NOTE: All currency has been converted to USD (1 PHP = 0.021 USD)
Intro: I hope this gives people an idea of what life is like on the other side of the world, in the Philippines. I’ve also included Ref29’s questions at the beginning to give you more insight into my background. Please know that writing this turned out to be much harder than I had originally anticipated since it forced me to confront several things about me, particularly about my mental health and my privilege. I’m aware that I’m incredibly privileged and have lived a very comfortable, sheltered life, when compared to most Filipinos, especially amid this global pandemic when practically half the country is starving. I’m really nervous to share this with all of you, but please be easy on me as this was not easy for me to do.
Ref29 questions:
Was there an expectation for you to attend higher education? Did you participate in any form of higher education? If yes, how did you pay for it?
Yes, education is held in high regard here in the Philippines, to the point that landing a well-paying job without a bachelor’s is extremely hard, if not downright possible. Parents are also expected to pay for the entirety of college, although, of course, this isn’t true for all. Coming from an upper-middle-class family, I was even more pressured to land a spot in one of the Big 4 universities, which is sort of like the equivalent of the Ivy League here. In the Philippines, college admission involves taking an entrance exam at each college that you’re applying to, so my senior year of high school was spent in after-class prep centers to prepare for this. Fortunately, I was able to major in a pre-law course in a Big 4 university, which my parents fully paid for.
Growing up, what kind of conversations did you have about money? Did your parent/guardian(s) educate you about finances?
My parents had the mindset of “work hard, play hard,” which meant that they worked seven days a week, but compensated for it with week-long family vacations abroad between twice to thrice a year. As I mentioned, this was a very privileged upbringing. They weren’t extremely thrifty, but they definitely instilled in us values like delayed gratification and spending money only if you worked hard for it. They also insisted that my brother and I save at least 20% of our allowances, so upon reaching first grade, we were taken to the bank to open a junior savings account.
Unfortunately, our business has taken a huge hit, due to policies that the current government has, so we’ve had to significantly tighten our belts. We don’t worry about putting food on the table or of being unable to afford basic necessities; however, we’ve had to do away with things like weekend shopping trips, impulse purchases, eating out every week, and international vacations for the past two or three years now.
Did you worry about money growing up?
It’s extremely privileged of me to say this, but no. I didn’t. I come from generational wealth on my mom’s side while my paternal grandfather owns several properties. I was always secure in the fact that if we were ever struggling financially, one of my grandparents would end up bailing us out.
Do you worry about money now?
Yes, I’m currently saving up to go to law school abroad. This will mean repeating my bachelor’s, but this program will open up so many opportunities for me. However, it also means having to save up at least $20,000 to make it work, and I’m still pretty far from my goal.
At what age did you become financially responsible for yourself and do you have a financial safety net?
I’m not yet financially responsible for myself. My 22-year-old brother, E, and I are still living with our parents, and they’ve refused our offer to pitch in with the bills. They both believe that as long as they’re still working, then it’s their duty to provide for their children. However, this also means that their kids are their retirement plans, which is a very common mentality in the Philippines.
Do you or have you ever received passive or inherited income? If yes, please explain.
No, I haven’t.
SECTION ONE: ASSETS AND DEBT
Retirement Balance: All my money right now is being poured to fund my future studies, so I don’t have a retirement balance yet. I don’t know if this is wise or not, and this has been a great cause for my anxiety these past few months.
Savings Account Balance: I have approximately $16,000 spread out across three different bank accounts right now.
Miscellaneous Debt: I bought AirPods from my friend last year, and she asked me to pay her back in installments, so she wouldn’t be tempted to spend all the money in one go. I have approximately $56 left on this, which I’ll be paying next month.
SECTION TWO: INCOME
Income Progression:
This is my first job ever. As I previously mentioned, school is extremely important here in the Philippines. In my case, throughout my elementary and high school years, I was in school from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and this was supplemented by after-class tutoring sessions and weekend advanced classes. College was basically the same since I decided to take up two minor degrees, in addition to my major, which meant that I took 8-10 classes every semester. So, I didn’t have time at all for a part-time job, which was okay, given the fact that my parents funded my education 100%.
2019-2020: I graduated from university in June 2019 and my parents asked me to start working in the family business. This didn’t turn out so good, though, since they refused to pay me a salary and would guilt-trip me whenever I’d take money from the day’s sales to pay for my expenses. When talks of a lockdown began in February 2020, I began looking for a job that would allow me to work remote since I had an inkling that our business would be shut down. Fortunately, my friend recommended me for an open position in the company that she was working at, and that’s where I’ve been since then.
In addition to my full-time job as a Social Media Analyst, I also started doing freelance work early last year.
Main Job Monthly Take Home: This varies. I’m considered a freelancer in my job, despite the fact that I’ve been with them since early 2020. I think they mostly do this to avoid paying me benefits, which is morally questionable but sort-of legal in the Philippines. So, I get paid a daily rate and am on a no-work-no-pay basis. If I don’t take any leaves for the month, then my take-home pay will be $582.79.
Side Gig Monthly Take Home: Again, this varies. In 2020, I believe I averaged approximately $1,200 per month. I don’t know if I’ll be able to hit these same numbers this year, though.
SECTION THREE: EXPENSES
All expenses below are monthly unless otherwise specified.
Phone Bill: This varies, depending on my data usage. Our WiFi doesn’t reach the second floor, so I’m forced to use my data if I’m working or staying in my bedroom. Our phone bills during lockdown were also suspended and have been amortized over six months since then, so I’m still paying this off. Currently, my phone bill can be anywhere from $52 to $83.
Subscriptions: Spotify Premium ($3) – but this is added to my phone bill, thanks to my service provider. I also pay for Babbel ($13) because language learning is my hobby, and I’m currently learning Brazilian Portuguese.
Pet Expenses: I average about $10 for my dog’s food and treats. A trip to the vet for a regular check-up is $8. My local government unit provides certain pet vaccines for free, so we get our shots from them.
Other: My brother, E, and I have privately agreed to answer for the expenses that our 10-year-old brother, L, incurs. So, we pay for his food, school supplies, etc. I budget $15 for him, but I’m not upset if I have to go over this amount. Right now, though, I’m paying for most of L’s expenses since E’s business isn’t doing too hot, due to the post-holiday slump.
DISCLAIMER: Face masks are mandatory, if you’re outside. People also aren’t allowed to go into establishments if they don’t have a face mask + face shield on. Both of these were worn at all times outside my home.
DAY ONE - SUNDAY, JANUARY 10
10:00 a.m. – My cousin and her husband are heading to the shopping mall to run a few errands. I go with them to have my eyes checked as my last prescription was from 2019. The doctor tells me that astigmatism in my right eye has been corrected (thank god) but that my left eye has gotten worse (noooo). I buy contact lenses and have them put in new lenses in my specs. $93
1:30 p.m. – My cousin is a few weeks pregnant and is craving mushroom soup from a particular chain restaurant, so we head over there. I get a burger and offer to pay for my share, but she and her husband refuse.
5:00 p.m. – My parents are very religious and require us to attend Sunday Mass every week as a family. Our church has the recommended COVID-19 measures in place (2-3 people to a pew, contact tracing, etc.), but I’m still annoyed that the Catholic Church here is trying to claim that mass is an essential service that should be allowed to continue, even when it clearly isn’t.
6:00 p.m. – Before heading home, we drop off take-out dinner for my Grandma. She lives alone, so we try to visit her at least once a week. We talk through the gate, though, to keep her safe.
11:00 p.m. – As a social media analyst, my shift is from 12 a.m. to 9 a.m. because I have to take note of all the online traction from the day before. This has worked rather well for me, mainly because I have insomnia.
Daily Total: $93
DAY TWO - MONDAY, JANUARY 11
5:30 a.m. – On Mondays, I have to analyze all social media traction from the weekend, and this has definitely cemented my deep hatred for this day of the week. Fortunately, it wasn’t too terrible this time. I chill for a bit by catching an episode of Friend Zone, a TV series from Thailand that’s sort of like Gossip Girl, except they’re middle-class and have actual jobs.
7:00 a.m. – I wake up L for his classes and begin working on my freelance job. Breakfast is leftovers from Sunday night dinner, so I have Truffle Mac and Cheese, and Garlic Parmesan Chicken Wings. My parents and E usually leave very early in the morning for their respective businesses, so it’s usually just me and L.
10:00 a.m. – I send off my social media reports and watch an episode of Fairy Tail.
1:00 p.m. – My brain is out of creative juices, so I take a nap. Before doing so, I place an order to replenish my toner ($5) and AHA serum ($5). I’m also running low on my fish oil capsules, so I order that too ($6.87). My total comes out to $19.25, due to shipping. $19.25
3:00 p.m. – L wakes up from my nap and I work some more before heading out to walk my dog. It’s cold outside – 28ºC or 82.4ºF. This is how winters in Manila look like!
6:45 p.m. – Dinner is white rice, Steamed Tilapia, and Ginataang Sigarilyas. According to Google, this translates to “Winged Beans in Coconut Milk.” I don’t know if this translation is 100% legit but it’s probably one of my favorite vegetable dishes ever.
Daily Total: $19.25
DAY THREE - TUESDAY, JANUARY 12
2:30 a.m. – One of my accounts is in crisis mode, so their reports are much more finicky than usual. When I feel that my brain is about to explode from reading social media posts, I work on my freelance deliverables.
7:00 a.m. – Again, I wake up L. Tuesdays are hard for him because he has back-to-back classes, and it isn’t long before I notice that he seems a bit overwhelmed. This year has been tough for him because we moved him to a new school and this, plus online learning, meant that he’s had to adjust like crazy. It’s too much for a 10-year-old, I think. I buy him his favorite Iced Cacao milk tea (I think it’s called boba in the States) to cheer him up and order an Iced Matcha for myself ($7.89). We drink our milk teas while having a very healthy breakfast of hotdogs and rice. $7.89
11:00 a.m. – The rest of the morning goes by quickly. I send off my reports, work on my deliverables, pitch to new clients, answer e-mails, and so on. Unfortunately, two of my clients have declined to work with me again since I was a bit late with a few of my deliverables, due to the holiday season. I try to take it as a sign from the universe that I need to slow down, but I’m still pretty sad about it.
5:30 p.m. – I wake up from a nap and notice that my phone bill is due, so I pay ($53.49). I Dinner tonight is Fried Milkfish, Rice cooked with Crab Fat, and Sayote sa Sotanghon, which is basically chayote mixed with vermicelli. $53.49
