1149 Wigo Thoughts

I was recently thinking about the 2024 Toyota Wigo G we purchased. It continues to grow on me. So I guess I will list down some things I like (or love) about this car.

1. Fuel efficiency and practicality. I still can't stop gushing about how the Wigo gets around 10 km/L fuel consumption, which is way, way better than our 2001 Toyota Rav4's 5-6 km/L. Basically this just means my weekly fuel budget doesn't make me worry if it's enough anymore.
2. The CVT transmission. I won't pretend to know how this works, nor how to maximize it. I do know that I have gotten used to it's quirks, and I think I'm pretty smooth driving the Wigo. It's also an amazing point of pride for me when I can drive and the "Eco Mode" light is on.
3. The size. It's small which is great because I can park almost anywhere and still have a decent amount of space that I know I can open the door and fit comfortably. A big difference from driving bigger vehicles and being parked beside other big vehicles.

Now I will list down the things I would like to buy to "improve" Wigo. These are things I am seriously considering as long as I don't a) void the warranty and b) bury myself in debt just to get them.

1. Aftermarket car horns. I'm still undecided what to get, but I definitely want a pair (I do believe the Wigo has only one horn) to increase the presence of the Wigo when I drive. I need a loud horn just so the Wigo can be heard, and possibly respected on the road.
2. Aftermarket speakers. I've already gotten a recommendation what aftermarket speakers I should get. The JBL Stage 2 634 speakers look like a worthy candidate to updgrade whatever speakers the Wigo has. I doubt I can upgrade the head unit since it looks built in to the car so I'll do the next best thing and improve the sound system, so that I can better enjoy whatever music is playing.

Those are it, for now. I would also love to get an extra set of seat covers. Nothing too expensive or fancy for now.

Out.

1148 Vacation

My wife, daughter, and I recently had our vacation in Sorsogon with my wife's relatives. We spent part of Holy Week in Pilar not just to relax and unwind, but also to participate in the Holy Week activities there.

It was a pretty "tiring" vacation in the sense that I really lacked sleep the whole time I was there. I am so tired that I had eight hours sleep last Monday and yesterday had almost eight hours of sleep. My body is catching up on rest.

I'm not complaining though, it was great for me to spend time with my wife and her relatives, as strange as that may sound. I guess it's because they're almost all older than me so in terms of age bracket I can hang out with them more. We almost all have teenaged children so I can connect a bit better with them than me trying to connect with some of my closer cousins who are younger than me.

Anyway, vacation is over and it's back to work. I feel refreshed and recharged so now I'm ready to tackle stuff and continue bettering myself.

Out.

PS Pope Francis passed away yesterday, April 21, 2025.

1147 The Loyola House of Studies

Earlier today I went to the Loyola House of Studies to attend the Funeral Mass of my friend and mentor, Fr. Danilo B. Isidro, SJ.

It was an area inside Ateneo de Manila University that I had never been to. For context, I studied high school in Ateneo, and spent two years of college there before transferring to Ateneo de Naga University, where I met Fr. Dan. But that is a story for another day.

It was a very beautiful place, with an amazing view. It looked like an old building, and it had a very simple charm. It was quiet, serene, and the chapel was bigger than what I had seen in the livestream masses for Fr. Dan.

Being there and seeing some old classmates was a very pleasant feeling for me. I felt a weight lifted off my chest and a sense of peace. If this was Fr. Dan's last gift to me, then I thank him for it.

After the Funeral Mass I hung around a few minutes catching up with some friends of mine who made the trip from Naga. They were going to the funeral, and alas I had to go home due to previous commitments. It was great catching up, and I hope that I can be more active maintaining communications with them.

Knowing me though once I start feeling like I'm the only one putting effort I'll just detach myself as easy as one, two, and three.

Out.

1146 Fr. Danilo B. Isidro, SJ

Today my friend and mentor, Fr. Dan Isidro, passed away. I found out via social media.

Fr. Dan was my thesis adviser in college. We may have bumped heads at times but he was always open and willing to guide me, and put up with me and my quirks. He helped me on this path I am now, in more ways than one.

He was sick with, I believe, COPD. So to be honest, and at the risk of sounding cliche, maybe this was for the better. He won't be dealing with health issues and will finally be able to rest and join God in heaven.

Rest in Peace, Fr. Dan. Thank you for everything. You may be gone but you are not forgotten.

Out.

1145 Heat

Today was one of the hotter days of this year, so far. I could really feel the heat around lunch time. The funny thing was I went out for an errand around 1:30pm or so as a spur of the moment decision.

This is going to be an interesting summer. I'm still happy that the nights and early mornings are still very cool, but the heat during the day is starting to ramp up, and that means I'll need to be more careful I don't overheat myself, metaphorically speaking.

Stay hydrated, folks. And stay safe.

Out. 

1144 Errands

I am an introvert. I would rather stay at home and coordinate everything via SMS or email so I can have a paper trail and not have to speak with a person. That isn't always the possible.

There will be times I will need to go out and physically interact with people, like today. I had to bring the car to the dealer for its 5000 km / 6 month PMS (periodic maintenance service) and honestly it wasn't too bad.

It helped that I booked the earliest possible time to bring it in. It also helped that this was booked in advance already so I knew what to expect for today.

It felt so good I went with my mom to the weekend market to buy lunch. I guess knowing I'll have the rest of this Saturday to myself also played a factor in me deciding to go.

So what's the point of this blog? If it's errands and I need to do it then I shall, and hopefully it will be a positive experience.

It's all in perspective and mindset.

Out.

1143 Summer

I can feel the heat building up now that April has arrived. Sure, we still enjoy cool nights and early mornings. The heat is more felt earlier in the morning and later into the day. Peak heat happens around lunch until maybe 3pm or so, but it definitely is summer.

Out.