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A Legacy in Pages: My Mother’s Bookshelf and Our Shared Love for Reading

December 30, 2025 at 8:42 AM

Jep

@jepster.bsky.social

This stack of books is a monument to her curiosity, her imagination, and the quiet joy she found in stories.

#bookcollection

blog.occasionalramblings.org/2025/09/a-le...

Bookshelf. Flickr/Jep I stare at the overstuffed, floor-to-ceiling bookshelf in the bedroom. This used to be my mother’s bedroom. One wall i...

Siling labuyo. Jep | Flickr Siling pansigang.siling haba. Jep | Flickr I've been expanding the varieties in my pepper plant garden. So f...

December 22, 2025 at 6:29 AM

Jep

@jepster.bsky.social

Thinking of raising jalapeños next. I wonder if they can thrive in the Philippines' climate.

#chilipeppers

blog.occasionalramblings.org/2025/07/my-c...

My Chili Pepper Garden

[Review] Zarcreme Coffee: Iloilo’s Hidden Sanctuary for Quiet Indulgence

December 20, 2025 at 6:40 AM

Jep

@jepster.bsky.social

Zarcreme isn’t just a café, it’s a whole vibe. Constructed from repurposed container vans stacked on top of each other, it is a space for people who appreciate good coffee, warm service, and the luxury of quiet moments. #peaceandquiet #IloiloCity
allaboutfood.occasionalramblings.org/2025/08/revi...

Zarcreme Coffee. Jepster | Flickr Tucked away in a quiet stretch of the coastal road leading to Leganes, Zarcreme Coffee is what I’d call a...

[Review] Libertad: Cafe + Restaurant - Aesthetic Charm with a Culinary Identity Crisis?

December 19, 2025 at 8:05 AM

Jep

@jepster.bsky.social

I am genuinely happy that there are more and more coffee hangout places in Iloilo City. Located at the heart of the city, just in front of City Hall and Plaza Libertad. #coffeehangout #coffeeandcake #libertadcafeandrestaurant

allaboutfood.occasionalramblings.org/2025/12/revi...

3 of my friends, including myself, have birthdays this month (December), so we thought we'd jointly celebrate by having coffee and cake some...

In Search of Comfort: Craving for Congee

December 19, 2025 at 7:44 AM

Jep

@jepster.bsky.social

My favorite congee is the one with pork floss and century egg. Drizzle a bit of roasted sesame oil and garnish with chopped spring onions and crunchy garlic bits.🤤
#cravings #congee #comfortfood
allaboutfood.occasionalramblings.org/2025/07/in-s...

Comfort in a bowl. Congee. Photos by Jep | Flickr Lately, I’ve been having cravings, mostly for food I can’t seem to find here in my hometo...

[Howto] Filipino-style Fiesta Glazed Ham

December 18, 2025 at 7:25 AM

Jep

@jepster.bsky.social

It takes about a week to do this ham recipe from scratch. There is still time before the Christmas and New Year feasts to try it out. I have experimented with 2 flavors. #homecooking #lutongbahay #nochebuena

allaboutfood.occasionalramblings.org/2025/12/howt...

A slice of the finished ham. I should probably tweak the cooking time as it turned out a bit on the tough side and a bit dry. I've always wa...

Review #10: A Relaxing Weekend Escape - Our Stay at Bearland Resort in Tigbauan

December 16, 2025 at 8:41 AM

Jep

@jepster.bsky.social

A short trip away from Iloilo City. Spoiler: There were no actual bears there. #bearland #staycation #travelandleisure #tigbauaniloilo

lakwatserongpusa.occasionalramblings.org/2025/09/revi...

Bearland's infinity pool, Jep | Flickr Sometimes, all you need is a change of scenery. You don’t have to splurge on an extravagant holiday,...

lakwatserongpusa.occasionalramblings.org

December 11, 2025 at 8:23 AM

Jep

@jepster.bsky.social

Graciano López Jaena (1856–1896) - a Filipino journalist, reformist, and national hero. Born in Jaro, Iloilo, López Jaena remains a source of pride for the city, and his monument stands as a reminder of his legacy. #infraredphotography

myworldviewedinir.occasionalramblings.org/2025/12/grac...