Daily Total: $61.38
DAY FOUR - WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13
2:00 a.m. – Thank God, my account has ended its crisis mode, so work is a bit more chill. Again, social media traction and freelance work. When I was 15, I thought I’d be spending my early twenties in a high-paying corporate job, wearing cute clothes and going to parties afterward. Instead, I’m spending it in teddy bear pajamas. I blame Gossip Girl and Korean dramas for my unrealistic expectations.
7:00 a.m. – After waking up L and sending off my reports, I spend the rest of the day working on my freelance jobs.
11:30 a.m. – Our live-in helper, J, prepares fried chicken for lunch and I eat it with L. He still has some time left before his next class, so I play a few rounds of Among Us with him. I honestly don’t enjoy the game as much as I make it seem I do, but it’s his absolute favorite and I like having these small bonding moments with my little brother.
1:45 p.m. – My brain can’t take it anymore, and I pass out from exhaustion.
3:30 p.m. – L wakes me up from my nap and I try my best to get a few more things done. Thankfully, my next deadline involves a podcast script on a certain historical event. These are pretty easy to write, although researching them can be a pain in the ass sometimes.
4:00 p.m. – I take a break from work by checking out apartment listings because it’s fun, even though I have no plans to move out. I honestly want to, mainly because my relationship with my parents isn’t that great, and living back home has highlighted that even more. E has it worse, though, and his relationship with our dad has deteriorated so much that they got into a few physical fights during lockdown. While I can afford to move out, E can’t and of course, L is underage, so I can’t take him with me. Right now, I’m bearing the brunt of my parents’ stress and frustration, and if I leave, then it’s likely that they’ll start taking it out on my brothers. So, I don’t because I’m their eldest sister and a huge part of me feels like it’s my duty to protect them. But if worse comes to worst, then I’m ready to shoulder E and his expenses. He only started his business last year, so it isn’t super profitable yet. The post-holiday slump hasn’t been kind to him either.
5:30 p.m. – Dinner is Tinolang Manok, which is a dish that consists of chicken and papaya slices cooked in ginger-flavored broth. For me, it’s a must-eat during “wintertime.” While eating, my parents ask me what my plans are for my upcoming birthday. They’re trying to pressure me to treat the entire family to dinner, but I decline because a) I’m trying to save money, and b) COVID-19.
8:45 p.m. – I take a shower and catch a few episodes of a Chinese drama called “A Love So Beautiful.” Then, it’s back to work.
Daily Total: $0
DAY FIVE – THURSDAY, JANUARY 14
3:45 a.m. – I finish my main job early, so I go and work on some deliverables, but I keep getting distracted by “A Love So Beautiful” that I barely get anything done. Before I know it, it’s nearly time to wake my brother up, and I haven’t accomplished anything at all.
5:00 a.m. – My mom brought home fried chicken from McDonalds last night for L’s breakfast, but I’m so hungry that I steal it. I order the same thing ($5.50) and schedule a 6:30 a.m. delivery to hide my crime. $5.50
7:00 a.m. – I wake up L, shower, and settle in to watch the final episode in the series. I’ve accepted the fact that I won’t get anything done until I find out what happens to Chen Xiaoxi and Jiang Chen.
12:00 p.m. – I must be more torn up about losing two clients than I initially thought I was because I end up crying while working on a deliverable. I lock myself in my room and plan to have a good 10-minute crying session, but this quickly into a full-on breakdown. I never really recognized the impact that my home situation and lack of proper sleep have left on me, but it looks like the emotional toll is too much. I’m also feeling really anxious about one of my long-time clients, who I feel is a bit disappointed with my work lately, and this sends me spiraling even more. I end up crying for a good hour or so. It would have gone on longer, had it not been for L, who knocks on my door and cuddles me for a bit. He can tell that I’m upset, thanks to my swollen eyes, so he offers to treat me to milk tea using his Christmas money. It’s sweet, but I decline.
4:00 p.m. – After working and a quick nap, I put on a Korean eye mask to hide how swollen they are. My dad gets annoyed whenever we cry since he perceives it to be a sign of weakness. I know that he’s completely wrong about this, but I’m too exhausted to argue with him tonight.
5:00 p.m. – Dinner is white rice and Pork Bistek. I don’t know if that has a proper English translation, but it’s basically pork chops and onions cooked in soy sauce and calamansi juice. I’m still feeling pretty lethargic from my breakdown earlier, so I take a cold shower to feel refreshed.
10:00 p.m. – I guess breaking down uses up a lot of energy because I’m starving, even though dinner was only a few hours ago. L is also hungry, so we ask J to buy us Puto Bumbong, which is a steamed purple rice cake topped with margarine, coconut flakes, and brown sugar. This particular stall also puts cheese and condensed milk on theirs. I personally find it too sweet, but L is in love, as only 10-year-old boys who can eat a whole jar of Nutella can be. J uses the leftover money from today’s dinner to pay.
11:30 p.m. – Work is pretty chill today, so I watch an anime called “The Promised Neverland” in-between monitoring social media traction.
Daily Total: $5.50
DAY SIX – FRIDAY, JANUARY 15
12:00 a.m. – Happy 23rd birthday to me! I initially wanted to go to treat myself to a spa to celebrate my birthday, but I canceled my booking because of COVID-19. Hopefully, the Philippine government will finally get its shit together by March, which is when I had my appointment rebooked. I’m doubtful, but hopeful.
7:00 a.m. – I log off for the week and settle in to finally enjoy some no-work bliss. Kidding! I wake up L, take a shower, and work on my freelancing deliverables. Since it’s my birthday, J allows me to decide what breakfast will be and I pick chicken nuggets because I know that it’s something that L will enjoy too.
11:00 a.m. – My lack of sleep this week has caught up to me, and I pass out from exhaustion. Thankfully, I don’t have any deadlines today.
4:30 p.m. – L wakes me up, and we dress for Mass. My parents require us to attend Mass together as a family whenever it’s someone’s birthday. L isn’t allowed inside the church because of my area’s COVID-19 restrictions, so he and E sit outside. I’m jealous because the air is so stuffy inside the church that breathing through a mask and a face shield is a struggle.
6:00 p.m. – We come home and a few of my other family members are there for a...surprise birthday dinner. I’m trying not to feel annoyed at the fact that my parents went against my wishes because I know they mean well, but still. I had planned a quiet night with anime and a face mask to celebrate my birthday, but of course, this won’t be feasible any longer. I’m trying not to let my irritation show because everyone made an effort to be here, but still. Oh well, at least they kept the number of guests below 10, in line with restrictions.
6:30 p.m. – My mom ordered food from a caterer, and we settle in for a dinner of Baked Salmon in Cheese with Green Beans, Braised Chicken with Rosemary and Potatoes, and Ox Tongue with Mushrooms. They’re all pretty good, but I can’t help but dream of the face mask that I had prepared in anticipation of tonight.
11:00 p.m. – I nurse a glass of white wine, and it isn’t long before my aunt and I have managed to polish off the entire bottle. I can’t help but feel a bit sad because only two of my friends greeted me today. I know that I shouldn’t put a lot of stock into birthday greetings because they’re just words, and I know that all my friends are busy with work, and I also know that they’re going through their own mental battles right now because of COVID-19, but still. It sucks.
11:30 p.m. – A friend from Germany asks me if he calculated the timezone correctly, and he wishes me a happy birthday. As a gift, he sends me a video of snow falling out his window. I don’t know if I’m crying because I’m wine-drunk, or if I’m crying out of envy because SNOW or because I’m a teeny bit sad. Maybe it’s all of the above, idk.
Daily Total: $0
DAY SEVEN - SATURDAY, JANUARY 16
2:00 a.m. – Party’s over and all my relatives have gone home. I set an alarm for 4 a.m. because I have an early-morning deadline to meet.
9:00 a.m. – I must be drunker and more tired than I thought because I completely slept through my alarm. I apologize to my client and ask for an extension. I’m hoping that he’s kind to me because it was my birthday the day before; fortunately, he grants the extension.
12:30 p.m. – E is craving Chinese food, so I hop onto Grab (Southeast Asian version of Uber) and place an order from Panda Express. They were only brought to the Philippines in 2019, and lines have been pretty long, so it was only this year that I was able to taste their non-Chinese Chinese food. I pay for our food as a late birthday treat for my brothers and also because I know that E has been denying himself a lot of things lately to have more cash to inject into his business. With delivery, the total comes out to $13. He offers to wash the dishes afterward, which I’m really thankful for. $13
3:00 p.m. – The rest of the day passes by quickly. It’s J’s day off today, so L and I do household chores. While doing them, I catch up with some of my favorite podcasts, including Military Murder and The Asian Madness Podcast. Highly recommend the two of them. And, let me know if you have any recommendations!
4:00 p.m. – I’m trying to work out whether I should buy the new Macbook Air M1 or not. I’ve been using my 2014 Macbook Air 11 since high school, but while this has been great for school, it’s a huge challenge now that I’m spending more than eight hours a day on it. The screen is too small, so my back and shoulders hurt the entire time I’m on it, and the resolution is also too low. A few people from this sub have recommended that I get an external monitor, but I don’t have a home office or a desk. I work on our dining room table because my vanity’s too small. Since we don’t have Apple Store here in the Philippines, I have to make do with a re-seller. Right now, the lowest that a Macbook Air M1 goes for is $1,102. This is something that I can definitely afford, especially since a junk shop has offered to give me $249 in exchange for my old one. But I’m having trouble being okay with buying a new laptop when my current one is working just fine. I know I deserve it after all my hard work and I know that it’ll make working much easier, but still.
6:00 p.m. – For dinner, my parents bring home take-out from a local restaurant. We eat Breaded Tofu, Butter Buffalo Chicken Wings, and Mixed Vegetables. I do the dishes afterward, which takes a long time, because dishwashers aren’t common in the Philippines, and it’s hard to manually scrub oily food.
8:00 p.m. – I work and watch anime in-between.
Daily Total: $13
WEEKLY TOTAL: $192.13
REFLECTION
This week’s spending was unusually high, mainly because of my phone bill and rare expenses, like eyeglasses and contact lenses. I also had way too much food delivered this week, but I felt like treating my brothers since it was my birthday, so I don’t mind that all. My usual weekly spending, however, is somewhere around $10.
But aside from spending, I think that writing this money diary really forced me to confront my privilege and mental health issues, as well as my workaholic tendencies. It’s tough to admit to yourself that you aren’t happy at all, but maybe it’s time to finally face it. I feel like I also have a problem with making big splurges that will ultimately benefit me, so moving forward, I’d like to remember that while treating my brothers is totally okay, I should be kinder to myself too. There’s still a lot of issues that I need to unpack and work through, but hopefully, being 23 will give me the strength to do so.
I hope you enjoyed this money diary from the other side of the world :-) And sorry for any typos. I’d edit, but it’s 2 a.m. right now, and I’m exhausted.

