Because once a graphic designer, forever everyone’s formatting savior. So apparently, if you used to be a graphic designer……and then went into IT, networking, cybersecurity, GIS, database admin, Zoom hosting, and surviving Windows Patch Tuesdays… That doesn’t matter. Because the minute someone in the office hears: “Oh yeah, Teo used to do design work…” Boom. You now own the entire
Category: Coping
It judged me daily — and I kinda needed it. Let me be clear:The cat was never mine.I didn’t feed it.I didn’t name it.We didn’t cuddle. But this cat — this mysterious furry neighbor with a PhD in silent judgment — sat by the window like he owned the block and stared at me every single morning as I left
“I’m not watching anymore,” I say — while watching. Every week I tell myself: “That’s it. I’m done. No more Philippine news. I need peace, serenity, and maybe a working blood pressure.” Then I open Twitter. Then I see a headline like “Cybersecurity Budget Slashed in Favor of New Dancing Fountain.” And suddenly I’m yelling at my phone like I
Sysadmin. Network guy. GIS nerd. Database whisperer. Zoom host. Coffee runner. You ever look at a problem and think, “Whose job is this?”And then realize — oh right — it’s yours. Welcome to the chaotic, caffeine-fueled world of being a solo IT department. I don’t just wear many hats. I’m running a whole hat store. My official job title? Unclear.
So I sat down to study—again—and somehow ended up face-to-face with my Darth Vader figure wondering, “Shouldn’t you be on a better shelf?” Next thing I knew, I was wrist-deep in microfiber cloths, battling dust bunnies like they were stormtroopers with bad aim. Because yes, I took another “quick break” from studying and ended up rearranging my toy collection again.
Some outages are caused by power failures. Others by network issues.And then there are the ones caused by a vendor who decided—without telling you—to deactivate the literal lifeline of your organization. That was my Wednesday. Right before Juneteenth. The Main Line: Disconnected The District’s main customer service number—the one printed on every bill, posted on the website, and used for
You know the drill. Open YouTube. Type in “best laptop 2025” or “top 5 networking certifications” or “should I go into IT?” and you’re met with a thumbnail of a wide-eyed dude holding a box, mouth agape, like he’s just seen the second coming of Steve Jobs. Enter: the Techfluencer. They’ve got RGB keyboards, triple-monitor setups, a mic better than
“It was not just about free books. It was about access. It was about the open circulation of knowledge. It was about the everyday life of students.”— Christopher Kelty, The Disappearing Virtual Library (2012) When I read that line, it hit me straight in the chest. Because it wasn’t theoretical to me—it was personal. Going to College in the Philippines
“I miss my dad, but I also wish he didn’t treat life like a group project he stopped showing up to. Still love you, though.” Okay, let’s be real. I miss my dad. A lot.Sometimes randomly — like when I eat sinigang that actually tastes right, or when I hear a corny dad joke and go, “He would’ve loved that.”
When I was younger, I had a dream.Not just any dream—but a green one.I wanted to study at De La Salle University. DLSU wasn’t just a school to me. It was the school. The one with the prestige, the tradition, the cool jackets, the gorgeous campus, and the kind of intellectual energy that seemed to shape future leaders with laser