About This Blog
I'm happy to have you here on my simple blog and thank you for your visit!
When I first launched this blog in July 2016, it was meant to be a place for sharing thoughts I'd written in college about things like happiness, relationships, the environment, politics, family, and leadership. My hope was to connect with others who thought about these topics too.
Unfortunately, a bit of a disaster struck: my external hard drive crashed, and all those original reflections were lost. It was a real bummer! But I decided to keep blogging anyway, sharing other interesting stuff with anyone who wanted to read.
It seems like it's been worth it! Here's some proof that this blog is actually bringing some value to people:
- On June 26, 2019, Feedspot featured me at #22 on their list of the Top 30 Philippines Lifestyle Blogs.
- Then, on August 17, 2020, I was recognized again, this time at #81 on the Top 100 Online Business Blogs and Websites for Beginners in 2020.
Vission
To build a reliable online guide that people can actually count on.
Mission
To curate the kind of resources that help you find what you need fast, so you can save time and skip the stress.
About the Man Behind This Blog
I'm Van Dewey Balao (VDB). When I’m not at my full-time corporate job, I’m living my favorite role: being a husband and a dad to one awesome kid.
When the house is quiet, you’ll usually find me right here, tinkering with CSS or JavaScript to keep this site running smoothly. I’ve reached a point where I really value my peace—I’d much rather spend my downtime on things that actually matter to me than deal with negative vibes or loud parties.
I’m a proud Kankanaey, part of the Igorot indigenous tribes from the Cordillera region. Fun fact: the Spanish actually tried to conquer us, but they never succeeded! So yeah, I speak my dialect, plus Ilocano, Tagalog, and English.
18 Random Facts (If you’ve made it this far!)
- I'm a bit of a jack of all trades and genuinely enjoy learning how things work and trying my hand at new skills.
- Fair warning: I’m a naturally loud talker! It’s just how I am.
- I’m not anti-social; I’m just selectively social and prefer spending my time with people I truly resonate with.
- I’d honestly rather be hated for who I am than loved for someone I’m not. That’s why I’ve learned to say "No" more often than "Yes."
- If you want to make me happy, just let me sleep! I’m a huge fan of a good rest.
- Before I ever sat at a desk, I was a small-scale farmer and laborer, working through extreme weather to help my parents and earn my way through school.
- You might see me chewing "nganga" or moma when I visit my home province; it’s a traditional practice I still value.
- Generally speaking, I'm just an average Joe. Nothing too fancy here!
- I used to smoke, but I quit back in 2015 and haven't touched one since.
- I don't have any tattoos and I have no plans to get any.
- I’m a big believer in finding happiness based on your own personal values, not what society tells you.
- I learned to cook, wash dishes, and do my own laundry starting at age six, often working by the light of a gas lamp since we didn't have electricity.
- The turning point of my life was tilling a field with a hoe for five days straight. I promised myself then that I’d study hard to get an office job so I wouldn’t have to do that kind of labor forever.
- I’ve worked as a "pahinante," carrying heavy loads as a helper to make ends meet.
- One of the most challenging and unforgettable experiences I’ve had was my time as a "convent boy."
- I'm also an ex-diocesan seminarian.
- Growing up, I worked so much more than I played that I actually tried to run away from home a few times! Have you ever tried to run away?
- Working on the farm was totally normal for us, but I know for many, it's hard to imagine doing that kind of strenuous work daily, especially under extreme weather conditions.
It's ok if you disagree with me. I can't force you to be right!