Before I begin maybe should let you guys know it's gonna be a long winded story on my encounter with VSRG (vertical scrolling rhythm game) and in nutshell I will explain how glad and thankful I am that DJMAX had finally made it on Steam and also Play Station. If it is really TLDR then just skip to may last point on why you should get DJMAX respect.
I started my first rhythmic game back in around year 2000, and most of you would have probably heard of o2jam. O2JAM was a game created by AmuseWorld at first (if I am not wrong), the very same creator as you would have probably heard of ez2dj (now ez2ac). The game was passed on to be further developed independently by a company called O2media. O2jam back then was a massive game world wide at least I can vouch on that for South East Asia region. All this thanks to game hosting company known as 'e-games' founded by a Japanese establishing the company in Malaysia. I have been playing o2jam religiously for years until one fine day the game has stop development and shut down entirely. I am not too sure the reason behind the shutdown but recently I just found out that there might be something sinister behind this, after so many years.
This may related to Konami, though I am just guessing and 100% based on my opinion and some research. Remember the arcade game EZ2DJ developed by Amuseworld, actually got sued by Konami back in 2007 for imitating their rhythmic game called Beatmania. Apparently their patent hunt did not stop there. I have a very strong reason to believe o2jam has to shut down abruptly (at their peak) to avoid the foreseeable patent lawsuit from Konami.
At this point of time, DJMAX was already in the market but quite reserved only in Korea. I spotted some of the screenshot and was very excited to play this game, but I guess the game company has not much option other than staying low and hide under the radar from Konami. After many years, DJmax's Technika series owned by their subsidiary called Pentavision at that time was sued by Konami (not suprisiong at all). I am not sure about the details but it ended with all Technika's machine in Japan to be handled by Konami's distribution and they kind of kill it off (perhaps intentionally - my guess is the lawsuit ended in distribution right for Konami rather than monetary gain? not too sure) . That's how Technika died in the hand of Konami, even though they have put in the effort to develop a game that is not vertical but sideways, and also touch screen.
Back to my story, it was a miserable years for me after o2jam is gone. I am from Malaysia and this is not a country of economic powerhouse, so consumer spending is not as prosperous compare to Korea, Japan, Singapore and the US. Most arcade business owners in my country can only afford used 2nd hand machines that other countries are throwing them away. I often visit the arcade centers to play some broken ez2dj and beatmania machines which has gone offline and at most time not well maintained and I still need to pay to play as how they say it; beggars cant be a chooser. Songs are outdated, screen is blurry AF. I was also poor AF that I can only save up some college pocket money to play in the arcade.
My wallet dried up so I finally have no choice but to play ROCK FEVER instead - also a VSRG arcade machine developed in Taiwan. Is is kind of affordable because ROCKFEVER is the only game (as far as i know) that allows you to complete the song until the end. They then decide whether you are qualified to go on the next stage, unlike other VSRG that kick you off the game once your HP gauge bar depleted to zero, without completing the song. The game is great but there are no long notes in it. It gets pretty blunt too towards the end. After that I tried SDO (super dance online) on PC but it was only 4 keys - though they have 6 keys now but i have stopped playing long before the 6 keys button arrived.
Of cuz somewhere in the middle I tried OSU and also Stepmania but i dont really like them because they do not have the same VSRG content i wanted - again, not sure about now with all the updates.
When I started my first job, I was still poor AF. I landed on a jailbreak PSP and have DJMAX series in it (pirated version). I am sorry that i have to admit that was the only option for me. I have also stopped playing that after i completed all the song and there was nothing to look forward too. DJMAX continues their development with Trilogy series on PC but only made available in Korean market.
Now I have found DJMAX RESPECT on STEAM and since i was weighed on with my past crime of playing a counterfeit DJMAX, I decided its finally time to pay back the company for good. I bought all the DLCs which i owed them. After all they have game designers and content creators to feed, like everyone of us. If you look back at some of their music video/visual art you can tell the game was created with passion by a group of dedicated folks, they even acted in the music video themselves - i am not sure about this but they do not look like some paid artist, so that has to be my only guess.
And the best thing of all, i know for sure that i am paying for something that is sustainable, because KONAMI cannot do anything to sue any companies that gets in their way. This is what i found on the website - that their patent for rhythmic game has expired and developers can now start creating rhythm game with peace in mind.
<<<< July 31, 1998, marked the beginning of when Konami's patent went into effect — according to various Japanese news outlets, Konami's patent has finally expired. The implications of the patent expiring give designers a greater level of flexibility when creating music rhythm titles.Aug 1, 2018 >>>
I am sorry that i made Konami sounded like some a**hole, i am sure some of you may be a big fan of KONAMI or their games. If you search in the internet you can find out how this company mistreating their staff and also sue-ing all their competitors whenever they can. Also, O2jam shutdown might also be indirectly related to KONAMI that's why i took it quite personally. They sue gaming companies, causing them to stop their sales in different markets, but did Konami provide their gaming services to these markets later on? No. They don't need to, because Malaysia is such a poor market, they don't need us but we need the games for crying out loud! This has also Thailand, Philippine and other SEA regions. I have been searching over the internet till these day and i still cannot find an official reason/response to why o2jam was being shutdown. If someone knows this please share in the comment.
ANYWAY that's what i have to say. In short here are my ten points why you should purchase DJMAX RESPECT

