One night over dinner I told my friends (three people) I’d started a blog. Brief silence, and then:

Editor friend: What is that thing? I don’t understand it.
Blogger newbie me: It’s an online journal. You can write about… anything.
Reporter friend: Oh.
Male friend in the mix: Oh.

[I, or someone else, decided it was best to change topic.]

Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not talking about a clique of ageing friends with cataract problems. They might be in their thirties but they’re not exactly ignorant of the Web. They simply don’t spend too much time on the Internet. If you think I’m better off, read entry No. 1, "Have you heard about...?"

As can be gleaned from the above conversation, I work in the media, and most of my friends are from the media. Or had been. We’re an interesting bunch, is the least I can say. (We’re now in a transition from “happy hour” to caffeine-induced nights.) The most I can say about my job? I’ve been at it for almost 10 years now, I must really like it. But I’m not going to bore you with the details.

My life isn’t as interesting as club manager Joe who blogged about his dancers. Or that university guy who lived in the school library for years, where he blogged. So this space doesn’t hold much promise. I can’t even promise I’d keep these pages up to date. But if you’re interested what life in these islands may be like, I might be able to cater to your reading pleasure.

I’m easily drawn to good conversations and wouldn’t mind a good laugh. I like a bit of adventure – mountaineering, trekking, scuba diving (still makes me nervous sometimes), snorkeling. I used to watch movies like it was an addiction. Now, I barely have time to go to the mall. Writing (not this kind of writing) is a job, but I have made some attempts at poetry. Sketching is another pastime that’s close to becoming extinct owing to my laziness. Someone close to me consider it a flaw, but I do listen to The Doors. And own two books about Jim Morrison. And some posters. And a Doors calendar is a fixture at home. Enough said.

Oh, there was a time I listened to country music. I see dagger looks now. I’m out.

Location: Cebu, Philippines
Age: Joining the 30s club soon