Graciano Lopez Jaena Park in Infrared - Jaro District, Iloilo City, Philippines

Infrared Photograph of the Graciano López Jaena Monument Whenever I want to test new photography equipment, one of my favorite spots for ...

myworldviewedinir.occasionalramblings.org

December 11, 2025 at 7:22 AM

Jep

@jepster.bsky.social

It's that time of the year again. No, I don't mean the Christmas season. I meant paying real property taxes at the end of the year. 🥲

It's beginning to look a lot like... Taxes. Lalalala. #realpropertytaxes

baryabaryalangposaumaga.occasionalramblings.org/2025/12/real...

Real Property Tax Payment Reminder

This is just a friendly reminder for all you property-owning people out there to go ahead and pay your taxes while it is early. Most LGUs of...

baryabaryalangposaumaga.occasionalramblings.org

December 11, 2025 at 6:45 AM

Jep

@jepster.bsky.social

End-of-support for perfectly functioning devices can be infuriating. It's not even due to the business closing down - they just decided to terminate support for their companion app for the entire country (PH). #endofsupport #obsolescence

gadgetsandgizmos.occasionalramblings.org/2025/09/recl...

Reclaiming My Diabetes Data with Tidepool

I was surprised when the companion app for my blood glucose meter suddenly stopped working. At first, I thought it had just logged me out of...

In Search for a Budget Mini PC for my Home Lab

December 10, 2025 at 6:53 AM

Jep

@jepster.bsky.social

I'm diving head-on into the fascinating world of self-hosted services and self-managed home labs. If you are just starting a home lab, what route would you take? #selfhosting #homelabs
gadgetsandgizmos.occasionalramblings.org/2025/07/in-s...

Lately, I’ve become obsessed with the idea of self-hosted solutions to reduce my reliance on cloud platforms, whether subscription-based ...

[Recipe] Pancit Molo Style No Wrap Steamed Dumpling

December 9, 2025 at 6:35 AM

Jep

@jepster.bsky.social

It's all the flavors of a traditional pancit molo, but cooked in a different way. #pancitmolo #cookingexperiment #homecooking

allaboutfood.occasionalramblings.org/2025/11/reci...

Here's an idea. Pancit Molo Style No Wrap Steamed Dumpling All the flavors of a traditional pancit molo , but cooked differently. Pancit mol...

Google Wallet Finally Lands in the Philippines

December 5, 2025 at 8:32 AM

Jep

@jepster.bsky.social

Google Wallet Finally Lands in the Philippines
It’s been a long time coming, and is it too late?
#googlewallet #taptopay #cashlesspayment
baryabaryalangposaumaga.occasionalramblings.org/2025/11/goog...

It’s been a long time coming. For years, I’ve watched other countries adopt tap-to-pay convenience, while we in the Philippines have navigat...

baryabaryalangposaumaga.occasionalramblings.org

November 26, 2025 at 7:18 AM

Jep

@jepster.bsky.social

Bread Basket - A Cozy Brunch Spot in Iloilo City. Aside from the tempting pastries, it is actually a decent restaurant. #breadbasket

allaboutfood.occasionalramblings.org/2025/06/revi...

[Review] Bread Basket - A Cozy Brunch Spot in Iloilo City

Bread Basket: Bakery, Cafe, and Restaurant. Jep | Flickr Review : Bread Basket, Iloilo City Category : Western/Filipino Cuisine At first g...

[Review] Grumpy Cat Café in SM City Iloilo: A Taste of Ilonggo Comfort in Iloilo City

October 1, 2025 at 8:43 AM

Jep

@jepster.bsky.social

Grumpy Cat Cafe in SM City Iloilo. Decent food. The place is a bit cramped though. #grumpycatcafe

allaboutfood.occasionalramblings.org/2025/06/revi...

Grumpy Cat Café has become a notable spot for Ilonggo cuisine, offering a warm and satisfying dining experience. Their main branch is in Gen...

Calibre: The Ultimate Tool for Mastering Your Digital Library

October 1, 2025 at 8:31 AM

Jep

@jepster.bsky.social

A great tool for eBook format conversion, metadata and thumbnail management, library organization, and even manages eBook transfers to your reader. A must-have tool for eBook reader enthusiasts. #calibre #eBook

gadgetsandgizmos.occasionalramblings.org/2025/06/cali...

The Calibre program interface. Jep | Flickr I have loved reading books even at a young age, and my book collection has grown over the years...