1. It's affordable - seriously.
2. There are unbelievable amount of songs in it, from their previous series and also collaborated songs from different rhythmic games like CYTUS, DEEMO and CHUNITHM
3. Cloud service - sticks to your account in steam whenever you go and also needless to say on your PSN play station - maybe this is not worth pointing out anyway, sorry.... but its still a valid point
4. Music video/visual art is great. The animation alone is normal but its pretty decent to have some visual backdrop as you are playing the game and its really really nice compared to many other VSRG games i have seen.
5. Mastery in the game is possible. VSRG is all about practicing and DJMAX respect have tones of song for you to learn patiently. By the time you completed them all, trust me you will be surprised how good you are in this game and how fast you actually pick them up.
6. You can play competitively and casually. Most VSRG games is all about being the best, but seriously with all the good sidelines DJMAX has to offer, one might just forget about the competition and just enjoy have fun with the game and the music.
7. All type of song genre - you name it, pop, rock, electronic, metal, jazz, hip hop and many more. Only chapel songs not available.
8. Respect your time. Yes, maybe that's also the same for other rhythmic game but i just want to reiterate again this is the type of game where you can stop and call it a day, unlike other genre that you need to get hooked up for hours before it ended.
9. Skill based game. You are how good you are, you cant buy it with money. Whalers have no place in here and whalers themselves probably for once in their life encounter a spiritual awakening and know they worth more than just swiping their credit cards.
10. Game data is decent. It keeps your record and you can always analyze how well you have been playing, revisit back the songs you have never manage to complete, and start organizing your goals in area you want to improve.

