The Ross "Pink Tag" Chronicles: How I Survived the Clearance Hunger Games

 We’ve all heard the legends. Once a year, the retail heavens open, and Ross Dress for Less unleashes the "January Mega Sale." It’s a time of chaos, caffeine-fueled digging, and price tags so low they look like typos.

 

Can 's pass on these Levi's Jeans

I managed to snag a few treasures from the tail end of this frenzy, and let me tell you, the adrenaline high of finding a pair of shoes for less than a latte is real. 

"Is this real life, or just 49 cents?"

The holy grail of the Ross sale is the elusive $.49 markdown. When you find one, you don’t just put it in your cart; you protect it with your life. Finding a useful item for under fifty cents feels like you’ve personally defeated inflation. It’s not just a purchase; it’s a moral victory.

These pair of Vans are my unicorns

"I’m an archaeologist, not a shopper."

By the time February rolls around, the remaining deals aren't just sitting on the shelves waiting for a hug. They are buried under a mountain of discarded hangers and mismatched socks. To find the $5 gems, you have to dig through thousands of items. My Apple watch thought I was swimming because of the sheer amount of "racking" I was doing.

 

These are still below my $20 price mark

"The $20 Hard Line"

In the heat of a clearance event, your brain does weird math. You see a "Great Deal" for $30 and think, "Absolute luxury. Who do they think I am? Jeff Bezos?" My goal was strict: nothing over $20. Finding shoes with an MSRP of $50+ marked down to single digits is the kind of financial wizardry that makes you feel like a Wall Street genius in a polyester aisle.

These pair of Hokka's are a steal for $63

"The Ross Road Trip"

One store is never enough. To get the right sizes and the best styles, we had to hit several different locations. It turned into a suburban safari. "Nothing at this location but size 14 heels and a broken toaster? Onward to the next zip code!"

$6 for this skirt

"Fashionably Late (and Lucky)"

The "official" event usually hits the third week of January, yet here I was in February still pulling wins. It proves the Golden Rule of Ross: Patience is a virtue, but persistence gets you the shoes. If you’re willing to look where others have given up, the clearance gods will eventually smile upon you.

These waren't on pink tags but these Adidas Stella McCartney's are 

a good deal for $40

The Final Scorecard:

• Target: Items under $20 or the holy grail, the 49 cents items.

• Result: High-end shoes for the price of a fast-food meal.

• Status: Exhausted, but my shoe rack  is thriving.

Osaka Expo 2025: Worth the Chaos of the Final Days

 There's only 3 days left before the expo ends, and i mistakenly assumed that the crowd would die down by the time we came to visit. I was totally wrong. The minute we got off the station, the sheer sea of people dawned on us. I tried to stay optimistic, thinking, "Maybe it's just people here at the station". But as we snaked our way through the entrance, I saw from afar that there was a huge line of people just there, apparently waiting to get in.

Osaka Expo Manhole and Stamp Passport

The Sensory Overload

After what felt like forever-around 45 minutes- we finally got in. There were just endless streams of people on all sides. It was pure sensory overload. The moment we saw The Grand Ring, we were in awe. There was so much to see, so much to do. Pop-up merchandise/souvenir stores were all over the venue underneath The Ring, and they had lines too. Every major booth had a line, and we quickly realized we had absolutely no strategy.

 

Thailand Pavilion

The Philippine Pavilion Mission

Our main goal was to go and see the Philippine Pavilion. We were incredibly lucky because they accepted walk-ins, as most of the other major international pavilions needed reservations. Even so, we still had to wait for almost an hour, and we were inside for only maybe 10 minutes tops. We managed to buy a few pieces of souvenirs and then headed out to see which other pavilions didn't have any lines.

Outside of  the Philippine Pavilion

The Price of Admission (and Lunch)

We got there at 12 noon, and by around 3 PM, we started to get hungry. Since we were inside the massive grounds, we did not have any choice but to pay premium prices for food. They were good, but then again, they were undeniably pricey.

A Day is Not Enough

Around 5 PM, we came to our humbling realization that one day is simply not enough. We hadn't even scratched the surface and probably experienced about 10% of the entire expo. We were still just glad that we got to go. A World Expo does not happen every five years, and everyone should at least be able to go to one in their lifetime.

Accessorize Your Life: The Delightful Obsession with Japanese Bag Tags/Charms

 After numerous trips to Japan, I've finally succumbed to a local trend I used to only observe: adorning my handbag with charismatic, and often oversized, bag tags and charms. It's a joyful, infectious, and deeply characteristic piece of everyday Japanese fashion.

