Tuesday, May 13, 2025

1152 - 2025 Elections

I voted yesterday. I decided to try something new and left a little past 7am, which is when the voting precincts would open for us non-senior citizens.

For context the last time I voted back in 2022 I chose to leave around 10am or later, thinking the lines would be shorter. I think I finished voting and got home around 3pm.

This time I arrived maybe 7:30am or so at Dr. Arcadio Santos National High School, got the location of my cluster from some volunteers at the entrance, and proceeded to the room I was to vote in. Fortunately the lines weren't that long so I ended up falling in line between the second and third floor stairwells.

It took me a while to vote, and I got home a little past 9am. The lines took a while because every time a senior citizen, PWD (person with disability), or a parent with a child would arrive they got priority (as they should). Good thing one of the volunteers instructed the volunteer handling our room to alternate between priority people and the voters in line, because if they didn't do that our line wouldn't move anymore.

So it was a relatively positive voting experience for me. I now know that I should go early to vote. And bring water, a handkerchief, and some snacks just in case.

Anyway I'm not going to comment about the results of the elections.

Out.

Friday, May 09, 2025

1151 Sick

I've been sick since this past Wednesday. Or at least dealing with an illness. Basically flu-like symptoms that have weakened me, so I haven't done any exercise at all this week since Tuesday.

I made the decision not to do any exercise until next week, most likely after the Monday elections, so that I don't drain myself too much. Yes, I plan on voting so I will need a lot of energy to fall in line and wait for my chance to vote.

So that's it. Time for some recovery and hopefully I can get back on track next week.

Out.

Friday, May 02, 2025

1150 Wigo "Upgrades" Wishlist

Yes, I know I just did a Wigo post about upgrades so I'll just re-write them here (so I also have a blog post for May, obviously).

  1. Horn upgrade. Like I wrote before, the Wigo's stock horn (literally just one horn, I just checked under the hood earlier) is too weak to be useful. I'm not planning on getting two sets of horns because that would just be inconsiderate (though I have seen some videos on YT showing cars with four Bosch Europa horns, which I think is a dick move) and stupid. I just need a decent, easily heard horn that can make my car's presence felt.
  2. Speakers upgrade. Again I've written this before and it would be great to upgrade the four speakers inside the Wigo with some co-axials speakers. If it would be possible to add a small amplifier to improve the quality then great.
  3. V-Kool tint. I believe V-Kool has this tint that is almost clear but very effective in reducing heat inside the car. I want this, since even with the current tint I do struggle at times with visibility when checking the side mirrors and rear windshield.
  4. Fog lamps. I'm happy with the headlights now but I haven't driven in heavy rains nor fog. This would be a helpful upgrade when the going gets tough.
  5. Roof rack to mount roof rack accessories. I'm not sure what is compatible for the Wigo since it has no roof rails. If Thule had a one-size-fits-all roof rack system that would be my choice, so I can get a roof cargo box, a roof basket, and a roof bike rack.
  6. Rims. Pako Wheels has a rim for the Wigo. I'm just not sure if these are available in 15 inches since I'd rather stay within specs when getting new rims. Plus I'd rather not have to go with really low profile tires to keep the comfort of the car. I also don't know if there are dealers locally.
And those are the upgrades I'd want for the Wigo. In order of preference/priority.

Out.

Wednesday, April 30, 2025

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.

Tuesday, April 22, 2025

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.