Source: https://www.bungie.net/en/News/Article/49649
This week at Bungie, we’re calling the shot for the next race to World First.
Destiny 2: Beyond Light is about a month away from launch. For us, this means closing out the game and getting ready to hand it off to you - with a few more fun social media moments to unveil along the way. For you, this means a final stretch of anticipating the new story and the new world you’ll experience as you aim down the barrel of your weapon of choice.
For the elite raiders in the room, this means a new shot at glory. The race to a World First completion of a raid is one of the most spirited traditions in the Destiny community. Race Day is when the world turns its eyes to Destiny to see who emerges as the hero. We have stood next to some of those legends on a stage while they claimed their titles in front of a cheering crowd. It’s almost time to fire that starting pistol again.
The next race for raid World First begins on Saturday, November 21 at 10 a.m. Pacific.
That should give you plenty of time to get ready. We see you assembling your fireteams and conspiring how to power your way up to a competitive level. We hear you asking when you should “call in sick.” Now you know, so get to finalizing your plans.
Here is what else you’ll need to know:

• Contest Mode will cap all players at 20 Power below each encounter for 24 hours.
• Artifact Power will be disabled during Contest Mode.
• 1230 Power is your team’s goal to be at the cap for all the encounters.
  
  • Being above 1230 will not provide any additional advantage in the final fight.

This year, the ritual for naming the winners will be different. Following all the immediate fanfare and bustle that follows the checkered flag, our data scientists will be spending extra time validating the finishing team's run. Expect the official announcement for “World First” to come a bit later than usual. Disqualifications can happen as per the official rules. So finish strong, even if you hear rumors of another team’s victory.
An award ceremony will take place in the days that follow the raid. We’ll crown the champions who return first to orbit after a respectable effort. Once we validate a mission completion, we’ll enter their names into history. Every member of the six-player fireteam who is certified as the World First finishers will receive a title belt as their ultimate reward. We will unveil the new belt closer to the start of the race.
Even if you don’t win World First honors, the earliest victors in the raid can claim some awesome rewards to let the world know you were among the first to fight. Everyone who has completed the raid in the first 24 hours while Contest Mode is activated will receive this very special emblem.
Image Link^imgur
For those of you who want to flex in style, we will be offering a new, Europa-ready raid jacket you can purchase through Bungie Rewards. Finish the raid before December 1 at 9 a.m. Pacific to claim your code. You can use that code to make your purchase any time before 11:59 p.m. Pacific on December 31. We'll show off a preview of the jacket closer to the launch of the raid.
For those who like to savor new content like a fine wine and not rush through to the raid experience, you will have rewards waiting on you when you get there. Along with the [redacted] weapons and armor, everyone who completes the raid will earn this emblem.
Image Link^imgur
Good luck to everyone with their sights set on the final boss!

Starside - The Next Generation

Earlier today, we announced how Destiny will perform on your next generation console devices. If you have a pre-order in hand, we want to set expectations for when the full suite of next-gen enhancements to the Destiny player experience will land. These upgrades will be delivered on December 8. Here is a preview of what you can look forward to if you’ll be one of the first to install a shiny new deck in your entertainment center.

Feature	Xbox Series X	PlayStation 5	Xbox Series S
Resolution	4K	4K	1080p
Framerate	60fps	60fps	60fps
Field of View Slider	Yes	Yes	Yes
Faster Load Times	Yes	Yes	Yes
Cross-Generation Play	Yes	Yes	Yes
Next-Generation Upgrade Free	Xbox Smart Delivery	Yes	Xbox Smart Delivery

Check out the article for the full explanation. There is more to know about the finer technical details.

The Key To Celebration

Ever since the Festival of the Lost began, we’ve heard your feedback about the scarcity of the Cipher Keys loud and clear. Last week, we deployed some changes to improve upon the situation.

We’ve deployed a fix that will drastically increase Cipher Decoder drop rates from completing activities throughout the game. We’ll continue to monitor the situation to determine if further fixes are necessary.
Players may need to restart their game to receive the update.
— Bungie Help (@BungieHelp) October 8, 2020
We’ve further adjusted drop rates for Cipher Decoders so that two drop per activity completion when applicable. We’ll continue to monitor feedback over the weekend.
Please note, Ciphers do NOT drop from the following: enemy kills, Gambit, Forges, and non-playlist Strikes.
— Bungie Help (@BungieHelp) October 10, 2020

Since these changes went live, we’ve seen many Guardians claiming their mummified Ghost, ship, and Sparrow from Eva Levante in the Tower. With candy raining down from your defeated enemies and Ciphers doled out after completed activities, we hope this event feels much more rewarding.
Festival of the Lost Bungie Rewards are also a bit more accessible, even to those who see themselves as casual gamers in the realm of Destiny. Complete the introductory quest and redeem 15 Ciphers to unlock the Shadehallow Emblem and Restless Ghost Shell Pin on your Bungie Rewards page.
Image Link
Thank you to all who sounded off at the beginning of the event. We’re continuing to watch the conversation as it evolves, and hope you’re enjoying the event since the changes went live.