Assorted Charms

These accessories are far more than the simple keychains we see back home. They are bold declarations of personality. The must-have Labubu plushies are currently wildly popular, but the trend covers a spectrum: from chunky silicone anime characters and rubber mascots to astonishingly large plush dolls-I once saw a full-sized teddy bear-like anime figure dangling from a commuter's bag!

 
Streets of Osaka

Luxury Bags, Loud Charms

It doesn't matter your walk of life or your choice of carry-all. Everyone from students to business people participates. This is where Japan's unique sense of style truly shines: a love for being "out there" and different. You might be carrying a beautiful LV Neverfull or an Hermes Evelyn, but in Japan, that bag is merely a canvas. You want  to accessorize it with something that makes it yours. 

 

A sumo wrestler with a Labubu & an Osaka Expo Attendee

Think exclusive items like the Pikachu available only at Tokyo Central Station, Myaku-Myaku, the eye-catching mascot of the recent Osaka Expo, or just a random, beloved anime character. These charms inject character and a personal story into most functional part of your ensemble. For the true enthusiasts, one is never enough-you'll often see bags rocking a curated collection of two or three tags for maximum impact. Even my trusty overseas go-to, a regular Trader Joe's tote, now proudly display its own collection!

A Collector's Paradise (and a Traveler's Tip!)

If you're looking to dive into this trend, the best advice is to buy them in Japan. The selection is a collector's dream, offering an immense array of characters, limited-edition regional exclusives, and the latest trendy anime and mascots.

 

Limited Edition Starbucks Shibuya Bear & USJ Spy X Family Merch

More practically, items like the collectible Labubu plushies and anime charms are often priced far more affordably in Japan-sometimes for the original blind-box price of about $10-$20 USD-compared to the marked-up prices and limited availability in the US.

When you go, make sure to visit places like:

* Tokyo Central Station Character Street for all the major mascot shops.

* Nakano Broadway or Akihabara for vast selection of anime and second-hand collectible merchandise

* Gachapon (capsule toy) machines everywhere for cheap, random, and addictive little bag tags!

* Thrift stores such as Book-Off and Hobby-Off scattered all over the country

 

Harajuku crowd & us strolling through Ueno

It's an accessible, fun way to bring a piece of Japanese pop-culture home and express your personality every single day. Happy hunting! 

Eulogy to my dad

I remember when the Family Computer arrived in the 80's. In those days, video games were the center of our world. Every weekend, all of us cousins would flock to Tita Nilda's house to play, typical kids back then. But my dad, he wanted that joy to be in our home. So he bought the latest thing which was a Family Computer. He couldn't afford many games, but the ones he did buy were treasures. Suddenly, our house became the weekend destination. And his efforts didn't stop there. He built a makeshift pool in our backyard with a deep well pump at its center, gurgling water to fill it up. It was hilarious, the water was never more than knee-deep, but to us kids, it felt like a resort. He gave us that.

Manila, Vikings circa 2011

He worked hard from Monday to Friday, but he made sure the weekends belonged to the family. Looking back, I didn't appreciate the magic he wove into those days until I was much older. He would fill our home with the most wonderful smells, preparing his specialties like Kare-kare, embutido, and baked macaroni. And every Sunday night, without fail, there was monggo. I have to admit, I still hate it to this day. Papa knew . He knew the only way I'd even touch it was if it was filled with little pork bits, so he'd always add extra, just for me. It was his quiet way of showing his pagmamahal, his love.

Los Angeles, LAX circa 2014

It wasn't all fun and games, though. Little did I realize, Papa was quietly teaching me about discipline and character. Every Sunday night, he made sure that I cleaned and polished my shoes for the week ahead. When he came home from the office, he'd bring the latest issue of Newsweek or The Manila Bulletin, unknowingly planting a love for reading in me that I carry to this day. It's because of him that I sometimes blurt out, "That's common knowledge," after sharing some random trivia.

Las Vegas, Flamingo Hotel circa 2018

He was a man of routine and service. He'd wake up at 4:30 every single morning to have a pot of boiling water ready for our baths and breakfast on the table before school. He prepared our baon too. I remember feeling so embarrassed when he would pack me bacon that wasn't crispy like on TV. My classmates would tease me that it was raw. But he later explained that if he cooked it until it was crispy, there would barely be enough left for the whole family. Everything he did, every single thing, had a reason rooted in love and necessity. So much of what I thought was him being cruel back then, I now see was him being a protector. When the whole clan would gather in Cabanatuan, he would never want to stay overnight. As a kid, I found it frustrating. As an adult, I understand. He was protecting the little we had, afraid something might happen to our home. He was a man who carried the weight of his family's safetyon his shoulders, always.