Decentralized Syncing with Syncthing: How It Stacks Up Against Cloud Solutions

September 26, 2025 at 9:14 AM

Jep

@jepster.bsky.social

I'm currently evaluating apps and tools that can replace the functionality of cloud-based services. Syncthing is a tool that synchronizes folders across different devices. Supports multiple platforms and has file versioning. #syncthing

gadgetsandgizmos.occasionalramblings.org/2025/08/dece...

An image depicting syncing across multiple devices. Generated using Copilot. One of the great advantages of cloud-based solutions is their...

When the Cloud Fades: The Hidden Risks of Cloud-Connected Gadgets

August 13, 2025 at 6:44 AM

Jep

@jepster.bsky.social

There are hidden risks associated with being overly dependent on cloud-connected gadgets and services. #cloud #gadgets #endofsupport #obsolescence

gadgetsandgizmos.occasionalramblings.org/2025/08/when...

Every end of the quarter, I normally collate all of my medical data in anticipation of my quarterly remote consultation with my endocrinolog...

[Review] Broth N Bowls: Hotpot, Grill, and Good Company in Iloilo City

August 10, 2025 at 8:36 AM

Jep

@jepster.bsky.social

We tried Broth N Bowls in Festive Walk, Megaworld Compound in Manduriao, Iloilo City. I was disappointed that they didn't have the unlimited dim sum when we visited, but otherwise, it was a great experience! #dimsum #hotpot #restaurantreview

allaboutfood.occasionalramblings.org/2025/08/revi...

Broth N Bowls in Iloilo City. Jep | Flickr Located at Festive Walk in the Megaworld Complex, Mandurriao, Iloilo City, Broth N Bowls had bee...

Watch Recommendation: Takopi's Original Sin

August 8, 2025 at 4:22 AM

Jep

@jepster.bsky.social

Don't let the cutesy facade fool you. This anime tackles complex psychological themes. I've been having this discussion with a friend about what he thinks should be the proper age restriction for such shows.

#watchrecommendation #anime

blog.occasionalramblings.org/2025/07/watc...

These are not your kid’s cartoons. Takopi’s Original Sin , or simply Takopi, may visually present itself with a childish and cheerful art st...

Audiobooks: A Different Way to Enjoy Literary Works

July 31, 2025 at 6:54 AM

Jep

@jepster.bsky.social

Here are a few of my audiobook recommendations.

#audiobooks #listeninglist

blog.occasionalramblings.org/2019/06/audi...

Audiobooks: A Different Way to Enjoy Literary Works Audiobooks offer a more passive way of consuming media, making them a completely differe...

Nursing a Kitten Back to Health: The Story of Short-tailed Small Kuting

July 29, 2025 at 8:18 AM

Jep

@jepster.bsky.social

Run free Short-tailed Small Kuting. You have fought valiantly, but it's time to rest, and when you reach the place beyond the rainbow bridge, run to your heart's content.

#rainbowbridge #kitten

furparentchronicles.occasionalramblings.org/2025/07/nurs...

Short-tailed Small Kuting. Jep | Flickr When Stubby Tail, one of our neighborhood’s community cats, gave birth in the garden, one kitten im...

furparentchronicles.occasionalramblings.org

July 25, 2025 at 8:24 AM

Jep

@jepster.bsky.social

Spay and Neuter program of Iloilo City is resuming from a brief hiatus. Registration starts on July 2nd. 😸 #SpayandNeuter #kapon

furparentchronicles.occasionalramblings.org/2025/06/iloi...

Iloilo City Resumes Free Spay and Neuter Program for Pets

After a temporary pause due to anesthesia supply issues, the Iloilo City Veterinary Office has resumed its free spay and neuter services ...

furparentchronicles.occasionalramblings.org

June 30, 2025 at 8:39 AM

Jep

@jepster.bsky.social

Definitely a must-try if you are in Iloilo City. A good representation of what the Iloilo food scene has to offer. #iloilofoodtrip

allaboutfood.occasionalramblings.org/2025/05/revi...

[Review] Bugoy’s Seafood Restaurant: Ilonggo Cuisine with a Seaside Charm

Bugoy's seaside alfresco seating area. Photos are by Flickr/Jep . Bugoy's Seafood Restaurant, located on Coastal Road, Jaro, Iloilo City, is...