Patrons of the Arts

We’re excited to announce that the Bungie Store Community Artist Series is back! There are so many amazing artists in the ranks of the Guardians. From time to time, we select a few of them to partner with us in creating some loot you can collect in real life. Check out the creative people who are being featured this round.
Clinton Felker: “Ghastly Guardians”
Image Link^imgur
I got started in art at a very young age in the Philippines. We didn’t have much back then so creating things like drawing, sculpting, or constructing kept us entertained. My favorite projects to work on are group-based concept projects. I love bouncing ideas off like-minded people and creating something amazing together. I love working with either traditional or digital tools. I embrace them both. I have aspirations to retire back in the Philippines. That is my goal. Going back to where it all started. My art is a stepping stone to that goal. One thing I love about Destiny is the community. There are a lot of good people doing good things. They inspire me to create and share.
John Sirmon: “Cult of Nokris”
Image Link
My name is John, also known as Pherian online, and I’ve been creating art since I could hold a crayon. I actually put art on hold for more than a decade after college but picked up the pencil again after seeing the first bits of concept art for Destiny. The mixture of genres, the complimentary stylistic choices, and the character designs really reignited my passion for art. I have been drawing peoples’ Guardians ever since the game came out. When I’m not at work or drawing I can generally be found playing video games, reading a good graphic novel, or coaching my kids in sports. Thanks for the chance to be a part of your lives!
Brandon McCamey: “Blade in the Dark”
Image Link^imgur
Hi! I'm Gammatrap and I've been an artist in the Destiny community since D1 drawing art based on the lore and stories for Myelin Games. I've spent the better part of the last five years learning and practicing various styles so that I can be as flexible as possible in order to tell these stories. Along with making art for the community I also like to go to the D2 directory on Twitch, start from the lowest view count, and look for newer streamers and surprise them with free art or graphic assets they might need for their streams to help encourage them because I like seeing people grow.
These items are live in the store right now. Remember, when you help yourself to these offerings, you are supporting these excellent artists from our community.

Doing Their Part

Image Link^imgur
When the Community Team gathers, it’s the Player Support Specialists who are the smartest people in the room. They know this game inside and out. They are the investigators when issues arise. They serve us all with information and updates on our process to keep all willing and able Guardians online and in the fight. Our solar system depends on them.
This is their report.

CIPHER DECODERS

Last week we introduced two fixes to increase the drop rates of Cipher Decoders upon activity completions. Players should note that these fixes will not provide an increase in Cipher Decoder drop rates from the following:

• Enemy kills
• Gambit Matches
• Forge Completions
• Non-playlist Strikes

Players who continue to observe issues with Cipher Decoder drops should report to the #Help forum.

END OF THE SEASON PREPARATION

We are updating the end of the in-game Season timer to reflect that Season of Arrivals will conclude at 7 p.m. Pacific on Nov 9 [0300 UTC Nov 10]. Players will have until this time to complete any Season of Arrivals quests, activities, and triumphs before they become unavailable.
A full list of items being removed at the Season’s end can be found here.

KNOWN ISSUES

While we continue investigating various known issues, here is a list of the latest issues that were reported to us in our #Help Forum:

• The Unbridled Enthusiasm Emote is missing its initial sound effect on trigger.
• Gear can sometimes drop at 750 Power from chests at the end of the Haunted Forest.
• The Canis Luna Hunter vest ornament clips into certain gauntlets.

For a full list of emergent issues in Destiny 2, players can review our Known Issues article. Players who observe other issues should report them to our #Help forum.

Reel to Real

Image Link^imgur
Ahhhh, the Movie of the Week! What a wonderful endcap to a restocking of news you can use. It’s always a pleasure to see the works of art and feats of strength that Guardians share with the world. Excellence in creativity must be shared with the world. These creators just won a rare and coveted emblem they can lord over their friends and opponents.
Darkness Rap
Video Link
Ahhhh
Video Link

When Zavala isn’t home

When Zavala isn’t home (ft @SierraX07) pic.twitter.com/YQ658m13Sh
— Sp00ky Flair 🎃 (@SolarFlairYT) October 11, 2020

Want to see your work honored in this space? A great way to get our attention is to share it on our Creations page. Include the hashtag MOTW. Please remember, we reserve the right to choose our favorites!

One Last Time

When the business of this weekly ritual is done, the author usually closes on a personal note, so gather ‘round and let me tell you a story.
Once upon a time, on November 7, 2011, after telling my family that I was running away from home to join the circus, I started my very first day at Bungie. I was starry-eyed, terrified, and in no way prepared for the triumphs and trials that awaited us all. Fast forward to now, past dozens of events, hundreds of deployments, thousands of patch notes, and millions of spent shell casings from my Suros Regime…
My last day at Bungie will be November 6, 2020, thus closing out a full nine years in the service of the player. It has truly been an honor. I’ll never forget having the chance to see this community come together and create its own movement. The next destination on my professional journey lies down another path, but I’ll always enjoy retracing the steps we’ve taken together.
I’ve made a lot of stops in a career that has spanned many different lives. One of my earliest mentors gifted me some wisdom that has proven true time and time again. “Always be engineering yourself out of a job and replace yourself with someone better” he insisted. “The truest measure of success is building something that can thrive in your absence.”
Bungie has been a very special place where I could do just that. The teams that I’ve had the privilege to work with will carry the conversation forward from here, as they have for years now. They are a fine group of people who care about you as much as the awesome developers who work so tirelessly to create these worlds that we explore together. In so many ways, the Community Managers who are here to succeed me are better than I ever was at anticipating your curiosities. Stick close to them and they’ll keep treating you like the heroes that you are.
I’m proud to say that I’m leaving Bungie even more a fan than when I arrived those nine years ago. Whoever warned that you should never meet your heroes didn’t have the chance to work in a place like this. I’m taking with me a lifetime of incredible memories of Guardians I would have never known otherwise. Destiny will continue to be an amazing game, in part, because of you. The people who play Bungie games together are the pride and joy of this company. It has been my pleasure to keep our community traditions strong during my time up front.
Let us not say goodbye, my friends. Beyond Light is an experience that I’ll share in with each of you. You’ll still see me around for the weeks leading up to the launch, and then I’ll be reverting back to my original role as a passionate member of this community. See you on Europa.
Thank you for everything! And please do be excellent to each other.
DeeJ, out.

Happy Monday, Barkada --

The PSE closed up 170 points (!!) to 7290 ▲2.4%.

Hard not to get distracted by what's happening in crypto right now, and by what's happening in the US. I'll admit that I was rubbernecking on Twitter for the back half of last week, but I'm back now; I'm better. (Checks Twitter again.) Maybe I'm not completely cured yet.

Daily meme | Join MB | Today's email

COVID Update

WW: 90063482 PH: 485784 

Top 3 MB indices:

 Telco ▲4.23% #COVID-19 ▲2.98% POGO Prop. ▲2.70% 

Bottom 3 MB indices:

 Media ▼1.27% Logistics ▼0.43% MiddleClass ▼0.44% 

Main stories covered:

• [NEWS] SquidPay [PHA 1.65 ▲17.02%] to add crypto buy and sell on its platform next month... SquidPay’s Twitter post said that it would allow users to buy and sell “major cryptocurrencies” with “reasonable fees and instant settlement”, starting this February 14th.
  
