beach is only a 10-minute trip away, the air is always refreshing, and people greet each other with a smile on the road. Being away for college was exciting and fun; meeting new people, having new experiences, and overcoming new hurdles. But there will always be an itch in your system that makes you want to go home. There’s…
Things for Mac; image from culturedcode.com I bought the Things app replacing the clunky TickTick and Todoist. It is fast. People who talked about Things being fast were not kidding. I’ve been thinking about replacing the other to-do apps I used because it lacks features as I was just using the free version. I don’t like paying monthly or annually for an app that after using it for years…