San Diego, USS Midway circa 2008

It would be easy for me to stand here and say I hated my dad at times, because in my immaturity, I did. I hated that I couldn't understand his brief explanations. I hated that in these last two years; his illness created a silence between us that we could never quite fill. I hated that he refused our help when Christie and I were trying so desperately to make him healthier, to keep him with us longer. And I hated him for leaving when I wasn't there, for making me feel so helpless.

San Diego circa 2010

But I see it clearly now. That "hate" was just a mask for my fear. It was shield for the overwhelming love I felt for a man I couldn't fix and was terrified to lose. It was my way of trying to make sense of regrets he admitted he had.

Grand Canyon, Arizona circa 2014

My dad was not a perfect father. No one is. But he was a good man who tried his absolute best. He provided whatever he could. He was selfless, always, always thinking of us before himself. He may not have been vocal about how he felt, but hislove was in the polished shoes, the extra pork in my monggo, the home he protected so fiercely.

Las Vegas circa 2018

In one of his last breaths, I was able to tell him that I love him. And I hope, whereever he is, he can hear me now. "Papa, mahal na mahal kita. And salamat po for everything." Thank you for making me the person I am today.

Staying Connected in Asia: A guide to Hotspots, eSims and Travel SIM Cards

  As we prepare for our upcoming travels to Asia, one of the key challenges I'm working through (again) is how to stay reliably connected. While exploring new destinations is exciting, ensuring that we have steady internet access for navigation, communication, and work has become just as essential as packing a passport. At the moment, I rely on our Solis Pro 5G hotspot, which includes a month-long unlimited subscription plan. It has been a considered companion on past trips thanks to its seamless global coverage, but with the three of us traveling together, I'm considering backup solutions to keep everyone online.

 

 

Solis Hotspots

On standby, I also have a Solis Lite hotspot, the smaller brother of the Pro. It works fine and I can also avail the same  unlimited plan as the Pro for $99, which saves the hassle of swapping sim cards or troubleshooting. However, since we'll be hopping from Manila to Tokyo, I've been leaning towards using eSIMs for a cheaper option for Adi and myself as backup. The issue with eSIMs is that each region in Asia requires a different plan, so we'd need to switch when moving between the Philippines and Japan-something the Simo's avoids entirely thanks to its seamless global coverage.

 When it comes to cost, the differences are significant. eSIMs generally run between $30-$50 for 10-20GB over 15 days, which adds up quickly when traveling as a group. The Solis subscription, though slightly more expensive upfront, provides unlimited access without limits or changes. This comparison is  especially important to me after a previous trip where international roaming with AT&T left me with a staggering $300 roaming bill. Since then, I've been determined to find smarter, more predictable solutions and not to commit to any single option.

One promising alternative I recently discovered is Fonus Mobile, which offers eSIMs and Physical SIM cards for international travelers. I've placed an order and expect them to arrive in the coming days. If they deliver on reliability and value, Fonus could provide the balance I've been looking for: affordable, straightforward connectivity without the constant worry of data caps or technical hiccups.

Ultimately, connectivity is no longer just a convenience-it's a travel essential. As we head into this journey through Manila and Tokyo, I'm eager to test these options and see which solution holds up best. With the right setup, staying connected doesn't have to be a distraction, allowing us to focus on what really matters: experiencing the culture, food, and adventures that awaits in Asia. 

I'm lost in the world of fencing

 For many kids, typical after-school activities involve soccer, basketball, or dance. But for my daughter Happy, her interests have always veered off the beaten path, leading her to the intriguing world of fencing. Since the tender age of six, she's been captivated by the sport, a passion that, for a long time, felt out of reach. Here in San Diego, most fencing programs were tucked away in exclusive neighborhoods, making the already expensive hobby even more of a luxury.

Thankfully, things have changed! Recently, one of the recreational facilities here in Chula Vista started offering fencing classes. While it's still an investment, the cost is much more manageable than before, though the essential equipment remains. as expected, quite pricey. Despite the expense, seeing Happy pursue her unique passion is incredibly rewarding.

I finally had the chance to take Happy for her third lesson, and I was completely new to the sport, Coach Sergei patiently explained the fundamental mechanics and basics to me. I was struck by how technical and refined fencing is. It's not a high-energy, all-out sprint like some other sports; instead, it demands precision, strategy and mental agility. It truly brought to mind the intricate swordplay training of ancient soldiers - though  thankfully, without the kingdom-conquering part!