  • MB: “Happy Valentine’s Day, babe! I got you ₱2000 worth of Bitcoin through SquidPay as an enduring token of our love... yeah, SquidPay... you know, SquidPay, it’s like this payment platform... how am I supposed to know when they’ll actually complete their backdoor listing? BABE, WHY ARE YOU BEING SO DIFFICULT?!”"
• [NEWS] Jollibee [JFC 192.50 ▼0.05%] grows its footprint in the US and Canada... JFC plans to build 19 new stores in the US and 9 in Canada. JFC said that its stores in North America actually experienced “double-digit sales growth”, despite the pandemic, in stark contrast to how JFC stores performed domestically amid our lengthy lockdown and confusing soup of movement restrictions.
  
  • MB: If your thesis includes the assumptions that pandemics are going to be a problem for 2021 and maybe for the foreseeable future, it makes sense to diversify jurisdictions. The PH locked down hard and that crushed fast food, but the US and Canada did not lock down in the same manner, and where lockdowns did occur, delivery/drive-through/pick-up infra was already in-place to support continued sales. If anyone has ever seen the lines that foreign-based JFC locations can generate, they’d see why these stores are (usually) no-brainers.
• [NEWS] Globe [GLO 2020.00 ▲1.00%] takes investment in GCash operator at $1bn valuation for GCash... Mynt, GLO’s fintech subsidiary that owns and operates GCash, took $175m from a fund managed by Bow Wave, a New York-based venture capital firm that invests in “early-stage companies that provide online and mobile payment processing, banking and complementary financial services”. The investment values GCash at $1 billion USD (₱46bn), which would give the fintech startup “unicorn status".
  
  • MB: While this is great for GCash and great for GLO, and it’s also a great sign that GLO will eventually contemplate the listing/spin-off of GCash through an IPO or similar event. Investors like Bow Wave usually give great sums of money with the understanding that, at some point, they’ll be able to cash-out at a good return. Usually, the best way for a company offload a significant minority stake is through an IPO. Think of Pincus with Converge [CNVRG 15.70 ▲2.08%] earlier this year. I’m not sure of this deal’s contemplated time-frame. Could be one year, could be three. Usually depends on the market itself. Companies don’t want to feed the ducks (us) unless we’re quacking (buying).
• [NEWS] SpaceX in talks with PH Gov’t to provide Starlink internet service by Q3 of this year... the space exploration company, owned by Elon Musk, has been beta testing its satellite-based internet broadband service and is interested in expanding its offering to a fairly wide selection of countries, including the Philippines. Senator Koko Pimentel met with representatives from SpaceX, to discuss “constitutional and other legal requirements in terms of protection and the ability of the Philippine government to engage with SpaceX”.
  
  • MB: The nitty gritty details are not there yet, but CNBC has info to say that the service may be priced at US$99/mo, plus a US$500 up-front charge for the Starlink connectivity kit. SpaceX set low performance expectations for its beta test, saying to potential testers: “Expect to see data speeds vary from 50Mb/s to 150Mb/s and latency from 20ms to 40ms over the next several months as we enhance the Starlink system”. No word yet on the post-beta speeds and latency, but I know many non-NCR businesses that are currently playing PLDT [TEL 1424.00 ▲5.48%] about the same amount per month for about the same service. A satellite-based solution like this might be an important part of the country’s connectivity plan considering the vast (and expensive) challenge of wiring and connecting our nearly eight thousand islands. Perhaps this is not a solution for dense population centers like the NCR or Cebu, where TEL, Converge [CNVRG 15.70 ▲2.08%], and Globe [GLO 2020.00 ▲1.00%] should be positioned to provide better service at a more efficient price-point, but it is definitely a “Player 2 has entered the game” moment for the provincial areas that have been begging for proper connectivity for years. It also provides companies and individuals with a realistic backup for connectivity in disaster and business continuity situations.

MB is posted to /PHinvest every Monday and Wednesday, but my newsletter goes out daily. To stay in the loop for daily email delivery, please join the barkada by signing up for the newsletter, or follow me on Twitter.

Join our Barkada here

Read today's full email here

hi! it’s my first time building a pc for my mom and with a bit of help from my boyfriend. so far these were the components that we chose:
MSI H310M Pro-D LGA 1151 Motherboard Intel® Core™ i5-8400 Processor (9M Cache, up to 4.00 GHz) Kingston 16GB DDR4 2400/2666 MHz Desktop Memory Seagate Barracuda 1TB SATA 3.5" Internal Hard Disk CoolerMaster MWE 550W 80 Plus Bronze ATX Power Supply Aerocool GT Black USB 2.0 Casing Asus VP228NE 21.5" 1920 x 1080 LED Widescreen
this will be used for minimal gaming, she mostly uses her pc for work (call centeonline english teaching through skype mostly). any component suggestions for longevity, specifically motherboard? however id like to keep the cpu the same, and if there are any budget gpus, let me know! if it’s on amazon ill try to see if it’s available in my location. thank you so much :)
ps if there is a philippine (ph) build a pc community please suggest in the comments thank you again! :)

I would like to promote my story in my Webnovel and need help for improvement. if you like the story or not, review it if it's worth your time and interest comment if there's an error or misinterpreted thoughts. don't give a shallow review, just read the novel if you're interested.
Title: Retired Player's Devotion Genre: Realism, Video Games Word count: 27.71K words (ongoing novel) Type of feedback: General feedback as a reader Link: https://www.webnovel.com/book/retired-player's-devotion_17772220405819905 1st Chapter:
Episode 0 – aftermath (1) 20XX, Philippines The emerging of game capsules took the world by storm and gaming companies taking opportunities to the games related to capsules to make profits and tune in the world of cyber reality to make scientific research which why also many scientists studying it. Right now in the Philippines, many rental capsule establishments are taking place so who didn't have enough money to buy capsule can experience and play these virtual reality games. In the era of capsule gaming, there is one game that a lot of players waiting for its official release and still playing it even it is in beta for 2 decades. GAIA, a capsule MMORPG by Tri-Gon, will be going for a Launching of the official game despite being disregarded for years by the company ------------------------------------------------- -"Tri-Gon, proudly saying that they will release their very first and might be possible the last release game of the company, GAIA in the public. Despite 2 decades in Beta, many games in their belt and the success of the first company made the gaming capsule. The company didn't give on the game they just experimented in their early years. The company president Dr. Rita Furukawa's statement shook the world by this unexpected revelation to the public. The company's official press conference is not yet determined as of this moment but some speculation said that the official release Da—"-
All of the newspapers, television, and the internet are shocked by the company's movement. It's questionable that they are releasing their last game as a gaming company since they are smashing the gaming industry and also they are not in some sort of crisis.
And here I am, sitting in front of the TV resting for minutes when I see the news. Heavily breathing exhausted and drench of sweat in my forehead, this is so pain in the ass doing rehabilitation exercises.
"Jon, 10 mins is over. We need to continue." She said
"' Insan, can we just stop. The exercises are so painful, I don't know why I need to this kind of rehabilitation even I can recover my feet by just walking."
"Gago, you need this! This much better and faster way to recover your feet by the accident, by walking only the body will make all the muscles functioning properly so that it will recover completely and enhance functionality. Come on, don't make this hard for me, this is for your own good too. "
"Okay okay I'll do it, but can I rest more? This is too new for me."
"Alright, 5 mins Jon. 5mins only."
"Yeah, Thanks Ate Kyle."
She leaves me alone for a moment while tending to the other patients, it's not I'm the only one doing rehab this kind of day. Its Monday, 3 months have passed since my accident, and still miserable of what happened to my life has gone through this past month. All my plans in the future have been cut off to me and slipping to my very own hands.
Based on what the police said in the investigation, the accident is intentional and the suspect confesses to it. I don't know who the guy was and why he did it to me but they said that he loses a ton of money to the Playoff last week in the Pacific Championship Series, the money he lost was the money he earned from drugs has gone through the bet and it is taking the frustration out on me. Since we won the game by the crucial winning gameplays made by me, he is so mad on how the comeback was gone through the series that's why he intentionally wait for me and rammed using his car while influenced highly on drugs then rammed to another Jeepney crossing affecting my head. All my family was shocked by what happened, they want to sue the suspect but his father was a politician from the senate in the Philippines so that's why the media is controlled and no one is reporting it on the news.
Someone come to the hospital when I was in a comatose state, the father of the suspect namely Senator Francisco Dimayuga, threatening to keep this quiet and give compensation money. The family retaliates that my lost future cannot be paid by some petty money they gave to us, but he said that I'm just an Old E-sport professional athlete and my time as a player is fading that's why accept by how much he is willing to give which I can earn only in 3 years being a Pro – Athlete. All things escalated in the court even though it's an uphill battle but the media explodes of what happened and the public enraged of what is the decision of the court. The result was HOUSE ARREST for 3 years, one of the punishments together with drug rehab by the government by the party defending the son, John Alexander Dimayuga. He is free even though they are fined with the expense must be paid to the winning party and also full hospital expense with rehab fees. He is still living comfortably in THEIR vacation house in Batangas, there is nothing we can do since they have the power of the law with them.
Two and half months have passed that I woke up that my family celebrates it, but I can't move or speak that I was crying. For all, I thought that I was paralyzed for the rest of my life, but they operate my spine to save me for paralyzation with the immediate consent of my parents, and grateful that I can play professionally. In one week that has passed, I can speak and ask what happened. They tell me that I was in a coma for months and my team goes to the worlds as wildcard participants then got lost in the semifinals of the tournament. My team was going to visit me when they got back to the Philippines.
"5 mins is up Jon."
"Coming to you, Ate." As I stand up slowly feeling the pain especially my back, patiently taking my time to walk to start the remaining exercises. Time has passed through the day and I finish the session at 3 pm since it is a 3-hour session. I commute from home to the hospital for about 1-2 hours every day, it is not that hassle since I just go 2 transportation to the hospital, UV going to Alabang then pedicab from Alabang on route to the hospital. The southeast Asian hospital is one of the best hospitals in the Philippines due to early response to diseases and improving healthcare through updated technology and advancements.
The Physical Rehab center is kind of big for a common rehab center; it has a complete set of equipment that is up to standard since this is the newest department from the hospital. The exercises are not that extraneous as I thought would be but those specific exercises give pain to the chosen muscle that Ate Kyle wants to aim to recover so it will be tiresome after the session. Kyle Villasanta, my cousin who is specializing in physical therapy and rehab is one of the staff here in their newest clinic. She's not that tall, long-haired chubby woman in her late 20s, she is about to graduate as a doctor major in physical rehabilitation together with her being a nutritionist. Her dream is to be a fitness expert that I saw on TV for diets and shit, I'm proud of her of all the milestones she went through studying.
"Is that the guy on the news lately? The Victim of the suspect intentionally rammed?" "Yes, he is. Despite the accident, he is still fine though."
"I pity for the guy, he is an E-sport professional. He misses the important tournament; I wish he can come back though."
"Some say that he should retire since he got to a coma which some of his brain processes are slower now."
"That's why he is here, to get back in shape as fast as possible."
They talk behind my back silently and I can still hear them talking about me, I just ignored it since it will not produce a positive impression about me and also I'm a professional, I need to deal this since my face and name is in the public which is a normal occurrence of being an E-sport Pro. I just finished the session and got back home. I said bye to my cousin and talk to her to come to my house sometime in Lavida Dasmarinas, she said 'next time on the next weekend' then I go out to the hospital.
Soon as I go back home. The interior of the house is empty except the room and the kitchen, the living room is a literal space of the bungalow house which is kinda bummer. The only thing there was is my High – end PC which I go to practice my games online with my teammates. It's hard to live alone since my parents got divorced and have different families now; we're okay in me but to each other, not so much. They call me time to time, just annoying nowadays since I got to an accident. They worry about me since I'm basically cannot work and I got shorthanded to play in the worldwide tournament which was held twice a year.
I didn't know when I come back to play to PCS since the result of my test in my neurologist is coming by tomorrow at the same hospital in the afternoon after the rehab.
My teammates con-call me on my phone to check up on me, but we are just bantering to each other of what happened to the tournament last 3 months ago. Diego, Kit, Ren, Jha, and Cha are the names of my teammates that I playing with representing Team Bonfire sponsored by Genius telecommunication company.
Despite what happened, Charice was forced to play the jungle to cover up the team. It was a disaster since the social media flaming to put a woman on a major role that the team specializes on but they got silenced when she is smashing the jungle most of the time but got shorthanded in the semis, it is no small feat for a team that losses a crucial teammate on the team but still we didn't win which our aim to be since I'm in my retiring age of 28. Being an E-sport professional of 28 years old, you're 45 in a standard sport. That how high is the turnover this kind of sport has, since this accident happened there is a high chance that I retire which that I didn't achieve what I want as to win the Worlds. What can I do? It's just circumstances; at least I gave myself a heads up of what will happen in the future.
I'm staring down in my PC, tempted to play League but shrug it out of my mind since I will not be satisfied with how I play the game. Instead, I crack some eggs, chop scallions and carrots then mix it up to cook some egg rolls together with instant soup noodles for dinner tonight like some broke Asian college student. As I eat alone sighing, a home so empty that the sound of wind makes it unbearable. I'm so used to it but sometimes what it feels like to have someone to be with you when you come home and greet you every time, this is one of those times wishing to have someone in this house. Then I take a shower, preparing to sleep early to end this fucking day.
I just want to play professionally, please give me good results tomorrow so I can play for the next season. Crying myself in agony wishing to play longer until my last breath; this is all I have, don't let this accident affect my career. I fell asleep with struggling thoughts in my mind.